Walk into any traditional Brauhaus in Cologne and you will notice something unusual. The waiter — known here as a Köbes — does not ask what you want. He simply places a small, elegant 200ml glass of Kölsch on your table and marks a tick on your coaster. Welcome to one of Europe’s last truly living beer rituals.

Kölsch is more than a beer style. It is a protected appellation, legally brewed only within the city limits, and governed by the Kölsch Konvention — a rare brewing agreement that ties the drink directly to local identity, architecture and neighbourhood tradition. No other European city protects its beer culture quite like this.

A Brewing Map Written in Cobblestones

Cologne’s beer landscape reads like a walk through the city’s history. At Früh am Dom, the cathedral’s twin towers loom just metres away while regulars fill long wooden tables. A few streets south, Brauerei zur Malzmühle has been pouring its signature Mühlen Kölsch in the shadow of the Old Town’s medieval gables since the 19th century. Over in the Altstadt, Brauhaus Sion and Schreckenskammer — one of Cologne’s oldest taverns — anchor a gastronomic quarter where beer and Rhineland cuisine are inseparable.

But the real surprise lies beyond the tourist centre. In the Ehrenfeld district, a wave of craft brewing has quietly reshaped the city’s beer identity. Braustelle brews boundary-pushing styles like the Ehrenfelder Alt and the boldly named Pink Panther, while Hellers Brauhaus balances tradition and experimentation with its own Kölsch, Wiess and seasonal Maibock. Meanwhile, BRAUWELT Köln (Sünner) — housed in a stunning industrial complex — bridges brewing heritage with cultural programming, making it a destination in its own right.

For those who want to explore further, dedicated tasting bars like Craftbeer Corner Coeln and Cölln Craft Beer Bar curate rotating tap lists that showcase Germany’s evolving craft beer experience alongside local classics. And the city’s own Biermuseum offers a deeper dive into the brewing heritage that shaped the Rhineland.

Why Cologne Matters for European Beer Tourism

Cologne embodies what a genuine craft beer travel experience should look like: a city where brewing is woven into architecture, gastronomy and daily life — not packaged for consumption. This is exactly the kind of destination that Beer Trips are designed to reveal, encouraging slow tourism and authentic local discovery in European cities that go far beyond the mass-tourism trail.

As a European beer city, Cologne rewards the curious traveller — the one willing to leave the cathedral square, wander into Ehrenfeld, sit at the bar of a century-old Brauhaus, and let the Köbes decide the pace. It is sustainable tourism at its most natural: rooted in place, driven by flavour, shaped by people.

Discover the full Cologne Beer Trip on beBeer in pocket here: https://www.bebeer.app/bebeer/information/cologne

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From Belgium and Germany to the Czech Republic, Italy or France, more and more Europeans are organising weekends around brewing culture, local gastronomy and authentic experiences. The rise of experiential tourism, slow travel and food-focused escapes has created the perfect environment for a fast-growing trend: European beer tourism.

Far from traditional mass tourism routes, these Beer Trips encourage travellers to discover Europe differently — through brewing cities, medium-sized towns and rural communes shaped by local brewing traditions and regional identity. Across Europe, brewing heritage remains deeply connected to cultural heritage, architecture, gastronomy and local history, linking visitors to centuries of craftsmanship, conviviality and hospitality.

This is precisely the ambition behind the Beer Trip Planner developed by beBeer in your pocket.

The platform allows users to discover beer-focused escapes across Europe by highlighting brewing cities, local beer experiences, brewpubs, traditional venues and thematic itineraries designed for travellers seeking authenticity and local immersion. The objective is not simply to promote beer, but to encourage a new way of exploring European destinations through brewing culture and local tourism experiences.

Users can already explore around fifteen Beer Trips across Europe, with new destinations progressively joining the platform. Importantly, beBeer positions itself as a European beer tourism initiative — not as a beer network — by focusing on travel experiences, brewing heritage and sustainable tourism dynamics connected to local identity.

The project also anticipates the European Union’s evolving strategy on sustainable tourism by encouraging travellers to discover lesser-known destinations, secondary cities, medium-sized towns and rural communities outside classic tourism circuits. The ambition is clear: promoting slower, more balanced and more authentic tourism experiences across Europe while helping diversify tourism flows beyond overcrowded destinations.

This evolution reflects broader changes in European travel habits. Increasingly, travellers are looking for meaningful local experiences rooted in gastronomy, regional culture and human interaction rather than traditional sightseeing alone. Train-accessible escapes, walkable destinations and encounters with local communities are becoming central elements of modern European tourism.

Beer tourism naturally fits these expectations. Across Europe, brewing culture has become a gateway to discovering local heritage, regional traditions and overlooked destinations often absent from classic tourism guides. From historic brewing cities to rural beer-producing communes, European beer culture is increasingly emerging as a powerful tourism experience in its own right.

One of beBeer’s more innovative features also allows users to suggest new brewing cities and communes that deserve recognition for their beer culture and tourism potential, helping expand visibility for emerging beer tourism destinations across Europe.

At a time when European tourism increasingly values authenticity, sustainability and cultural discovery, Beer Trips may well become one of the season’s most promising travel trends for beer lovers and urban explorers alike.

For travellers looking to combine exploration, European heritage, gastronomy and brewing culture, the next getaway may now begin with a beer.

Discover the Beer Trip Planner here:
beBeer Trip Planner

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A Belgian start-up with a European network mindset

beBeer’s mission is simple but ambitious: It aims to bring together brewers and promoters, local and regional beer lovers, and elected councillors. This makes it possible for visitors to discover activities, breweries to raise their profile, and municipalities to strengthen local economic development. Additionally, it attracts tourism.  “The project has been maturing and in preparation for several years,” says founder Pascal Goergen. “I had to combine my various professional experiences to be able to bring together digital, local, and the brewing world. The aim was to propose something innovative and positive for the local sector and for the brewing tradition in Europe.” The platform is currently available in French, English, Dutch and German, reflecting beBeer’s cross-border ambition from day one. 

More than breweries: mapping the real beer experience

What beBeer catalogues goes well beyond taprooms. Alongside breweries and microbreweries, the platform brings visibility to the wider ecosystem of “promoters.” This includes pubs, brewing tours, brotherhoods, museums, tasting competitions, festivals, and even restaurants featuring beer-based dishes. The result is a practical guide for locals and visitors alike, featuring an interactive map and calendar. These tools include more than 5,000 breweries and promoters for easy navigation. For breweries and organisers, beBeer also offers the ability to create a “brewing ID” page/card. They can share events or products, giving the sector a dedicated, independent place to be found and followed. 

“Brewing communes”: a label built on evidence, not marketing

One of beBeer’s most distinctive projects is its forthcoming “brewing commune” label, awarded with one, two or three hops to spotlight places where brewing heritage is vibrant. Importantly, beBeer positions this as not another generic standard or certification. “Here, there is no ISO or other type of label,” Goergen explains. “It’s about compiling everything related to the brewing world in your commune/city. The beBeer jury can then assess the intensity/presence of brewing in a particular commune.” The assessment is based on 10 objective criteria that guide the jury in awarding hop levels. The model also creates a concrete role for local leadership. Elected officials can become beBeer Ambassadors for their commune. They help connect the platform with local brewers, venues, and initiatives while promoting heritage and tourism. 

What’s next: financing innovation, investors, and a new “phygital” beer tourism layer

Winning the LuxLife award is a milestone but beBeer is treating it as a springboard. Over the coming months, the team’s priorities are clear:

• Creating the right financial environment to accelerate innovation: This strengthens the foundation that allows beBeer to scale responsibly while staying true to its values of independence, passion, diversity, and mutual respect. 
• Opening discussions with investors who share a long-term vision for an independent European brewing network. These discussions support growth, product development, and international rollout.
• Building new digital opportunities for the brewing world, including Web3 experimentation. Efforts focus where real value is created, such as trust, traceability, and community participation. Additionally, a stronger phygital approach links digital discovery to real-world experiences.
• Launching tourism-driven “phygital” events across Europe’s regions and communes. These efforts help visitors discover breweries and local traditions through curated routes, calendars, and on-the-ground activations.
• Announcing the first “brewing communes” by the end of March, marking the first wave of municipalities recognized for their brewing intensity and heritage in multiple European countries. This is a key step in turning the “beBeer in your pocket” idea into a visible, local movement. 

As beBeer expands, its message remains consistent: the goal is not to replace local ecosystems. Instead, it aims to connect them, making Europe’s brewing culture easier to explore and sustain.

Practical info: www.bebeer.app and www.bebeer.org

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Today, beBeer is taking a new step forward by entering into a strategic partnership with our media Brussels Express.

A driving force for beer tourism

At a time when beer tourism is experiencing sustained growth throughout Europe, beBeer in the pocket aims to establish itself as its spearhead. The app does more than just map breweries: it helps travellers discover festivals, brewing communes, craft bars and local initiatives that enrich the region. It is also the same lever for brewers and other players in the sector, who gain visibility among a curious and beer lover audience.

Brussels Express opens its pages to the Europe of beer. For its part, Brussels Express is creating a section dedicated to beBeer. This new editorial space will offer its readers profiles of brewers, reports on local scenes and insights into brewing dynamics across the continent, such as the brand new European network of Brewing Cities and Communes and the associated label. 

Each brewing commune and its local promotors will be given special attention, showcasing the diversity and vitality of European brewing territories.

By partnering with beBeer, the Brussels media outlet is confirming its desire to promote Europe, its traditions and its expertise, particularly in terms of what constitutes a living cultural heritage: beer.

A partnership in the name of common heritage

With this partnership, beBeer gains an essential media showcase to develop its network and establish its European status. Brussels Express, for its part, enriches its content and opens up more to the cultural and economic dimension of beer in Europe.

A partnership that celebrates not only a drink, but above all a shared history, expertise and way of life.

The post « beBeer in your Pocket » goes European with Brussels Express appeared first on Brussels Express.

Available now at www.bebeer.app, this app aims to become the essential companion for craft beer lovers and those curious to discover local brews.

An interactive map to explore more than 5,000 breweries

Designed for mobile use without downloading, the web app makes it easy to locate thousands of breweries and access their news, events and, of course, their beers. Available in four languages (French, Dutch, English and German), it also proposes a brewing calendar and an interactive map to plan your hoppy getaways across Europe.

A European network of brewing communes

At the same time, beBeer is launching a European network of Brewing Cities and Communes, accompanied by a new label for municipalities that promote their brewing heritage. This label, awarded on the basis of 10 objective criteria, distinguishes communes on a scale of one to three hops – similar to the flower-filled communes – according to the richness and diversity of their brewing ecosystem.

An initiative serving local areas

The project is based on a strong territorial approach: it aims to connect brewers, promoters, local elected councillors and beer lovers around a common tool. For local authorities, it is a lever for visibility, tourist appeal and economic development. For brewers and other players in the sector (specialised bars, guilds, hop producers, festivals, museums…), it is a dynamic and participatory showcase. ‘This is not an ISO label, but concrete recognition of a region’s brewing intensity. Sometimes we are unaware of the brewing treasures hidden in our own city,’ explains Pascal Goergen, founder of beBeer.

A call to communes and local councillors

Several European communes have already been contacted for this first phase. The first labels are expected by October. Elected councillors are invited to become beBeer ambassadors, acting as a link between their commune and the local brewing world.

An open and committed community

beBeer is not just an app. It is a complete ecosystem built around three platforms:

• www.bebeer.app: the mobile-first web app
• www.bebeer.org: the project’s showcase website
• www.bebeer.eu: the community of beer lovers

Free, intuitive and collaborative, ‘beBeer in your pocket’ is for everyone: beer lovers, professionals, visitors and elected councillors. The aim? To promote European brewing culture, one pint at a time.

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The principle is simple and participative: Local inhabitants, shopkeepers and other key local players are invited to work together to craft their own beer. The journey starts with a survey in which everyone shares what and how it feels like to live in their particular neighborhood. Then, during a friendly meet-and-greet evening, the participants decide together on the recipe (flavor, taste) and on the design for the label. The sky is truly not the limit when it comes to imagination: these ‘creators’ can imagine a beer inspired by an old local brewery, redolent of flowers, with just that fruity aftertaste or even brimming with local spices… Clearly, anything is possible. They can come up with a watermark of the streets logo, and perhaps clip some unexpected anecdotes from the neighbourhood to enhance the overall experience.

Meet the founders: Bruno and Greg

The Bières de Quartiers adventure was born out of the friendship between Bruno and Greg, two beer aficionados. Bruno, a beer lover since he was a boy, and Greg, a fervent advocate of local synergies, combined their passions to create this unique project together. Their most obvious aim won’t come as a surprise; chiefly, both friends wanted to please our taste buds! But their project fulfills another wish, one that strengthens human ties within and across these neighbourhoods of Brussels. Although they don’t have their own brewing facilities (apart from a 30-litre tank for running their tests), they are proud of their collaborations with partner craft brewhouses.

As stated earlier, the Bières de Quartiers project is indeed based on this collaborative principle of getting locals, shopkeepers and other key players involved in the local community to both imagine and craft their very own beer. Following, are the three main stages of the process: first, local stakeholders are brought together, and a questionnaire is handed out to gather residents’ ideas and preferences for their neighbourhood in particular. Next, during a nice and cozy evening, the participants (not to call them ‘neighbors’) decide together on the ingredients of the recipe for the beer as well as on the design for the label. 
These newly imagined, unique beers are then brewed in partner brewhouses in Brussels such as CoHop in Etterbeek and ILLegaal in Forest. These two places also host creative workshops, with a tasting experience at the end. Finally, the last phase, fermentation and maturation, is carried out in specifically designed 10 or 20hl brewing tanks.

At the core of every project: a strong sense of flexibility and a desire to listen

The project aims at a flexible approach to adapt to and meet the expectations and spending limits of all these ‘neighbors from the blocks’. To reach their target and achieve this goal, several packages have been thought of, offering varied and dynamic services. According to Greg, one of the two founders of the project: ‘We offer three packages to suit everyone’s needs. With the ‘Basic’ package, we offer the project’s essentials: a questionnaire to get local people involved, personalised posters and the production process of the beer. The ‘Support’ package goes the extra mile, offering a bonus workshop led by a zythologist (a beer connoisseur) who will guide you as you discover the world of brewing, and support their journey on social networks to give the project greater visibility. Finally, our ‘Tailor-made ’ package includes a photographer to capture the highlights and a summary video. The participatory aspect of the project is paramount to us. Each district or block decides how it wants to support the project and help define its goals. Some will develop the beer with us, others will use it to strengthen ties or bonds between neighbors or just showcase their little corner of Brussels, their safe haven’. 

A Practical Example: The ‘Quartier de la Levure’ – The Yeast Block

The ‘Quartier de la Levure’ decided to craft its own signature beer for its annual braderie (a lively, community-focused event usually held along the street or in public spaces in Belgium). They decided to buy 500 litres, store them, distribute them deliver and leave the invoicing to Bières de Quartiers. They planned to resell the beer with a margin of €1 to fund a neighbourhood project and even shoot videos/commercials with a few key local players. They finished it to the last signature drop within eight months!

In short, Bières de Quartiers is much more than just an adult beverage. It’s a collective experience that reinforces this sense of belonging to a particular quarter (block), while at the same time promoting Brussels’ traditional know-how.

And why not create the beer of the European Quarter?

Dear Brussels-Express readers, would you be interested in crafting a beer in and around the European Quarter? Imagine a beer that would reflect the heart and soul of our dynamic and cosmopolitan district! Calling out to all beer lovers out there that might be interested, please feel free to reach out through email to contact@brussels-express.eu with the subject line: Quarter Beer. 

The post When Beer Becomes the Signature Drink from the Block appeared first on Brussels Express.

The union that you have never thought about just happened. Maison Dandoy and Brussels Beer Project joined their forces and created a speculoos that tastes of beer and a beer that tastes of speculoos.

Both the brewery and the bakery like to experiment, creating new unique and authentic tastes for their products.

In this new speculoos, made from the spent grain of the beer, the house Dandoy has added touches of almond and cinnamon, « to reveal greedy and autumnal notes, and make the scent of the Indian summer last, » comments the famous family biscuit factory. The beer is light, with golden notes. It is a stout, or « black beer, » with a nice roundness and hints of toasted hazelnut that has been infused with biscuits, giving it cinnamon and clove accents.

« One small step for a circular economy, one giant step for a cookie », comments the brewery on its Facebook page.

Called Tough Cookie, « in homage to the second life offered to speculoos Dandoy », the beer will be sold in Dandoy stores. The cookies, which will bear the same name, will also be available in the Brussels Beer Project sales points.

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On Saturday and Sunday, the third edition of BXLBeerFest craft beer festival took place at Tour & Taxis and attracted nearly 7,000 visitors. An increase from the 5,000 people who attended it in 2018.

« We are very pleased with the improvement because, in any case, attendance should not exceed 10,000 visitors, » said Vincent Callut, one of the organizers. « The return of the participating brewers is very positive. »

For this third edition, the organizers invited about sixty breweries, about half of which are located in Belgium. These are generally young breweries, whose production moves away from the beverages offered by the major brewing groups. Beer from foreign breweries, mostly from Europe and from North America, were present.

Among the audience, visitors from all over Europe, Canada, the United States and Asia could be found.

The festival closed at 8:00 pm on Sunday.

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Just a few steps from Place Flagey and housed in one of Brussels’s modest flat-iron buildings on the corner of Malibran and Scarron, is a beer-lover’s paradise. Since opening in 2012, the Malting Pot has been offering customers over 200 different craft beers, all selected for flavour, originality and quality ingredients.

The premises manage to be cosy and airy at the same time. Stepping into the small establishment, you’ll see simple wooden shelves stocked with attractive bottles and cans of beer you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in Brussels. IPAs, sours, gueuzes, stouts, ales, bitters – these beers come from all over the world. The quirky labels catching your eye are just as artisanal as the beers themselves. Each beer is carefully chosen and the stock is reviewed regularly, meaning there are often new discoveries to be made before they hit the shelves anywhere else.

The counter has the feel of a pop-up bar. The owner, originally from Tehran, studied archaeology and wrote his thesis on the history of beer from Mesopotamia. He’d always dreamt of running a bar or beer store, and after two years working in an unrelated field, he’d saved enough to open a shop and share his passion with the buying public.  If you’re unsure about committing to a bottle of the UK’s Buxton Trolltunga Gooseberry Sour, or you can’t read the Swedish information on the can of Poppel’s Fruit Ale, he will be delighted to give you the low-down on flavour profiles and production methods.

‘I was doubtful when I saw Strawberry Daiquiri on the label,’ he might say. ‘But when I tasted it, it was tangy and not overly sweet. They add real strawberry pulp.’

Need a recommendation of a stout for your carbonnade recipe? This is the place to come: ‘I’d try this Christmas Ale. It’s deep and a bit spiced, but not too sweet.’

With something for all tastes, it’s tempting to settle down, lean into that counter and make a session of it. ‘Maybe I’ll be able to open a bar in the future,’ says our host. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Meanwhile, don’t wait for Christmas to treat yourself.

The post Brussels Hidden Gems: the Malting Pot, Ixelles appeared first on Brussels Express.

Since 1900, when the family business was founded by Paul Cantillon and his wife Marie Troch, Brasserie Cantillon has been brewing lambic beer. In 120 years, the only real change has been a switch to organic ingredients in 2011. A visit will teach you all about the brewing process and give you a taste of some of the 400,000 bottles produced each year.

 

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My first time!

A post shared by Mike « Tasty » McDole (@tastymcd) on May 24, 2018 at 4:16am PDT

Inside you’ll discover a honey-hued interior filled with beer-making paraphernalia. Wooden crates, scorched and branded ‘CANTILLON’, seem to multiply. Labyrinthine corridors are formed from green bottles and oak and chestnut casks and there’s a reverent sense of hush. But make no mistake: this is a working brewery, not a mausoleum. Magic is taking place.

The casks are all at least 40 years old and have previously held French wine, port or Iberian sherry. They are not there for decoration. They are resting, for at least one summer. Vast copper mash tuns are in action and 50 kilo sacks of ingredients are being lugged about, while Heath Robinson-esque conveyor belts twist and turn through the building.

 

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Thanks to our talented friend @ammoamo we’ve got some brand new signage to guide our visitors through the brewery! Ammo has also painted a beautiful new piece for our tasting room (last photo). Silk-screen print versions are available in the shop 😉 Merci Ammo! ❤️🍻 🤗1. Brewing area 2. Mill and Boiler Room 3. Granary 4. Coolship 5a. Barrel room 5b. Barrel room & fruiting tanks 6. Barrel cleaning 7. Bottling 8. Labeling & Cellars

A post shared by Brasserie Cantillon Brouwerij (@brasseriecantillonofficiel) on Mar 19, 2019 at 2:49am PDT

Up in the rafters, tanks named ‘coolships’ receive the wort and at night roof vents are opened, letting the night air flood in, carrying with it the wild yeasts that make this beer unique. Fermented exclusively from natural fungi and bacteria found in the Zenne valley, this inimitable beverage simply cannot be made anywhere else, although many have tried.

During the winter, lambics of various ages are matched, blended, and bottled immediately. This is the famous ‘méthode champenoise’ which kicks off a second fermentation in the bottle and produces the classic ‘gueuze’. At other points in the year, seasonal fruits are added to make different varieties of Cantillon, including local Schaerbeek cherries, raspberries and, in the autumn, Italian muscat grapes.

At the end of your visit, you’ll have a chance to sample a bottle or two. Dry, sour, tart and complex, the flavour approaches that of some traditional ciders – and divides beer lovers.

Watch your step as you leave but do turn back to see the famous Cantillon sign swinging in the twilight – a drunkard, falling over backwards as he tips the last drops of lambic down his throat.

Next time: Abbatoir

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