Microbrouwerij Achilles

Microbrouwerij Achilles belongs to the wave of small Belgian breweries that turned personal enthusiasm for speciality beer into a local brewing identity. Founded in Itegem in 1999, it built its range around the Serafijn name and became associated with high-fermentation beers finished with bottle conditioning. Its story is also one of transition: the original Itegem installation was later dismantled, while the beers continued to be brewed elsewhere. From patient experiments to a brewery Before opening the brewery, Achilles spent seven years tasting beers and experimenting with samples from different origins. That preparation led to the decision to establish Microbrouwerij Achilles in 1999. During its first three years, the brewery produced roughly 10 hectolitres per month; after expansion, its stated brewing capacity ranged from 5 to 100 hectolitres. The Serafijn identity The brewery’s beers were gathered under the Serafijn brand. Contemporary listings associate Microbrouwerij Achilles with Serafijn Blond, Donker, Gold, Grand Cru, Kerstlicht and Tripel, as well as Celtic Angel. The beers were described as top-fermented and bottle-conditioned, placing the brewery within a recognisably Belgian tradition of strong, refermented ales. A brewery that changed shape By 2015, the original microbrewery in Itegem had been dismantled because of capacity limitations, and Serafijn beers were being brewed in Lochristi. That year, the business became part of Caupona and was renamed Brouwerij Serafijn, while Achilles remained involved as brewer. The change preserved the local Serafijn connection without pretending that production still followed the original Itegem setup. A small Itegem brewery whose Serafijn beers joined bottle conditioning and local identity to an evolving production story. Itegem, Antwerp, Belgium 1999 1999: Microbrouwerij Achilles was founded in Itegem after years of beer tasting and experimentation. 2015: The brewery became part of Caupona, adopted the name Brouwerij Serafijn, and continued producing the Serafijn range in Lochristi.