At Cantillon Brewery & Museum in Anderlecht, you can walk through a working family brewery and learn how lambic beers are made. Founded in 1900, Cantillon still uses traditional methods, with copper brewing vessels, wooden barrels and bottle-lined walls along the route. The self-guided visit comes with a booklet and finishes with three tasters. Head upstairs to the bar to explore more lambics, or stop by the shop for glassware, brewery merchandise and locally made vinegar. The beers’ tart, naturally fermented character is part of the appeal.
A working brewery since 1900
Cantillon began as a family brewery in 1900 and remains associated with traditional lambic production. The brewery makes lambic, gueuze, faro and kriek, among other beers. Its methods and equipment give the museum its focus: this is a place to see brewing tools and production spaces in the setting where beer is made.
The route passes copper vessels, wooden barrels and walls lined with bottles. Some barrels are more than a century old. Together, these rooms show the practical side of the brewery’s history, from the vessels used in production to the bottles in which the beer is kept.
How the visit works
The visit is self-guided, so you can move through the brewery at your own pace. A booklet explains the brewing process and the rooms you pass. At the end, you receive three tasters of Cantillon beer, giving you a chance to connect the production you have just seen with the finished drinks.
If you visit on an Open Brewday or a Brassin Public day, brewing may be under way and you can see the process in operation. These are specific event days, so check Cantillon’s website before planning around one. The tasting room closes at 4pm; arriving earlier leaves more time to look around and sample the beers.
Tasting and the bottle shop
Cantillon’s beers include gueuze, kriek, framboise, lambic and faro. Gueuze and other lambics can have a distinctly sour profile, while kriek brings cherry character. The tasting at the end of the tour is a useful introduction if you are unfamiliar with the style.
For a longer tasting, the bar upstairs has a selection of bottles listed across three boards. The choice can include older vintages, depending on what is available that day. Sharing bottles with other visitors is one way to try more of the selection. The shop also carries brewery merchandise and glassware, and sometimes stocks locally made vinegar from Vinaigrerie Sainte Odile.
Perguntas frequentes
Is the tour guided?
The standard visit is self-guided. A booklet explains the brewing process as you walk through the brewery.
Does the visit include beer tasting?
Yes. The self-guided visit ends with three tasters of Cantillon beer.
Can you see beer being brewed?
You may see brewing in progress on Open Brewday or Brassin Public days. Check the brewery’s website for event details.
Is there a bar at Cantillon Brewery?
Yes. The upstairs bar has a bottle selection listed on three boards, which can include older vintages when available.
