What Brouwerij Van Steenberge does

Brouwerij Van Steenberge is an independent, family-owned Belgian brewery founded in 1784 in Ertvelde/Evergem, now in its sixth generation of ownership under the Ertveld/Schelfaut/Van Steenberge lineage. The company specializes in top-fermented and secondary-fermented specialty beers, producing a portfolio of nine core brands: Gulden Draak (its ruby-red tripel flagship), Fourchette (multi-grain tripel), Augustijn (monastic), Piraat (strong blonde), Baptist, Bornem (Recognized Abbey Beer since 1999), Gentse Tripel, Monk's Café (Flemish Oud bruin), and Export 1784 (pilsner). Premium tiers include the Gulden Draak Cuvée Prestige barrel-aged series (Cognac, Bourbon, Laphroaig, Porto, Madeira, Scotch Whisky casks) and the Fourchette Grand Cru line aged in Sauvignon Blanc and Vermouth barrels.

The underlying production rests on traditional Belgian brewing craft augmented by proprietary biological assets, notably house yeast strains developed by Joseph Van Steenberge under the "Bios" program, and vertically integrated hop cultivation at the Hopspot microbrewery between the brewery's hop fields. Capacity is being expanded through a new barrel line announced in 2024 to increase yield and energy efficiency.

Commercially, Brouwerij Van Steenberge operates a direct-to-consumer model through its own e-commerce webshop (shipping to Benelux, France, and Germany with free shipping over €75), on-site experiential channels (Hopspot microbrewery visitor center and Bar Baptist event venue above the brewhouse), and specialty/HORECA distribution. Pricing is unit-based across the portfolio, ranging from €1.40 (Export 1784 33cl) to €24.50 (Fourchette Grand Cru Sauvignon Blanc), with Cuvée Prestige variants priced at €17.75-€18.75. Individual brewery tours are priced at €50 per person. The company maintains an active international award track record, with 12 medals at the World Beer Awards 2025, 8 awards in 2021, and recognition across London Beer Competition, Brussels Beer Challenge, and Asia Beer Challenge. Recent strategic moves include the Lisbon Gulden Draak Bierhuis opening and the launch of multiple premium barrel-aged SKUs, signaling continued investment in premium product and geographic expansion.

Name

Brouwerij Van Steenberge

Legal name

Van Steenberge Brouwerij nv

Website

https://vansteenberge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1784

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brouwerij Van Steenberge is a sixth-generation, family-owned Belgian brewery founded in 1784, producing specialty top-fermented and secondary-fermented beers across nine brands led by Gulden Draak, with direct-to-consumer e-commerce across Benelux/France/Germany and on-site experiential venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Belgian Specialty Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD), Alcoholic Beverage Tours & On-site Experiences (Brewery/Winery/Distillery) (THAFALAK), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

Keywords

• Belgian craft beer
• Specialty brewery
• Barrel-aged beer
• Abbey beer
• Brewery tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Ertvelde

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales (B2C): Direct-to-consumer sales of specialty Belgian beers through own e-commerce platform with shipping to Benelux, France, and Germany. Products sold in various formats including 33cl, 75cl, 1.5L bottles and 20L kegs
2. Brewery Experiences: Revenue from brewery tours, beer tastings at Hopspot and Bar Baptist, and event hosting including private events, seminars, and team building experiences

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Brouwerij Van Steenberge brews and sells a portfolio of specialty top and secondary fermentation Belgian beers under nine distinct brands (Gulden Draak, Fourchette, Augustijn, Piraat, Baptist, Bornem, Gentse Tripel, Monk's Café, Export 1784) with multiple variants including barrel-aged Cuvée Prestige and Grand Cru editions. The company operates direct-to-consumer channels including an e-commerce webshop shipping to Benelux, France, and Germany, plus on-site experiences at the Hopspot microbrewery and Bar Baptist including paid brewery tours and tastings.

Product overview

Brouwerij Van Steenberge is an independent Belgian brewery founded in 1784, now in its sixth generation. The brewery produces a portfolio of specialty beers under multiple brands, led by flagship Gulden Draak (ruby-red tripel) and including Fourchette (multi-grain tripel), Augustijn (monastic beers), Piraat (strong blonde), Baptist (named after founder), Bornem (abbey beer), Gentse Tripel (city-specific), Monk's Café (Flemish Oud bruin), and Export 1784 (pilsner). Premium offerings include Gulden Draak Cuvée Prestige barrel-aged variants and Fourchette Grand Cru barrel-aged editions. The portfolio also includes gift packs (Gold Label Series, Belgian Beer Tasting Box) and brand-specific glassware accessories. The brewery operates Hopspot, an on-site microbrewery experience, and Bar Baptist for event hosting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hopspot: Microbrewery experience located between hop fields, offering exclusive brewing samples and tastings.

Products and services

• Gulden Draak The signature authentic ruby-red tripel beer and flagship product line of Brouwerij Van Steenberge, with multiple variants including Classic, 9000 Quadruple, Brewmaster, Imperial Stout, Fire, Blond, Red, and Smoked versions for beer enthusiasts and connoisseurs.
• Gulden Draak Cuvée Prestige Premium barrel-aged variants of Gulden Draak, including Laphroaig (peated whisky), Bourbon, Madeira, Cognac, Porto, and Scotch Whisky finishes, aged in various wine and spirit casks, targeted at specialty beer collectors and connoisseurs.
• Fourchette A soft-bitter, pleasantly refreshing multi-grain tripel beer, available in standard and Grand Cru variants including Sauvignon Blanc and Vermouth barrel-aged editions, targeted at beer enthusiasts seeking refined Belgian ales.
• Fourchette Grand Cru Sauvignon Blanc Specialty barrel-aged edition of Fourchette tripel, aged 20 months in Sauvignon Blanc oak barrels, producing an extraordinary flavor profile with subtle acidic notes and citrus hints for discerning beer collectors.
• Fourchette Grand Cru Vermouth Special edition of Fourchette Grand Cru aged using vermouth techniques, extending the barrel-aged Fourchette lineup for specialty beer enthusiasts.
• Augustijn Monastic high-fermentation beer available in Blond (golden), Dark (brown), and Grand Cru variants, positioned in the abbey beer segment for beer enthusiasts.
• Piraat Strong blonde high-fermentation beer with variants including Piraat (standard), Piraat 7, Triple Hop, and Red, targeted at beer enthusiasts seeking bold Belgian strong ales.
• Baptist Bright high-fermentation beer line named after founder Jan Baptist De Bruyne, available in Blond, White (wheat), IPA, Red, and Saison variants, targeted at a broad range of beer drinkers.
• Bornem A living abbey beer inextricably linked to Saint Bernard Abbey of Bornem, carrying the Belgian Recognized Abbey Beer label since 1999, available in Tripel (blonde) and Dubbel (dark) variants for abbey beer enthusiasts.
• Gentse Tripel The beer of Ghent, a honey-blond high-fermentation beer with secondary fermentation in bottle or keg, developed for specialist shop De Hopduvel in Ghent, targeted at local Ghent specialty beer customers.
• Monk's Café Fresh, mild-sour old brown (Oud bruin) beer honoring the brewery's origins, available in standard and Grand Cru variants for fans of traditional Flemish brown ales.
• Export 1784 A refreshing pilsner-style lager that returns to the Meetjesland tradition, named to reference the brewery's 1784 founding year and honoring Marie Schelfaut, targeted at lager drinkers seeking a Belgian-brewed pilsner.
• Gold Label Series Premium tasting set containing 2x De Garre, 2x Fourchette, and 2x Monk's Café Grand Cru (33cl bottles), marketed as a special edition gift collection.
• Belgian Beer Tasting Box Mixed tasting box containing 6x33cl bottles including Piraat, Piraat Triple Hop, Baptist White, Monk's Grand Cru, Gulden Draak Classic, and Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple, positioned as a tasting and gift pack.
• Brand-specific Glassware Official tasting glasses for Gulden Draak, Fourchette, Augustijn, Piraat, Baptist, Monk's Café, and 1784 Schelfaut Export, available in 25cl and 33cl sizes.
• Brewery Tour and Tasting Experience Individual brewery tour experience at Hopspot priced at €50 per person, including a 60-minute brewery visit, 30-minute beer tasting, and lunch with Gulden Draak beer stew; custom group tours available for 15+ people.
• Bar Baptist Event Hosting On-site event hosting at Bar Baptist, the venue above the brewery's brewing floor, offering tastings, private events, seminars, and team building experiences for corporate groups and private bookings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 medals at World Beer Awards 2025, demonstrating consistent quality across beer portfolio
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• HopspotcoreOthersHopspot is the microbrewery visitor center of Brouwerij Van Steenberge, located surrounded by hop fields. It offers immersive brewery experiences including tours, tastings, and a bar where exclusive brews are served directly from the brewing vessels. The microbrewery is integrated with the main brewery operations and showcases the complete brewing process.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bosteels Brewery (AB InBev): Belgian specialty brewery (Tripel Karmeliet, Kwak, Deus) now owned by AB InBev, producing high-end Belgian tripel and specialty ales with global distribution. Comparable in Belgian specialty positioning, but operates with the global distribution muscle of a major incumbent rather than as an independent family brewer.
• AB InBev: Global brewing giant headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, with Belgian heritage brands (Leffe, Stella Artois, Hoegaarden) overlapping in abbey-style and Belgian specialty categories. Relevant as a broad incumbent shaping the competitive and distribution environment for specialty Belgian brewers.

Direct peers

• Brouwerij De Koninck: Belgian specialty brewery (De Koninck, Bolleke) with a strong Antwerp-rooted identity, on-site brewery experience, and craft positioning. Comparable in city/heritage branding, on-site visitor experience model (De Koninck Brouwerij experience), and DTC/brewery tour revenue model.
• Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat: Belgian specialty brewery group best known for Duvel and Vedett, with an international footprint and on-site brewery experience (Brewery Tour and Belgian Beer World). Comparable in Belgian high-fermentation product focus, DTC brewery experience, and on-trade/premium positioning, though at meaningfully larger scale.
• Brouwerij De Struise Brouwers: Belgian craft brewery producing high-gravity specialty ales (Pannepot, St. Bernardus-adjacent) with strong international award pedigree. Comparable in specialty positioning, limited production volumes, and emphasis on barrel-aged and quadrupel styles.
• Brouwerij Huyghe: Belgian brewery producing Delirium and other specialty blondes, with a deep export footprint and on-site brewery experience. Comparable in Belgian specialty beer positioning, multi-country distribution, and brand-led premium pricing.
• Palm Breweries: Belgian brewing group (Palm, Rodenbach, Brugge) within the Swinkels Family Brewers portfolio, producing a mix of regional and specialty Belgian beers. Comparable in Belgian heritage branding, multi-brand portfolio strategy, and on-premise/specialty retail focus.
• Brouwerij Verhaeghe: Belgian specialty brewery producing Echt Kriekenbier and Verhaeghe Flemish ales, focused on traditional Belgian styles with strong on-trade presence. Comparable in Flemish ale expertise, specialty/abbey-style portfolio, and family-owned mid-scale operations.
• Brouwerij Rodenbach: Belgian specialty brewery famous for oak-aged Flemish red-brown ales, now part of the Swinkels Family Brewers group. Directly comparable in barrel-aged specialty production, Flemish oud bruin portfolio, and award-winning heritage branding.
• Brouwerij Het Anker: Belgian family-owned specialty brewery in Mechelen, producer of Gouden Carolus, a Belgian dark strong ale with similar heritage positioning and barrel-aged specialty lines. Closely comparable in product mix, ownership structure, and family heritage storytelling to Van Steenberge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Brouwerij.Van.Steenberge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brouwerij-van-steenberge
• Instagraminstagram.com/brouwerijvansteenberge
• Xx.com/guldendraak12

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Van Steenberge