Enter
the Confederation of Belgian Breweries (CBB) Museum and take a step back in
time. The location on the south side of Brussels' Grand Place was first
constructed in the 14th Century around the same time that Belgian breweries got
together and formed the brewers guild. The guild bought the premises, then
known as the "Gulden Boom" or "Golden Tree" in the late 16th Century. The
French army's artillery destroyed the building in 1695 but the determined
brewers rebuilt it. Centuries later, in 1951, the present day Belgian Brewer's
Association turned the building into the museum it is today where ancient and
modern brewing practices can be examined side by side.
Walking down the narrow steps to the basement, an
elevator is available, you step into the middle of a brewhouse of centuries
past. A tarnished copper-looking boil kettle stands encased in stone and
mortar, wooden shoes ring its base and various antique wooden and iron brewing
tools hang on the surrounding red brick walls. Nearby, open-topped wooden
vessels resembling giant barrels with their tops chopped off use enormous iron
bands that wrap around their 15 foot diameters and hold the staves together
with watertight snugness.
Wandering through the brick arches and a 20th century
door you find yourself facing the conical bottom of a contemporary 3,250
hectoliter Houlvriek N.V. stainless steel fermenter. Two like sized "maturing"
tanks shine nearby as the overhead lights illuminate the exhibits around the
medium-sized room. Where American brewing systems usually have a whirlpool
feature incorporated into the boil kettle Belgian systems commonly have a
separate "centrifuge" to separate solids from the wort prior to cooling. At the
far end of the room, past the ingredients display and the stainless steel brew
vessels stand four desktop computers with touch screens. After making your
language selection from the choices of English, Nederlands and Français
you are immersed in a multimedia presentation covering the process and products
required to make beer. Above the PCs a largescreen video presentation cycles
through English, Dutch and French, explaining how various beer styles can be
used in food recipes. Along the right wall stand two multimedia kiosks that
offer an interactive presentation on various aspects of the brewing process,
with detailed quiz questions after each section. Even with the accompanying
videos and graphics your language skills will need to be sharp to answer
everything correctly, the program is in Dutch.
After the museum walk-through you're invited to stop by
the "café" room for a sample. Rows of highly decorated porcelain and
brass tap handles line the walls above the interior windows while shelves of
antique ceramic beer mugs stand illuminated by light passing through the
stained-glass exterior windows. Sitting at the rugged wooden tables sampling
the two beers on tap it's easy to envision yourself back in time, drinking the
local brew of a town in 17th Century Belgium. The "Light" is a clear gold color
with a crisp and clean light hoppy flavor while the "Dark" is a clear dark
brown with a malty aroma and dry, almost smoky, malty flavor and a slightly
tart finish.
Unlike the "working museums" of Cantillon and Straffe
Hendrik, the CBB museum offers a contrasting look at Belgian brewing's past and
present. When in Brussels it's worth an hour and the 100 BEF, approximately $3
USD, to stop by and check it out. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
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CBB Museum - Brewer's house (Maison des Brasseurs)
Grand'Place
10
1000 Brussels
(02)511.49.87
Reviewed by Tom
Ciccateri - April, 1998
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