Brouwerij Vanhonsebrouck

Commercial Brewery in Emelgem, West Flanders, Belgium 🇧🇪

Established in 1900

Contact
Brouwerijstraat 1, Emelgem, 8870, Belgium
Description
Emile Vanhonsebrouck and his wife Louise De Poorter founded the Sint Jozef brewery in Ingelmunster. In 1922 the brothers Paul and Ernest Van Honsebrouck take over the brewery from their mother. In 1953 Luc Van Honsebrouck (son of Paul) becomes director. Luc realizes that the small Sint Jozef brewery isn't able to compete with the large pils breweries. He therefore decides to concentrate on the production of an old brown beer, naming it Bacchus, and he changes the name of the brewery to Vanhonsebrouck. The St-Louis Gueuze and Kriek were officially launched in 1958. In 2009 Xavier Vanhonsebrouck succeeds his father Luc. In 2016 the doors of the old brewery in Ingelmunster are permanently closed. The new site in Emelgem is now home to a brand new, fully integrated brewery, with the equipment to produce all of the Vanhonsebrouck beers. In the meantime Kasteel Brouwerij Vanhonsebrouck becomes the new official name.

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5.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Here we go with another Kasteel beer. Aroma is (obviously) hoppy, hay and grass. Moderately bitter finish. It has a harsh metallic aspect to it that I’m not a fan of. I’m not sure what this is trying to be, but it’s pretty mediocre. It’s hardly punishment to drink this, but I see no reason to revisit.

Tried on 18 Feb 2025 at 05:20


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle 4133/9000. Pours a cloudy yellow with a big white head. Aroma of sweet malts, fruits, yeast, a slight cognac. Medium sweetness, boozy finish. I was hoping for more of a cognac aroma (as the nose promised...), but I enjoyed my bottle regardless. Generally I don’t think much of Kasteel so I was glad to find one that I like, even though it is overpriced.

Tried from Bottle on 18 Feb 2025 at 05:19


6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

"Brigand Winterbier". Pours a hazy yellow/orange with a white head. Aroma of yeast, hops, spices, with a noticeable apple presence. Manages to hide its alcohol well. Decent brew.

Tried on 18 Feb 2025 at 05:19


6.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

2012 edition, date of drinking 15-12-2013. Pours a dark reddish brown with an off-white head. Aroma of sweet dark malt, dark fruits, plum, raisins, some chocolate. On the sweet side, mild finish. Best Kasteel beer I’ve had, proof that they can do it right.

Tried from Can on 18 Feb 2025 at 05:19


6.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6

Pours a reddish brown with a small off-white head. Aroma of wine, sour apple and cherry. Flavour is tart. An enjoyable Sour as it is, but I would have loved more complexity and barnyard/cellar notes.

Tried on 18 Feb 2025 at 05:18


5.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Pours a deep ruby red with a small pinkish head. Aroma of sweet cherry. Flavour is artificial cherry, candy sweetness. Not much sourness, in fact I’d like this much better with more pungent tartness.

Tried from Can on 18 Feb 2025 at 05:18


4.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5

Aroma of sweet cherry. Flavour is sweet cherry and some sour notes. Unfortunately, this is too sweet for my taste, I would have liked more pronounced sour notes.

Tried on 18 Feb 2025 at 05:18


4.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 3.5

Aroma of cherries. Flavour is sweet cherries, candy-like. Too much sweetness, no sourness at all so I am not a fan of this beer. Artificial flavour. However, seeing that this is both a Kasteel beer and a cherry beer, I was just a little surprised at how easily drinkable it was. Still, this is far from what I consider my kind of beer.

Tried from Can on 18 Feb 2025 at 05:18


5.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Pours a clear golden with a decent white head. Aroma of malts, yeast, biscuit, fruit, a faint sense of spice. A rather ordinary blonde, not a fan.

Tried on 16 Feb 2025 at 14:01


5.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

1996 bottle drank 04/2015. Aroma of sweet malt, sherry, butterscotch, dust, rich dried fruits. Flavour is heavy sweet. It’s interesting how this beer has developed. It’s way to sweet for my taste, but I understand the appeal for others who enjoy this kind of beer.

Tried from Bottle on 16 Feb 2025 at 13:11