Brouwerij Vissenaken

Brouwerij Vissenaken is a small, place-rooted brewery in Vissenaken, part of Tienen in Flemish Brabant. Its identity grew from local life: home brewing, an amateur theatre group, and a desire to give the village its own beer. Rather than chasing industrial scale, the brewery presents brewing as a hands-on craft shared through visits, tastings, and beers connected to the surrounding community. From hobby brewing to a village brewery The brewery developed from brewing experiments connected with local residents and the theatre group Welle(n) de Slumme(n) van Vessenake. Early batches were made for theatrical performances, first under limited one-off arrangements. After demand grew beyond those performances, Rudy Scheys converted a dedicated space and Brouwerij Vissenaken officially began in April 2007. Its small-scale character remained central, with compact equipment and an emphasis on making the brewing process visible to visitors. A local beer family The brewery’s range includes Fasso, Himelein, Meetsel and seasonal or newer beers. The official Himelein page describes it as a dark-brown, top-fermented beer with bottle refermentation, no added spices, and 5.5% alcohol. Its name honors Sint-Hymelinus, a local folk saint, and the brewery says royalties support the Brotherhood of St. Himelinus. The broader range likewise draws on Vissenaken’s names, stories and community traditions. Small by choice Brouwerij Vissenaken openly frames care for people, the environment and Belgian beer culture as more important than growth and profit. The brewery operates from Metselstraat in Vissenaken, sells its beers by arrangement, and offers guided visits explaining the artisanal process from milling and mashing through fermentation and conditioning. A village-scale brewery where local memory, practical craft and community brewing remain inseparable. Vissenaken, Tienen, Flemish Brabant, Belgium 2007 2007: Brouwerij Vissenaken officially began in April after Rudy Scheys established a dedicated brewing space. 2012: Meetsel became a permanent beer in the brewery’s range after originating as a theatre beer. 2024: The brewery’s official site listed Rookeneiken as a beer produced since 2024. 2025: The official site announced Kracht&Eiken as a new dark, wood-aged beer and listed Saffraan Goud among its newer beers.