Brouwerij De Vlier

Brouwerij De Vlier is a small Flemish brewery whose story begins in Kessel-Lo and continues in Holsbeek, just outside Leuven. Founded by engineer and brewer Marc Andries, it combines hands-on brewing with a broad Belgian-inspired range: year-round blond, amber, Scotch, tripel and white beers, alongside seasonal creations and aperitif beers. Its name preserves the connection to Vlierbeek, the brewery’s original home. From Vlierbeek to a working brewery The brewery was formally established on March 10, 2008, as Brewery De Vlier BVBA. Its first premises occupied a former café in Kessel-Lo, and the name came from the surrounding Vlierbeek area. Brewing trials began after the new equipment was installed in June 2008; the first larger-scale brew followed in July, with commercial sales beginning in September that year. A brewer shaped by brewing technology Marc Andries brought a technical background to the project, having studied chemical and agricultural engineering with a biotechnology specialization at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Before creating De Vlier, he worked with brewing-industry equipment maker Meura and held project roles at Brasserie d’Achouffe and Brewery Haacht. That practical production experience became part of the brewery’s foundation. Holsbeek and a changing beer range Kessel-Lo soon proved awkward for logistics, so production moved through an interim warehouse in Winksele before settling in Holsbeek. The current brewery includes a tasting room, and its range has grown beyond the original core beers. Seasonal examples include Carrousel, first brewed for Leuven cultural centre 30CC’s 2011 Kessel-Lo festival, while the brewery’s aperitif beers echo the vocabulary of sparkling wine. De Vlier’s defining character is a technically minded village brewery that keeps its Kessel-Lo roots visible while brewing an unusually varied Belgian range. Kessel-Lo, Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Belgium; the brewery is now located in Holsbeek. March 10, 2008 2008: Brouwerij De Vlier BVBA was established on March 10 in Kessel-Lo. 2008: Brewing trials began in June, the first larger-scale brew followed in July, and commercialisation began in September. 2011: Carrousel was first brewed for Leuven cultural centre 30CC’s Kessel-Lo festival on May 14.