With La Source as Brussels’ ninth brewery, we can end a decade of the revival of brewing in this city—which started in 2010 when De la Senne joined sole survivor Cantillon—on a high note. While most breweries mainly focus on the production part when opening, for La Source the social aspect of their brewery with taproom was at least just as important. That doesn’t mean the beers are not important—quite the contrary—and so far their beers have rightfully so been very well received!
The beers brewed at La Source are an interesting mix between the modern craft beer styles you’ve come to expect, like all kinds of IPAs, sours, and an imperial stout, but also classic styles like a tripel, witbier and yes, even a Belgian blonde…
They’re not afraid of a little experimentation either, judging by the egg-shaped earthenware fermentation vessels, usually only used in winemaking. We’re very interested in the results of that!
They call themselves a brewpub, but unlike some other brewpubs in Brussels, the La Source beers are actually available outside of the brewery as well, both in other bars on draught, and canned in beer shops. In the brewery you can buy the beers to go as well, of course, in cans, or in one of their beautifully decorated growlers, which—I have been assured—will be purged with CO2 before filling, so you can keep them for a little longer.
The space is shared with Fermenthings, which moved here from Jette to focus more on workshops, and they will occasionally be providing food when the bar is open, especially during events. If Fermenthings happens to be closed during your visit, you can always order a piece of comté, a dried sausage, or just a packet of crisps.
With En Stoemelings and No Science just around the corner, and De la Senne moving to their new brewery-with-taproom in the same area soon, this part of Laeken is quickly becoming the new brewery hub of the city. Easily connected with the centre of Brussels with bus 88, I can easily see this area becoming a popular beer geek destination. La Source’s taproom being open five days a week, in the recently renovated Be-Here complex, it will certainly be able to attract less geeky neighbours and other Brusseleirs as well.
* Disclaimer: The author of this article is a crowdfunder of the La Source taproom.
tl;dr
Beers
- 5 beers straight from the tank
- 8 beers and 1 cider on draught
- cans and growlers of their beers to take away
Bites
- Fermenthings shares the same space now, so usually hot dogs and other deliciousness
Rue Dieudonné Lefèvrestraat 4
1020 Brussel (Laken)
https://www.lasourcebeer.be
What have people been drinking here recently?
- Btlss is drinking an Ouranos at La Source Beer Co.
- Btlss is drinking a La Meute at La Source Beer Co.
- Alex is drinking an Ouranos at La Source Beer Co.
- Btlss is drinking an Epervier at La Source Beer Co.
- Alex is drinking a Venere at La Source Beer Co.
- Alex is drinking a La Meute at La Source Beer Co.
- Mathieu is drinking a Split It Out at La Source Beer Co.
- Peter Holthinrichs is drinking a Genèse at La Source Beer Co.
- Mathieu is drinking a Bebop at La Source Beer Co.
- Alex is drinking an Epervier at La Source Beer Co.