Brussels brewery En Stoemelings closes after almost a decade

En Stoemelings microbrewery in Brussels is closing after nearly a decade of operations, citing bankruptcy.

The microbrewery had been in financial difficulties for several years, Bruzz reports, having especially suffered during the pandemic.

En Stoemelings' founders sold their brewing equipment and other production assets to the catering entrepreneurs behind the Amère à Boire cafes last summer, hoping in vain to stave off bankruptcy.

“Despite several attempts to revive the company, selling the equipment proved to be the only solution to avoid bankruptcy, preserve the brand and continue our development in Brussels,” founders Denys Van Elewyck and Samuel Languy said at the time.

The microbrewery has also been impacted by the energy and inflation crisis, high labour costs and tough competition in the Brussels beer sector.

When En Stoemelings launched its brewery in 2015, Brussels had a small number of small independent breweries, Today, there are more than 20.

En Stoemelings was perhaps most known for its flagship beer, the Curieuse Neus.