Brouwerij De Glazen Toren

Brouwerij De Glazen Toren grew from two Flemish home brewers’ 50-litre experiments into an Erpe-Mere brewery whose beers travelled far beyond their local setting. Its identity rests on trained brewing craft, a distinctly Belgian range led by Saison d’Erpe-Mere, and a willingness to build modern capacity without abandoning small-brewery character. From home kettle to brewery The story begins in 1988, when mathematics teacher Jef Van den Steen and lawyer Dirk De Pauw began brewing together in Erpe-Mere. Seeking stronger technical foundations, both completed a three-year Brewery–Malting–Distilling course between 1991 and 1994. After further trial brewing, they founded a small company in 2002 and later established the brewery with a 500-litre installation acquired from the former Meesters brewery in Galmaarden. Saison opens the door The brewery’s early international breakthrough came through Saison d’Erpe-Mere. At the 2005 Zythos Beer Festival in Sint-Niklaas, the beer attracted the attention of an American importer, and the first pallet soon left for the United States. Saison became the pace-setter for a growing portfolio that included Ondineke tripel and Jan De Lichte dubbel witbier. Growth with Belgian roots Demand quickly outgrew the original plant. In 2007, De Glazen Toren replaced its five-hectolitre system with a custom-designed 25-hectolitre German brewhouse. Later expansion included a second production location in Aalst, while the brewery continued operating from its Erpe-Mere base and exporting to countries including Italy, Japan, the Nordic nations, the United Kingdom and Ireland. A modern Flemish craft brewery whose export reach was built on carefully developed Belgian specialty beers. Erpe-Mere, East Flanders, Belgium 2002 1988: Jef Van den Steen and Dirk De Pauw began joint home brewing in Erpe-Mere. 1991: Both founders began formal brewing studies, graduating in 1994. 2002: A first small company was founded as the basis of Brouwerij De Glazen Toren. 2005: Saison d’Erpe-Mere gained an American importer after the Zythos Beer Festival. 2007: The original five-hectolitre plant was replaced by a custom 25-hectolitre brewhouse.