Belgium: European Beer Consumers Union angered over InBev’s decision to close Hoegaarden brewery

The European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) responded fiercely at InBev’s decision to cease brewing Hoegaarden beer at its De Kluis brewery in Flanders and move production to its Jupiler plant in Belgium’s Wallonia. InBev has also announced the closure of the classic lambic ageing facility at St Jans Molenbeek, which cuts InBev’s last link to authentic lambic Belle Vue.

Terry Lock, chair of EBCU, which represents 100,000 beer drinkers across Europe, said: “The UK has already seen the scant regard InBev has for brewing heritage when they closed the Boddingtons brewery.

“We now see them destroying the brewery that saw the rebirth of Belgian white beer through the inspirational work of Pierre Cellis, and transferring production to a completely different region of Belgium with its own indigenous beer styles.

"It is now merely the biggest brewer in the world and has lost all sense of identity with the brewing heritage of the countries in which it operates.”

A web site has been set up by the action group to stop InBev closing Hoegaarden, www.redhoegaarden.be.

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