Deca Brouwerij
Deca Brouwerij is in Woesten-Vleteren, near Ieper, in a brewery that goes back to the end of the 18th century. The Christiaens family has been brewing there again since 1991, now in the fifth generation. They are known for the Vleteren beers, from blond to imperial stout, often aged on wood, and for Georges IV.
- LocationIeper, Vlaams Gewest
- TypeRegional brewery
- Untappd 3.53 · 70k ratings
- At Hoptimaal3 in stock · 7 in total
In stock now 3
Previously at Hoptimaal 4
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A brewery in Woesten with a long history
Deca is on the Elverdingestraat in Woesten-Vleteren. The brewery goes back to the end of the 18th century and was first owned by the Synaeve family. In 1881 it passed to Florimond Vanneste through marriage. During the First World War the brewery was completely destroyed. In 1920 the rebuilding started on the Elverdingestraat, on the spot where it still stands today.
In 1926 the Vanneste family left the brewery to the Decaestecker family, because there was no successor. Under Jozef Decaestecker the business carried on until about 1965. After that his sons Maurice, Paul and Antoine took over. The name DECA refers to the first four letters of their surname. For years they brewed beer and soft drinks.
In 1980 the Christiaens family came into the picture. Georges Christiaens built breweries in Africa and bought Deca to show potential customers what a small brewery looks like. From 1985 the brewery was rented out. The tenant soon went bankrupt and after that the building stood empty. In 1991 Georges decided to start up the brewery again himself. His son Nicolas joined later, after his military service and a degree in brewing technology.
The beer of Nicolas Christiaens and Katrien Sampers
In December 2013 Georges died after a serious car accident. Nicolas took over the brewery as the fifth generation and in 2014 released Georges IV as a tribute to his father. Today Nicolas Christiaens and Katrien Sampers run Deca together with a team. Next to the brewery they have a shop where you can buy their beers by the bottle or by the crate, and a taproom for visitors. The big red mash kettle is more than a hundred years old and is still in use.
The best-known range is the Vleteren line: blond, brown, alt and imperial stout, complemented by a Chardonnay wild ale. Many of those beers are aged on oak, such as Vleteren Blond 12 and Vleteren Bruin 12°. There are also port cask editions and a B.A. Series of the imperial stout on bourbon, rum, whisky and cognac barrels. The strength goes up to 12%. Georges IV is a strong blond at 8%.
Deca Brouwerij at Hoptimaal
At Hoptimaal you'll find Deca in can and bottle sizes of 33 cl, with strengths from 5 to 12%. The range consists of blond, dubbel and stout. On Untappd, Deca Vleteren Imperial Stout Bourbon BA 2023, Deca Vleteren Bruin 12° and Deca Vleteren Blond 12º, among others, are rated highly.
Pour the blond beers cool, at around 8 to 10 °C. The heavier beers, such as the imperial stout and the barrel aged versions, you drink more slowly. Take them out of the fridge a quarter of an hour before opening, so the oak, vanilla and dark malt come through better. Feel free to share a 12% bottle between two.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Deca Brouwerij come from?
Deca Brouwerij is on the Elverdingestraat in Woesten-Vleteren, near Ieper in West Flanders. The brewery goes back to the end of the 18th century and has been in the hands of the Christiaens family since 1980.
What kind of beer does Deca Brouwerij make?
Deca mainly makes the Vleteren beers: blond, brown, alt and imperial stout, often aged on oak or in other casks. They also brew Georges IV, a strong blond at 8%.
Why is a Deca beer called Georges IV?
Georges IV is named after Georges Christiaens, the fourth generation of the brewing family, who died in December 2013. His son Nicolas released the beer in 2014 as a tribute.
