Brouwerij 't Gaverhopke

Brouwerij 't Gaverhopke belongs to the modern Flemish wave of small, independent Belgian breweries: born in Stasegem in 1994, shaped by a change of ownership in 2007, and later associated with a historic farmstead in Waregem. Its story is less about grand industrial scale than about preserving a local brewing identity while moving into a larger, more visitor-friendly home. A Stasegem beginning The brewery was founded in 1994 in Stasegem by Erik Ameye and Christiane Soens. Ameye brewed there for thirteen years, establishing 't Gaverhopke as a production brewery with a distinctly local profile. Contemporary Belgian beer records place this first chapter in Harelbeke, West Flanders, under the Ameye name. A new team and a broader brewing life On October 1, 2007, Gudrun Vandoorne and Bruno Delrue took over. Vandoorne became responsible for brewing, and the range grew to include beers such as Blondje, Bruintje, Bruin 12, Paasbier, Kerstbier, Kriek, Zingende Blondine, Koerseklakske, Den Twaalf and Bitter Sweet Symphony. In 2012, the brewery installed a larger brewhouse capable of 1,000 litres per batch. From former farm buildings to Waregem The Stasegem chapter was followed by a move toward a new base in Waregem. The brewery is now associated with Goed te Nieuwenhove, a protected historic farm complex whose former barns and stables house the brasserie and craft brewery. Belgian brewery records distinguish the earlier Ameye operation from the Vandoorne brewery listed in Waregem from 2015 onward. A locally rooted Flemish brewery whose identity endured through ownership change, expansion and a move into historic farm buildings. Stasegem, Harelbeke, West Flanders, Belgium 1994 1994: Erik Ameye and Christiane Soens founded Brouwerij 't Gaverhopke in Stasegem. 2007: Gudrun Vandoorne and Bruno Delrue took over the brewery on October 1. 2011: The new owners began a separate Eutropius project in the former Alvinne buildings while developing the next phase of 't Gaverhopke. 2012: A larger brewing installation with a 1,000-litre batch capacity was installed. 2015: Belgian brewery records list the Vandoorne brewery in Waregem from this year onward.