Brouwerij De Halve Maan

What Brouwerij De Halve Maan does

Brouwerij De Halve Maan is a privately held, family-owned Belgian brewery founded in 1856 in Bruges and now in its sixth generation of family leadership under Managing Director Xavier Vanneste. The brewery operates from a historic city-center site at Walplein and a modern bottling facility (bottelarij) at the Waggelwater industrial zone, connected by a 3.3 km underground beer pipeline — the first of its kind — that transports up to 5,000 liters per hour and eliminates heavy truck traffic from the historic center. The product portfolio spans four core brands (Brugse Zot Blond/Dubbel, Straffe Hendrik Tripel/Quadrupel/Wild/Heritage/X-Mas Blend, Blanche De Bruges, Sportzot alcohol-free), the Rosé De Bruges fruit-wheat variant launched in 2025, and seasonal editions (Brugse Bok), produced at a capacity of 1,250 hectoliters per week across 11 beer varieties, with the 2022 bottelarij capable of filling 24,000 bottles and 180 casks per hour.

The business generates revenue through a diversified mix: packaged and draught beer sales via Belgian horeca (long-term B2B partnerships with dedicated account managers), supermarket retail (e.g., Colruyt charity promotions), and international export to approximately 40 countries via distributors and wholly-owned sales offices in Mexico, China, and Brazil. Direct-to-consumer revenue streams include guided brewery tours (standard €16 and XL €26, drawing ~125,000 visitors annually as of 2024 and making it one of Belgium's most visited breweries), an on-site brasserie restaurant, a gift shop, an e-commerce webshop, mobile tap and tap-wagon rental, and event-space rental across 8+ historic halls. Sustainability is operationally embedded: solar panels cover up to 65% of bottelarij electricity at peak, a water-purification installation targets ~70% water reuse and produces biogas for steam generation, and the brewery was among the first to sign the Flemish Government's Green Deal Brouwers initiative.

The company has funded growth primarily through community capital — a 2015–2016 equity crowdfunding round (~€400,000) financed the underground pipeline, and a March 2022 crowdlending round (>€2 million in two hours) financed green upgrades. Strategic moves include the 2019 acquisition of Brugs Tarwebier production and distribution, sustained product innovation in the alcohol-free segment (Sportzot, launched 2018, with cans added in 2024), and brand partnerships with Gault&Millau, VRT De Warmste Week, and Belgian Family Brewers. The company is a member of Belgian Family Brewers, complying with authenticity and craftsmanship standards, and operates with a headcount of 51–100 employees.

Name

Brouwerij De Halve Maan

Legal name

Brouwerij De Halve Maan BV

Website

https://halvemaan.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Brouwerij De Halve Maan is a sixth-generation, family-owned Belgian brewery founded in 1856 in Bruges, producing Brugse Zot, Straffe Hendrik, Blanche De Bruges, and Sportzot beers for Belgian horeca, export to ~40 countries, and ~125,000 annual on-site visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Belgian Specialty Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE), Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

Keywords

• Belgian craft beer
• Specialty beer brewing
• Brewery tourism experiences
• Alcohol-free specialty beer
• Belgian family brewery

Headquarters

HQ city

Brugge

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beer Product Sales: Sale of packaged and draught beer across 4 core brands (Brugse Zot, Straffe Hendrik, Blanche de Bruges, Sportzot) and seasonal/special editions through horeca, retail, export, and direct-to-consumer channels.
2. Brewery Tourism & Tours: Guided brewery tours (standard and XL), group/private tours, and museum visits generating revenue from ticket sales. Approximately 100,000 visitors per year.
3. Brasserie Restaurant: On-site restaurant and brasserie within the historic brewery serving biergezellig cuisine paired with house beers, generating F&B revenue.
4. Gift Shop & Webshop: Sale of branded merchandise, souvenirs, beer accessories, and packaged beer direct to consumers via the on-site gift shop and online webshop.
5. Tap Installation & Tap Wagon Rental: Rental of mobile tap installations and fully equipped tap wagons for events, with per-liter pricing for draft beer consumed.
6. Event Space & Meeting Room Rental: Rental of unique historic halls and meeting rooms for private events, corporate functions, weddings, and conferences across 8+ venue spaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Brouwerij De Halve Maan is a sixth-generation family brewery in Bruges that produces, packages, and distributes Belgian specialty beers across four core brands (Brugse Zot, Straffe Hendrik, Blanche De Bruges, Sportzot) and seasonal editions. Beyond packaged beer, the brewery sells on-site experiences including guided brewery tours, an on-site brasserie restaurant, tap and event-venue rental, a gift shop, and a direct-to-consumer webshop, while also supplying Belgian horeca and exporting to around 40 countries.

Product overview

Brouwerij De Halve Maan is a family-owned brewery operating in Bruges since 1856, now in its 6th generation. The product portfolio centers on four main beer brands: Brugse Zot (Blond and Dubbel), Straffe Hendrik (Tripel, Quadrupel, Wild, Heritage, X-Mas Blend), Sportzot (alcohol-free specialty beer), and Blanche De Bruges (wheat beer with Rosé De Bruges variant). The company also offers experiential services including brewery tours, a brasserie restaurant, tap rental for events, and venue rentals in their historic facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Brugse Zot: Flagship beer brand of Brouwerij De Halve Maan.
• Straffe Hendrik
• Blanche De Bruges
• Sportzot
• Rosé De Bruges

Products and services

• Brugse Zot Flagship Belgian specialty beer brand featuring Blond (6%) and Dubbel (7.5%) variants. A golden specialty beer with fruity and spicy aromas, brewed in the historic Bruges city center and recognized with multiple World Beer Cup and European Beer Star gold medals. Sold through horeca, retail, export, and direct-to-consumer channels.
• Straffe Hendrik Premium Belgian beer brand offering Tripel (9%), Quadrupel (11%), Wild (Brettanomyces wild fermentation), Heritage (barrel-aged), and X-Mas Blend variants. Characterized by powerful, full-bodied taste and complex flavor profiles; Straffe Hendrik is an official partner of the Gault&Millau culinary guide.
• Sportzot Alcohol-free specialty beer (0.4%) made from Brugse Zot Blond through a natural dealcoholization process that preserves full flavor. First Belgian alcohol-free specialty beer; available in bottle and can formats; gold medal winner at Best Beer Awards (2021) and World Beer Awards (2024).
• Blanche De Bruges Traditional Belgian wheat beer (5%) brewed with unmalted wheat and 100% Belgian Magnum hops. Refreshing with a spicy finish and bitter aftertaste, positioned as a distinct alternative to other wheat beers.
• Rosé De Bruges Fruit beer variant based on Blanche De Bruges wheat beer with added cherry juice and elderflower. Refreshing, fruity with a turbid pink appearance and fine sparkle.
• Brugse Bok Seasonal autumn beer (6.5%) with full malt aroma from roasted malt varieties, following German and Dutch bokbier traditions. Limited-release seasonal product.
• Brouwerijbezoek (Brewery Tours) Guided tours of the historic brewery at Walplein, with standard (45 min, 1 beer tasting, €16 pp) and XL (90 min, 3 beers, weekend only, €26 pp) options, plus private group formats with tiered pricing. Approximately 100,000 visitors per year (around 125,000 as of 2024), available in NL, FR, and EN, including virtual-reality experiences.
• Brasserie Restaurant On-site brasserie restaurant inside the historic brewery serving biergezellig cuisine paired with house-brewed beers, with a view of the brewing hall. Also offers group event catering menus (from €29 pp to Beer Masterclass from €87 pp).
• Tapverhuur (Tap Rental) Mobile tap installation and fully equipped tap wagon rental for events. Per-liter pricing on draft beer (e.g., Brugse Zot Blond €5.45/L, Blanche de Bruges €5.02/L) and tap wagon rental at €650/day excl. VAT with free delivery within 50 km of Lieven Bauwensstraat.
• Zaalverhuur (Venue and Meeting Room Rental) Rental of unique historic halls (Moutvloer, Estaminet, Brouwerszaal, Hopkot, Secret Bar, Rooftop Bar) and meeting rooms for private events, corporate functions, weddings, and conferences. 't Brouwershuys meeting room up to 14 persons from €390/half day or €590/full day, with up to 25% discount for social-purpose organizations.
• Gift Shop and Webshop Retail sales of beers, branded merchandise, glassware, apparel, and accessories, both on-site at the Walplein gift shop and via the online webshop (shop.halvemaan.be).

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ annual brewery visitors; ~125,000 as of 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Belgian Family BrewerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Halve Maan is a member of Belgian Family Brewers, an organization with strict entry requirements including being an independent family brewery that has been authentically brewing beer in Belgium for more than 50 years. The label represents an unparalleled level of authenticity and craftsmanship in Belgian brewing.
• Green Deal Brouwers (Flemish Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Halve Maan was one of the first brewers to sign the Green Deal with the Flemish Government in September 2018. The initiative aimed to reduce water consumption in the brewing sector. By end of 2023, participating breweries collectively saved 2,286,822 m³ of water (915 Olympic swimming pools). The brewery continues to work on improved processes.
• Gault&MillauflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerStraffe Hendrik is an official partner of Gault&Millau, the renowned culinary guide. The partnership celebrates craftsmanship, passion, and flavor experience, aligning with the brewery's vision of beer as a full table companion. Straffe Hendrik was highlighted at the Gault&Millau Belux Guide 2026 launch event.
• VRT De Warmste WeekflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerSportzot is an official partner of VRT's De Warmste Week solidarity action. The partnership includes tank beer supply at the event,Sportzot Kerstloop charity runs, horeca partner activations, and supermarket promotions. In 2024, the brewery raised over €55,000 through these initiatives.
• ColruytminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Belgian supermarket chain Colruyt for Sportzot 6-pack sales. For each 6-pack purchased, a portion supports De Warmste Week charity. Includes promotional materials and charity cards for consumers.
• Brugse KerstloopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSportzot is a partner of the Brugse Kerstloop, an annual charity run. For each registration, €1 goes directly to De Warmste Week fund. The brewery supports with promotional and communication tools.
• Wout Desmyter (Landbouwer, Westhoek)coreOthersIn 2020, De Halve Maan entered a partnership with local farmer Wout Desmyter from Proven (Westhoek) for the local cultivation of hops used in the production of Brugse Zot. This supports the brewery's strategy of using local ingredients and shortening the supply chain.
• Belgian Brewers (Collective)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in the collective 'Warmste Brouwerijbezoeken' (Warmest Brewery Visits) initiative organized by Belgian breweries, donating proceeds to De Warmste Week. In 2024, 29 participating breweries raised €41,760. In 2024/2025, De Halve Maan contributed €11,745.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Brouwerij Het Anker: Belgian family-owned city brewery (Gouden Carolus range) operating from a historic town center with on-site brasserie and tours. Highly comparable in family ownership, historic-urban brewing, and tourism-led D2C model.
• Brouwerij Verhaeghe: Belgian family-owned brewery (Vedett, Duvel-related portfolio background) with specialty positioning in Belgian ales. Comparable in craft/specialty beers, Belgian heritage, and on-trade orientation.
• Brouwerij Huyghe: Belgian independent brewery behind Delirium Tremens and a specialty portfolio with strong export footprint. Comparable scale and product breadth in Belgian craft/specialty segment.
• Duvel Moortgat: Belgian family-rooted specialty brewery (Duvel, Vedett, Chouffe) with strong international distribution and on-trade focus. Closely comparable in heritage-led premium positioning, Belgian craft pedigree, and multi-country export model.
• Bavaria Brewery: Dutch family-owned brewery (now Swinkels Family Brewers) with independent heritage brewing and broad product portfolio. Comparable as a European family brewer with independent ownership and export reach.
• Brouwerij Liefmans: Belgian specialty/fruit-beer producer (Liefmans fruit range) with heritage positioning and export presence. Comparable in style breadth (fruit/specialty) and Belgian craft identity.

Broad incumbents

• Heineken: Global brewing incumbent with extensive horeca distribution and specialty brand portfolio (including Belgian-style offerings). Sets the competitive context for international distribution, on-trade access, and category pricing.
• Anheuser-Busch InBev: Global brewing incumbent with Belgian roots (Leffe, Stella Artois, Hoegaarden craft labels). Comparable as a major player in Belgian specialty beer and a key competitor in horeca listings and export markets.

Regional players

• Brouwerij De Koninck: Belgian regional brewery (Antwerp) with city-center brewery experience and on-site visitor center. Comparable in Belgian city-anchored brewing with tourism/D2C emphasis, though regionally focused.

Emerging players

• Affligem Brewery: Belgian abbey-style specialty beer brand brewed under license. Comparable in Belgian specialty positioning and on-trade distribution, though operating under a licensing model rather than independent ownership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DeHalveMaan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DeHalveMaan
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrouwerijDeHalveMaan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brouwerij-de-halve-maan
• Instagraminstagram.com/halvemaan_bruges

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brouwerij De Halve Maan