brasserie cooperative de la lesse

What brasserie cooperative de la lesse does

Brasserie Coopérative de la Lesse is a Belgian cooperative brewery ('Société Coopérative à Finalité Sociale') founded in 2011 in Éprave, in the Famenne-Ardenne region, that produces and sells organic craft beer. The company was established by members of the Confrérie du Busson on the site of the historic Brasserie Rezette, with approximately 500 cooperators holding €250 tranches providing patient equity capital. Headcount is lean, with roughly 5 employees plus an active associé and a 7-person board.

The product portfolio spans nine flagship SKUs — La Top Lesse (organic pils, 4.2%), Blanche de Lessive (wheat, 5.5%), La Chinette (dry-hopped blonde, 6%), La Saison de Han (Walloon saison, 6%), La Cambrée (amber, 6.5%), L'Esprit Triple'S (triple, 8%), Brune des Braves (brown ale, 7.5%), and L'HIVEResse (winter seasonal, 8%) — plus the on-site-only ephemeral 'La Bière du Brasseur' line. Brewing is fully natural: no centrifugation, pasteurization, forced CO2 saturation, preservatives, colorants, or additives. Production runs through a renovated low-energy facility ('Brasserie Basse Énergie') featuring straw insulation, a log boiler, heat recovery, district heating, solar panels, and on-site wastewater treatment. Output scaled from 1,000 hl in 2015 to a forecast 2,150 hl in 2023.

The revenue model is multi-channel and primarily domestic Belgian: direct on-site sales through the shop, bar, and restaurant in Éprave (with guided tours priced at €7-€12 per person); wholesale to the HORECA sector (restaurants, cafés, bars); and retail resellers. Products are sold in 33cl and 75cl bottles and 20L kegs. The cooperative is BE-BIO-01 organic certified, holds Nature & Progrès and Fairtrade labels, and its financing is certified under the Label Finance Solidaire. Marketing is dominated by the ~500-member cooperative network and the on-site visitor experience rather than paid digital channels.

Name

brasserie cooperative de la lesse

Legal name

Brasserie coopérative de la Lesse

Website

https://brasseriedelalesse.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Brasserie Coopérative de la Lesse is a Belgian cooperative brewery founded in 2011 that produces and sells organic craft beer across nine core SKUs and an ephemeral series, serving Belgian consumers through on-site sales, HORECA, and retail resellers via a low-energy brewing facility in Éprave.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAFALAC

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries (Taprooms/Tasting Rooms)

SECONDARYTHAFALAA

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries (Taprooms/Tasting Rooms)

SECONDARYTHAJAGAE

Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Food & Drink Experiences (Culinary Tours, Tastings, Cooking Classes)

SECONDARYAFAFAAAA

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing

Agriculture & Food Production/Beverage Production/Alcoholic Beverage Production (Beer, Wine, Spirits, Cider)

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• Organic brewing
• Cooperative brewery
• Artisanal Belgian beer
• Traditional brewing methods

Headquarters

HQ city

Éprave

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Beer product sales: Sale of artisanal craft beers (Pils, Blanche, Blonde, Saison, Ambrée, Triple, Brune, Winter seasonal) through direct on-site sales (bar, restaurant, shop), HORECA sector, and retail resellers. Products sold in 33cl bottles, 75cl bottles, and 20L kegs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Brasserie de la Lesse is a cooperative brewery that produces and sells organic artisanal Belgian craft beers (pils, blanche, blonde, saison, ambrée, triple, brune, winter seasonal, and ephemeral brews) in 33cl/75cl bottles and 20L kegs. The brewery operates an on-site bar, restaurant, and shop in Éprave and offers guided brewery tours with tastings, using 100% organic Belgian ingredients and a fully natural brewing process without additives, pasteurization, or forced carbonation.

Product overview

Brasserie de la Lesse is an artisanal cooperative brewery producing organic craft beers using traditional Belgian methods and locally-sourced bio ingredients. The portfolio consists of La Top Lesse (organic pilsner), Blanche de Lessive (wheat beer), La Chinette (dry-hopped blonde), La Saison de Han (Walloon saison), La Cambrée (amber), L'Esprit Triple'S (strong Belgian triple), Brune des Braves (brown ale), L'HIVEResse (winter seasonal), and La Bière du Brasseur (ephemeral brews available exclusively at the brewery). All products are crafted without artificial additives, preservatives, or industrial shortcuts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La TopLesse: Pils Artisanale Bio 4.2%
• Blanche de Lessive
• La Chinette
• La Saison de Han
• La Cambrée
• L'Esprit Triple'S
• Brune des Braves
• L'HIVEResse
• La Bière du Brasseur

Products and services

• La Top Lesse A refreshing, light, and delicately bitter organic pilsner at 4.2% ABV, available in 33cl bottles and 20L kegs, for craft beer consumers seeking an easy-drinking organic Belgian pils.
• Blanche de Lessive A traditional and light wheat beer at 5.5% ABV brewed partially with wheat malt, featuring a slightly acidic and refreshing taste; available in 33cl bottles and 20L kegs.
• La Chinette A light local blonde beer at 6% ABV with delicate, sparkling, refreshing taste featuring citrus notes and floral aroma from dry-hopping technique; available in 33cl bottles and 20L kegs.
• La Saison de Han A Walloon-style blonde saison at 6% ABV featuring distinctive malts and a specific Belgian yeast, available in 33cl bottles, 75cl bottles, and 20L kegs.
• La Cambrée A delicate copper-colored amber beer at 6.5% ABV with subtle caramel flavors combining lightness and character; available in 33cl bottles and 20L kegs.
• L'Esprit Triple'S A characterful Belgian triple at 8% ABV with complex and rich aromas while remaining smooth and refined; available in 33cl and 75cl bottles.
• Brune des Braves A mahogany-colored brown beer at 7.5% ABV with smoky and robust character from special malts and Belgian yeast, featuring delicate tannins for pairing with game dishes; available in 33cl bottles.
• L'HIVEResse A winter brown beer at 8% ABV brewed on the same recipe as Brune des Braves but distinguished by rich and subtle spices, designed for winter activities; available in 33cl and 75cl bottles.
• La Bière du Brasseur Ephemeral seasonal beers created by the brewer's imagination and expertise, available exclusively at the brewery on-site.
• Guided brewery tours with and without tasting On-site guided brewery visits at the Éprave facility lasting approximately 1h30, with two pricing options: €12/person including guided tour and beer tasting, and €7/person for tour only; group bookings (minimum 10 persons) available outside regular hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production grew from 1,000 hl (2015) to 2,150 hl (2023 forecast) — more than doubling in 8 years

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Label Finance SolidairecoreOthersThe cooperative's financing received the Finance Solidaire label, certifying that financing generates social and environmental utility. The label also guarantees transparent and complete information for investors.
• Confrérie du BussoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal group of friends from the Buissonville youth movement who formed the brotherhood and drove the creation of the brewery, transitioning from consumers to producers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Brasserie Lupulus: Walloon craft brewery producing organic and traditional Belgian beers with on-site taproom and visitor experience. Closest comparable by geography (Wallonia), scale (~mid-tier craft), organic positioning, and on-site hospitality model.
• Brasserie des Légendes: Walloon craft brewery in Ath producing traditional Belgian styles with on-site bar/restaurant and tours. Comparable in size, Belgian-style portfolio, and direct-to-consumer experience-driven model.
• Brasserie de Blaugies: Small family-run Belgian craft brewery producing traditional ales with limited distribution. Comparable as a similarly small-scale artisanal Belgian brewer focused on quality and authenticity over volume.
• Brasserie de la Senne: Brussels-based microbrewery focused on traditional, unfiltered Belgian beers with a no-additives philosophy. Highly comparable natural brewing process, similar craft scale, and direct-to-consumer emphasis.
• Brasserie de Brunehaut: Belgian brewery specializing in organic and gluten-free beers, distributed through HORECA and retail. Directly comparable on organic certification, Belgian territory, and craft beer distribution channels.
• Brasserie Cantillon: Iconic Brussels lambic brewery and museum with strong on-site visitor traffic and traditional spontaneous fermentation. Comparable as a small, tradition-driven Belgian brewery with taproom experience and limited distribution.
• 3 Fonteinen: Belgian lambic/geuze producer with cooperative-like ownership roots and on-site tasting room. Comparable on Belgian craft authenticity, traditional brewing, and experience-led retail.

Regional players

• Brasserie Thiriez: French craft brewery near the Belgian border producing artisanal French-Belgian style beers. Comparable in scale and craft positioning, but operates primarily in northern France rather than Belgium.

Broad incumbents

• Duvel Moortgat: Larger Belgian specialty brewer (Duvel, Vedett, Chouffe) with broad distribution and portfolio. Comparable Belgian craft heritage and HORECA focus, but operates at materially greater scale across multiple brands.
• Brewery Ommegang: Belgian-style craft brewery in the US (owned by Duvel Moortgat) producing Belgian-inspired ales. Comparable Belgian-style craft product portfolio but operates in a different geographic market at broader scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brasserie-de-la-lesse

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 brasserie cooperative de la lesse