The Belgian Smaak Podcast

<p dir="ltr">In the past year, Belgian family breweries Het Anker and De Ryck have ended generations of family ownership. Family breweries sit at the heart of Belgian beer but the topic of generational handover in these breweries is rarely spoken about in much detail: what it means to inherit a brewery, to carry a family name forward, and to take responsibility for something that existed long before any of us were born.</p> <p dir="ltr">Three family brewers—Céline Lefebvre from Brasserie Lefebvr

<p>2026 will mark the ten-year anniversary of the UNESCO recognition of Belgian beer culture as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity (the only country in the world to do so).</p> <p>The behind-the-scenes story of how Belgium pulled it off—with plot twists and political wrangling and strategic compromise—demonstrates the essence of the country's character: ruthlessly pragmatic and quietly persuasive.</p>

<p><span class="wpsdc-drop-cap">T</span>he Flemish city of Turnhout is the playing card capital of the world.</p> <p>Turnhout is to playing cards what Kobe is to Japanese Wagyu beef; what Parma is to Italian Prosciutto; what Fez is to leather. The biggest card-producing company in the world, Cartamundi, is headquartered in Turnhout. 1.3 million decks of cards are produced there every single day. If you have ever played poker, performed a magic trick with cards, traded Pokémon cards, or played Mo

<p>Joël Galy is the quietly punkish, Swedish-born but Belgian-raised brewer of Brasserie de la Mule.<br /> <br /> Brasserie de la Mule is a brewery and taproom-slash-music venue that's housed in an abandoned tram shed in Brussels' Schaerbeek neighbourhood. De la Mule specialises in German styles of beer.</p> <p>I sat down with Joël in his taproom for a chat about how he approaches German styles in Belgium, what he's learned from parenting to make him a better leader in the brewery, how he landed

<p>As we approach the twenty year anniversary of Westvleteren 12's original crowning by RateBeer, Jonny Garrett examines how a strong dark ale produced by a tiny monastery brewery in North West Belgium became the world's most sought-after beer</p>

<p dir="ltr">No other country in the world has a national beer experience centre costing €100 million and housed in one of the most iconic buildings in its capital. Today, we're talking to Krishan Maudgal of the Belgian Brewers Federation about Belgian Beer World.</p> <p> </p>

<p>Claire Bullen meets the Boons — Frank, Karel, and Jos — to find out how their Mariage Parfait Oude Geuze speaks to the legacy of Lambic. Breandán Kearney hosts.</p>

<p>Through his Lambic blendery Het Boerenerf, Senne Eylenbosch saved his father's farm, discovered his own identity, and began the next chapter in his family's storied Lambic heritage.</p> <p>In this discussion, Senne Eylenbosch and Breandán Kearney talk about the things Senne learned working at Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen, how he's conflicted about his family's brewing heritage, how he blends the way he does, how he feels about now being able to use his family name in his business, and where he sees