Apparently, you sometimes have the recipe for a beer before you have the place to make it. This was the case for Annick De Splenter, a brewer’s daughter who has been searching high and low for the perfect building to finally centralise the production of her Gruut beer assortment.

Until last week, Gruut has been brewed by a nearby supplier for bottling and export to the US. But from 21 March, the Belgian public will also be able to drink Gruut, and from inside its very own brewery.

Fortunately for Ghent locals, De Splenter settled on a historical building with a prime location in the centre of the city, complete with a stunning view of the cathedral tower and a calm nook of the river Leie. The building, once a textile mill, was most recently known as the trendy yet unsuccessful Café Igor. De Splenter has completely gutted the place in order to reflect more of its industrial past. “I’m making a city brewery out of it,” she asserts.

What is most unique about De Splenter’s concept is that it really puts the brewing process in the spotlight. “Here is one place you’ll be able to sit down and have a drink,” she says motioning towards a platform suspended above the brewing tanks. Next to this area stands modern brewing equipment in beautiful red copper, and the staff will describe the brewing process to interested customers.

Behind a long counter, they will also be serving up soup with bread and other small snacks. The location also boasts an outdoor terrace, ensuring packed tables at least all summer long.

There are currently three types of Gruut beer – blonde, white and amber – with a brown one expected by the end of this year. All owe their name to gruut, a blend of herbs and spices that has long been used to give certain flavours and aromas to beer, well before the use of hops. Hundreds of years ago, brewers who put a lot of gruut in their beer were generally the most successful, so landlords held a monopoly on this special commodity. Brewers then had to pay a tax according to the amount of gruut added to their beers.

Gruut was also the name of the coin used during the reign of Emperor Charles V (born in Ghent). Hence, the coin on the labels of the brew. There are even mysterious images hidden in each label. A lot of signature marketing behind the beer, in other words, but how does it taste?

Just like me, you’ll have to be patient to find out how these new beers stand up to all the excitement surrounding the grand opening. Or, if you truly can’t wait, catch the next flight out: destination New York City.

Kader

Grote Huidevettershoek 10

Grand opening: 21 March from 14.00

www.gruut.be