Since the Brasserie St-Feuillien opened in Wallonia over 150 years ago, it has continued to proudly embody the Belgian brewing tradition. More than just a brewery, Brasserie St-Feuillien represents respected family heritage, unwavering passion for high-quality Belgian beer and a constant drive for innovation.
Read on to learn all about our brewery’s fascinating history and discover how our beers continue to delight and enchant palates all over the world.
The fascinating history of Brasserie St-Feuillien
Saint-Feuillien Abbey was founded in 1125 in the heart of the Belgian town of Le Roeulx by a group of young monks, marking the beginning of an eventful history. The name “Saint Feuillien” comes from Saint Follian, an Irish monk who came to evangelise in the region in the seventh century. He was murdered one October evening in 655, and the site of his martyrdom soon became a popular place of pilgrimage.
For almost seven centuries, the abbey flourished, playing a central role in the spiritual, economic and cultural life of the region. A community of thirty to forty monks lived here, surrounded by many tradespeople, including a brewer. However, like many other religious establishments, the abbey was destroyed in 1796 by French Revolutionary soldiers, and St-Feuillien beer disappeared for a while.
Fortunately, this brewing tradition has not been lost. Thanks to the Friart family, who took over the Brasserie and brought it back to life, handing it down from one generation to the next, St-Feuillien beer continues to delight beer lovers, despite the obstacles the region has faced – most notably two world wars. Today, it represents a family’s passion and a craft that has been handed down for centuries.
Ancestral skill enhanced by innovation
Behind the walls of the Brasserie, a heritage is being perpetuated with devotion. Traditional brewing methods have been carefully preserved and handed down from generation to generation. Today, these are the core identity of St-Feuillien. The use of top-quality local ingredients, such as pure local water and carefully cultivated, home-made yeast, allows each beer to reveal a unique character and authentic flavour, a symbol of the brewery’s artisanal craft.
Despite this success, Brasserie St-Feuillien has never been one to rest on its laurels! Aware of the importance of moving with the times, our brewery has embraced technological advances with enthusiasm to perfect our production processes and guarantee impeccable quality. This subtle blend of tradition and modernity is embodied in each of the beers brewed at Brasserie St-Feuillien, from our refreshing Blonde with its fruity aromas to our powerful Triple with its spicy notes, not forgetting the Grand Cru – a true mark of the Brasserie’s excellence.
Unwavering environmental commitment
We have placed sustainable development at the heart of our priorities, to do our bit in the face of today’s environmental challenges. In 2021, we adopted an ambitious « Industrial redeployment » that illustrates our commitment to an environmentally responsible approach. Installing state-of-the-art equipment minimises our environmental impact and increases the Brasserie’s ability to meet growing customer demand for sustainable, high-quality products.
Our shift to producing organic beers also reflects this commitment, marking an important step towards reducing our environmental footprint.
