Brouwerij Lindemans
Brouwerij Lindemans is based in Vlezenbeek in the Pajottenland, southwest of Brussels. The family has been brewing lambic there since 1822 and is now in its sixth generation. The brewery is known for fruit lambics such as Framboise and Kriek, and for traditional gueuze and oude kriek under the name Cuvée René.
- LocationSint-Pieters-Leeuw, Vlaams Gewest
- Founded1822
- TypeRegional brewery
- Untappd 3.64 · 853k ratings
- At Hoptimaal1 in stock · 2 in total
- Lambic & Gueuze 1
In stock now 1
Previously at Hoptimaal 1
Sold out. If a new batch is coming, you can ask for a heads-up on the product page.
Sold out
From farm brewery to sixth generation
In 1822 Joos Frans Lindemans married Francisca Josina Vandersmissen, the daughter of a farmer-brewer. Together they took over her family farm, Hof ter Kwadewegen. They brewed in the evening after the work in the fields, and in winter the farmhands helped out when the fields were quiet. What began as a side activity grew into the farm's main business.
Six generations later, the family is still at the helm. According to the brewery itself, it is the largest family-owned lambic brewery in the world. During the Second World War only one brew a month still went out, and the copper brew kettle was hidden under a pond on the grounds. After the war the kettle was restored and stayed in use for well over forty years. Today Lindemans has two breweries, in Vlezenbeek and Ruisbroek.
Lambic, kriek and fruit
Lindemans brews lambic: a beer that ferments spontaneously with wild yeasts from the surrounding area. The brewers do not add any yeast themselves. In 1961 René and Nestor Lindemans made their first Oude Kriek with Schaerbeek cherries. It matured in oak barrels and was bottle conditioned.
In the 1980s a first shipment of Oude Kriek went to the United States. On the way the beer refermented in the bottle and the corks popped off. René and Nestor then decided to pasteurise. This made the beer fruitier and softer, with a balance between sweet and sour, and stable enough for transport by sea. That is how Lindemans Kriek came about. The traditional style lives on in Oude Kriek Cuvée René and Oude Gueuze Cuvée René. According to Wikipedia, the brewery released a first Faro in 1978 and started production of Framboise in 1980.
Brouwerij Lindemans at Hoptimaal
At Hoptimaal you will find Lindemans in the styles lambic and gueuze, in 25 cl bottles. The strength ranges from 2.5 to 8 percent. Lindemans Framboise and Lindemans Tarot Noir have the highest ratings on Untappd. Which beers are in stock varies; check the brewery page for what is available now.
Drink the fruity lambics well chilled and preferably as fresh as possible, so the fruit and freshness are best preserved. A gueuze or oude kriek can go into the glass a little less cold. Drink the stronger fruit beers more slowly, so you taste the depth and not just the sweetness.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Lindemans come from?
Lindemans comes from Vlezenbeek in the Pajottenland, southwest of Brussels in Belgium. The family has been brewing there since 1822, first on a farm and now in the sixth generation.
What kind of beer does Lindemans make?
Lindemans brews lambic and makes gueuze, kriek, faro and fruit lambics from it, such as Framboise. The traditional line is called Cuvée René. The brewery also makes stronger fruit beers with mixed fermentation.
Why is Lindemans Kriek pasteurised?
On the first shipment of Oude Kriek to the United States, the beer refermented in the bottle on the way and the corks popped off. René and Nestor Lindemans then decided to pasteurise, which made the beer fruitier, softer and stable enough for transport.
