Brouwerij De Graal

In Brakel, at the heart of the Flemish Ardennes, Brewery De Graal combines the character of a small Belgian craft brewery with unusually flexible production. Founded by brewer Wim Saeyens in 2002, it develops its own beers while also making custom brews for pubs, restaurants, companies and other beer projects. Its identity is rooted in experimentation, technical precision and an ongoing search for distinctive beer. A Brakel brewery with a modern footing Brewery De Graal began in early 2002 under Wim Saeyens, whose background includes chemistry, a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences and brewing studies at Ghent’s CTL brewing school. The brewery is based in Brakel, in East Flanders, and describes itself as artisanal yet automated. That combination reflects a Belgian brewery working on a compact scale without turning away from modern brewing technology. More than its own labels From its early years, De Graal has also specialized in brewing beer to order. Customers can commission an original recipe developed with the brewer, or request an adaptation of one of De Graal’s standard beers. This makes the brewery both a producer of its own range—including De Graal Gember, Blond, Dubbel, Tripel, Quest and Triverius—and a behind-the-scenes partner for other beer ventures. A new home, continued growth The brewery moved to a new building in the summer of 2016. Its current range includes beers with varied profiles, from the ginger-accented De Graal Gember to the hoppy De Graal Quest and the dark blond, gluten-free De Graal Tirse. The brewery’s story is therefore less about one fixed house style than about a continuing willingness to refine, adapt and make new Belgian beers. A technically minded Brakel brewery whose defining character is the freedom to develop both its own beers and other brewers’ ideas. Brakel, East Flanders, Belgium 2002 2002: Wim Saeyens started Brewery De Graal in Brakel. 2002: Custom and on-premise brewing became one of the brewery’s specialties. 2016: Brewery De Graal moved to a new building.