Our story – Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie

The Antwerp

Independent

Brewery

With the Antwerp Brewing Company, Antwerp has its own Independent Brewery once again. Our brewery was founded and is owned by beer enthusiasts. Supported by around 1,000 crowdfunders, we built a new brewery in the heart of the city. Together, we are writing a new chapter in Antwerp’s beer and brewing history!

Why do we brew beer?

Because we love beer.

We believe that beer is incredibly diverse and unique.

We enjoy exploring flavors, aromas, and both old and new beer styles.

We don’t create copies of others’ hits or extreme gimmicky brews. Instead, we focus on unique, memorable, high-quality beers that we enjoy drinking ourselves.

We are a small, independent local brewery located in the center of Antwerp. Founded by and fully owned by beer enthusiasts, the Antwerp Brewing Company has been writing a new chapter in the rich brewing history of Antwerp since 2012. We are reviving Antwerp’s beers and putting the city back on the (world) map as a beer destination.

Our brand-new brewery features the latest technology, which we combine with traditional brewing methods, an open brewer’s spirit, and an unwavering drive for top quality.

Beer is a natural product, so we pay great attention to environmentally friendly production practices. From using 100% green energy to harnessing heat from brewing steam and maximizing reusability.

However, our most important ingredient is our team, who, together with the enthusiasm of many beer lovers, café owners, and store managers, are making this unique beer dream a reality.

More about our history

Brewing history of Antwerp

11th – 14th century
Middle Ages
With the growth of Antwerp, several brewers settled in the city, initially on Kammenstraat (Kammer = old name for brewer) and later on Brouwersvliet. By around 1500, their number was even estimated to be 200. Step by step, Seefbier began to take shape as a distinct local beer style of the new city.
1585
The fall of Antwerp
When the city was recaptured by Spanish troops in 1585, the fledgling Seefbier was at risk of disappearing. To finance the war, the Spaniards imposed an additional tax on beer, which accounted for up to 67% of the tax revenue. At the same time, the use of buckwheat—which had historically been a component of Antwerp’s beer and remains an important part of Seefbier today—was prohibited in favor of other more heavily taxed grains. After significant protest and widespread clandestine brewing, this regulation was rescinded. Seefbier was saved.
17th century
First and oldest written mention
The time when painters like Rubens, Van Dyck, and Jordaens experienced their heyday. The first written mention of the name Seefbier can be found in the 17th century, where Seefbier is listed in 1677 among the purchases of the Theater Circle of the St. Luke’s Guild.
19th century
The Seefhoek
The historic Seefbier has become the most popular beer in the city, the beer of the people of Antwerp. A new neighborhood on the northern edge of the city—built for the many new dockworkers—was named ‘Seefhoek,’ referring to the numerous taverns where Seefbier flows abundantly. Over 100 breweries in and around the city brew Seefbier.
20th century
World War 1
When German troops occupy Antwerp during World War I, they proceed to expropriate all small breweries: they use the copper from the kettles to make ammunition. In just a few weeks, all Seefbier breweries in and around the city disappear. The beer, as well as the recipe, is believed to be lost for decades. As one by one all local independent breweries either disappear or are bought out by large conglomerates, only the neighborhood name Seefhoek remains as a reminder of the city’s rich brewing history.
2008
The search for Seefbier’s lost recipe
In a book from the city library titled “Vanished Breweries in and around Antwerp,” Johan Van Dyck—an enthusiastic beer lover who has been active in Belgian breweries for years—reads about the lost Seefbier. This marks the beginning of a three-year quest to uncover the lost recipe. His journey takes him through city archives, local historical societies, conversations with old brewers, and connections with descendants of brewing families.
2012
Seefbier Revived
After a three-year search, the original recipe is rediscovered. With the help of the University of Leuven and Biercentrum Delvaux, the beer is brought back to life. For the first time in nearly a century, Antwerp’s Seefbier is revived. Johan and his wife Karen then decide to not only reintroduce the beer but also to establish a local and, above all, independent brewery in Antwerp.

On March 9, 2012, the beer is officially launched at Antwerp City Hall in the presence of the mayor, who warmly welcomes Antwerp’s Seefbier back and elevates it to the status of Official City Beer.
2016- 2017
A new brewery
From its launch, Seefbier is embraced by beer enthusiasts and steadily gains traction. A location is sought in the city of Antwerp for the construction of the new brewery, which is found in an old harbor site: the historic Noorderpershuis. With the support of around a thousand beer lovers through crowdfunding, the brewing hall is built and put into use in 2017. Located in the heart of Antwerp, the city now has a fully-fledged, local independent brewery once again. As a home for beer lovers, a taproom and restaurant is installed in the brewing hall, where the beers—now expanded into a broad range—can be tasted. The range continues to grow, and the strong passion for beer and focus on top quality makes the young brewery one of the most awarded breweries in Belgium.
2022
Expansion of the Brewery
The brand-new brewery continues to grow and reaches its production capacity limits. To address this, it is expanded with a series of 200hl fermentation tanks, quadrupling its capacity. An additional device (100kg Hopgun) is also purchased to improve the dry-hopping process. Alongside the building, a malt silo is established in collaboration with Mouterij Dingemans (Antwerp Malting). This, combined with further automation, ensures that the brewery can continue to meet the increased demand. At the same time, the brewery takes the next step in its mission to revive Antwerp as a beer city: the originally Antwerp-based ‘Martin’s Pale Ale’ is now brewed here starting from late ’22. Together with the Martin family, the beer is refined based on the original recipes and returns home to Antwerp. Meanwhile, the brewery’s taproom has become a popular beer spot in the city.

SEEF THE PLANET

It’s the only one with beer!

Conscious about waste

The brewery operates 100% on green energy, and energy is recovered from our brewing steam. We don’t simply let the steam from brewing escape into the atmosphere. Instead, we use a condenser to extract all the energy, which is then reused to heat our other brews. The installations are equipped with the latest energy-efficient and environmentally friendly high-performance power generators, with no emissions of sulfur components.

Corn Festival Cups

When cups are needed at an event, we choose either reusable cups or biodegradable options. These biodegradable cups are made from corn starch. They are completely naturally biodegradable, eliminating plastic pollution. We also consciously opt for cardboard from responsible forestry and recycling, ensuring that we use cardboard with an FSC label.

Recycled beer crates

The beer crates from the brewery are consciously made from recycled plastic from old crates. This gives us our signature black color, allowing us to give all colors of plastic a second life. We also reuse our bottles, ensuring that we do not use disposable bottles.

Second life for brewing residues

The grain residues, also known as spent grains, get a second life as animal feed. Every week, a nearby farm comes to collect this spent grain. It serves as high-quality feed for livestock, packed with vitamins.

Environmental friendly CO2 from the port

The CO2 production needed for the brewery, including for pressurizing the tanks, is sourced from the port. This is recycled CO2 that doesn’t go into the atmosphere; instead, it is captured and purified before being transported to the brewery.

Meet

the team

However, our most important ingredient is our team, who, together with the enthusiasm of many beer enthusiasts, bar owners, and store managers, make this unique beer dream a reality.