Antwerp 2023 - Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie revisit

In the early afternoon of Friday 30 June 2023, Tim and friends including Mark and Les (above) arrived at the impressive brewery, taproom and courtyard of Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie at Indiestraat 21 in Antwerp's docklands north of the city centre.

This was after first visits to Gaarkeuken 110 and the nearby Taverne t'Kerkschip, described in a separate post: Antwerp 2023 - first visits.

Selfie photo: Les M with L to R: Les, Mark, David, Tim, Simon & Graham

Mark was in his element on this visit to Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie. Having purchased a red Seef Bier cap for himself, he would treat us all to the delightful taste of the limited edition 10% ABV AnniverSeef JubileumBier in elegant glasses served from a 75cl bottle.

From our courtyard table we noticed that brewery owner Johan Van Dyck was being interviewed at the table on the other side of the entrance ramp and Tim approached him after the interview to present the latest issue of West Berkshire CAMRA Ullage magazine. With his typical enthusiastic and generous nature, Johan came over to our table for a chat. 

He mentioned that the Anniverseef is a one off beer made with a first fermentation using Seef yeast, a second fermentation still in the tank with added sugar and champagne yeast and then a third fermentation in the bottle with champagne yeast. 

Martin's Pale Ale

a previous version of Martin's Pale Ale 2018 

Johan talked about Martin's Pale Ale, a classic pale ale whose origins lie with an English family that moved to Antwerp at the beginning of the 1900s. However it was first brewed in England and later in different parts of Belgium with the recipe changing over the years. Now it has been brought 'home' to Antwerp with Martin's Pale Ale now brewed at Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie. The Anthony Martin website gives details of many beers from its breweries including the latest Martin's Pale Ale.

Johan enlisted help from award winning home brewer Keith Moore in Germany and beer author Ron Pattinson in Amsterdam two years ago before finalising the brewing recipe which includes UK sourced East Kent Goldings and Fuggles hops. Keith sent him several different bottles of typical English pale ales available in Germany. Ron sent Johan details of English pale ales that were exported to Belgium and the recipe for the pale ale that Whitbread once exported to Belgium using his extensive brewing history resources.

Johan said 'Our dream is to make the Antwerp beer scene vibrant and alive again'.

Radio Minerva Tripel

Johan also explained that Radio Minerva (Tripel) is named after 40 year old Radio Minerva a popular Antwerp based radio station which has older volunteer presenters and plays music from earlier eras. Radio Minerva helped with publicity when Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie was crowdfunding to build its brewery. When Radio Minerva looked for a way to celebrate it's anniversary, the Tripel was brewed to also help with funding the radio station. It's popularity led to it becoming a permanent beer and it has won gold awards including Frankfurt International Trophy 2023 and European Beer Challenge 2023.

Belgian Beer Brothers describe the history of Minerva Tripel before a tasting of the beer in a YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04M2e8yBP2E 

ABC Taproom and Brewery

After checking his phone to confirm the time of his next appointment, Johan invited our group to join him on an impromptu brewery tour in the time remaining.

Only a chain separates the brewery from the taproom.

Johan explained that the brewery capacity has increased since 2020 and is controlled by an automated system that can be accessed remotely.

Many thanks to Johan for the interesting tour of Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie. His enthusiasm and dedication to the Antwerp beer scene is admirable.

Keith Moore

Heiko Müller & Keith Moore  (photo: HM)

Johan had mentioned meeting our brewer friend Keith Moore, also mentioned above, a week earlier when he visited Antwerp to meet Richard and Andrew at the 22nd Beer Passion Weekend festival. 

As one of the original crowdfunders for Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie since first meeting Johan in 2016, Keith's name is on the founder's plaque inside the brewery.

Keith has won several hobby brewer contests in Germany including Mainz craft beer festival prize for home brewers. His 2016 winner was a Black IPA based on a Cascadian dark ale recipe. The 2018 summer beer style contest was won by his Entdeckung (Discovery), based on the beer once brewed by Fuller's. Keith won first place in the Sour Beers category for his Langener Gose in the competition for the 2020 Hobby Brew / HeimBrau Convention.

The photo below the heading from the March 2023 Hobby Brew / HeimBrau Convention in Romrod, near Marburg, shows Keith Moore with the silver award for his low alcohol Ruby Light Dark Mild (2.2% ABV) and Heiko Müller with the silver award for his 39 Days Saison.