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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5.3/10 Appearance 5 Aroma 5 Flavor 6 Texture 5 Overall 5
Pours reddish-amber with a thick tan head. Aroma of fruit, earthy figs, malt. Taste has cherry, figs, raisins, some light malt. Palate has lingering fruity notes, some sweet caramel malt. Not bad.
Tried on 11 Mar 2026 at 12:54

7.1/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Bottle from Annie’s, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Poured a hazy golden colour with a lasting, frothy white head. The aroma is yeasty, toffee, boozy. The flavour is moderate sweet, with a smooth, rich, toffee caramel, herbal, warm boozy alcohol bitter palate. Over medium bodied with lively carbonation.
Tried from Bottle at Annies Restaurant and Bar on 01 Mar 2026 at 12:23

7.9/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
bottiglia 33 cl, bel cappello di schiuma nocciola fine persistente, color marrone/rubino, al naso miele melassa frutta candita zucchero di canna marzapane, in bocca uvetta sotto spirito prugne secche zucchero bruciato spezie malto tostato una punta di liquirizia, corpo strutturato, carbonazione moderata, bel tenore alcolico, molto dolce con amaro moderato. Al primo sorso ti spiazza (troppo dolce?) poi percepisci tutte le sue sfumature. Una Belga con la B maiuscola. Ottima c. 1001 birre 28.02.26
Tried from Bottle on 28 Feb 2026 at 19:18

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Gekocht op 14-01-2026 bij Drankencentrale Maes in Dendermonde. En geproefd in Middelkerke tezamen met mijn nieuwsgierige smaakpapillen op 27-02-2026.

Kasteel Tropical is reeds het derde fruitbier in de ‘Kasteelbier’ reeks en wordt gebrouwen bij Kasteel Brouwerij Vanhonsebrouck uit Izegem. Het verhaal van deze brouwerij begint reeds in 1811 bij Amandus Vanhonsebrouck. In 1930 volgt een eerste uitbreiding. Het kasteel van Ingelmunster wordt in 1986 aangekocht dat wat later de inspiratie vormt voor het kasteelbier. Met de regelmaat van een klok volgen er nieuwe bieren. Slurfke kan je zelfs in de soapserie Thuis zien. In 2016 wordt een nieuwe brouwerij in Emelgem in gebruik genomen, de modernste in Europa. We verwachten niet anders dan dat Vanhonsebrouck ons nog verder aangenaam zal weten te verrassen.

KASTEEL TROPICAL is een helder geel kleurig bier dat veel wit moussig schuim aanmaakt dat sterk aan je glaswand blijft kleven. Het zakt daarna wel vlug in elkaar tot je nog een dun fijn laagje overhoud. Je ziet slechts weinig CO2 belletjes van een normale grootte omhoog parelen.

HET AROMA:
Zoetig, beetje mango, passievrucht, granig.
DE SMAAK:
Een lichte zurige tint bij de eerste slok, en daarna niet meer. Zeer zoet, beetje mango, passievrucht.
HET MONDGEVOEL:
Volle body en een licht romige textuur, een normaal prikkelend koolzuurgas.
DE NASMAAK:
Is licht plakkerig en het zoete vloeit wat uit, verder nog meer passievrucht en ook wat perzik.
HET TOTAALGEVOEL:
Een harmonieuze fruitdrank.
HET VERDICT:
Weeral heel zoet, geen bier voor mij maar een gealcoholiseerde fruitdrank. Wel veel koolzuurgas. Zoetebekken moeten dit in de zomer drinken. Een verrassing maar geen aangename.
Meer info en mijn befaamde sublieme foto’s vind je bij:
http://www.beersfrombelgium.eu/nl/Kasteel_Tropical-b-4770.html
Tried from Bottle at Drankencentrale Maes on 27 Feb 2026 at 17:51

4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 4 Texture 2 Overall 2
clear golden colour, large, dense ecru-ish head; aroma and taste of passion fruit, apricot jam and maybe some tangerine/marmalade; I am not amazed at all...
Tried from Bottle from Drinks of the World on 26 Feb 2026 at 20:44

4/10
Tried from Bottle on 26 Feb 2026 at 10:15

7/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 7 Overall 6.5
Review based on the BJCP2021 guidelines (style 26D adapted - aged). Bottle 33 cl - Batch KACU0911A 04:28 (BB: 09-2029) AROMA: initial medium-high boozy aroma (rose-like, almost solventy) with low background notes of candied fruits, molasses and sultanas. APPEARANCE: very dark amber color and clear with ruby highlights. medium-large light brown head, creamy, with good retention. lace formation. TASTE: medium malty flavor with notes of dark caramel, almost molasses and hints of dried fruits and some toastiness. medium-low bitterness with a dry finish. MOUTHFEEL: medium to medium-low body due to aging. medium carbonation. noticeable alcoholic warmth. OVERALL: an aged belgian dark strong ale with interesting aroma but a more muted flavor. alcohol is still very much present.
Tried from Bottle on 25 Feb 2026 at 16:29

6.9/10 Appearance 7 Aroma 7.5 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Review based on the BJCP2021 guidelines (style 26C). Bottle 33 cl - Batch KATR0903C 18:13 (BB: 09-2027) AROMA: medium-high esteres (lemony-like, pear), with a medium-low phenolics (peppery, slight clove). medium-low to low soft malt background with slight sweetness. APPEARANCE: gold color and clear. medium-large white head, creamy, with medium-low retention. slight lace formation. TASTE: similar to the aroma with medium-low esters (lemon, pear), low phenolics (clove-like), and low soft malt background. medium bitterness with a dry finish. MOUTHFEEL: medium body with high carbonation. noticeable alcoholic warmth sensation with a hot character. OVERALL: a regular belgian tripel.
Tried from Bottle on 23 Feb 2026 at 16:19

6/10
Tried from Bottle on 21 Feb 2026 at 19:28

6.5/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6.5 Flavor 6.5 Texture 6 Overall 7
33 cl, bottle.
Pours dark-dark brown, nearly black with a thin beige head, which doesn't really disappear entirely. Nose is caramel, sweet and roasted malt. Flavor, body and finish is heavy - you need to take this beer one sip at a time :D
Tried from Bottle from Auchan Cluj Iulius Mall on 20 Feb 2026 at 23:12