Belgian Beer World: the temple of beer opens its doors in the old Brussels Stock Exchange

The city of Brussels inaugurated the Belgian Beer World, a true temple of beer, created within the Palais de la Bourse, restored to its former glory after 3 years of work.

The place also has a special significance: the palace houses the remains of Jan Primus, Duke of Brabant, who according to legend is the mythical King Gambrinus, considered the creator of the famous Belgian beers and, for some, the inventor of the drink itself.

A superb palace on Place de la Bourse

Built at the end of the 19th century, the Palais de la Bourse in Brussels is a neo-Renaissance style building, enriched by decorations created by a young Rodin. After having housed the headquarters of the Stock Exchange for more than a century, it was the subject of a renovation project worth 100 million euros, which transformed it into a cultural mecca and artistic project of 12,000 square meters, giving a new face to the historic center of the city.

The second and third floors of the building are entirely dedicated to Belgian Beer World, a permanent exhibition center on Belgian beer culture. The centerpiece is the exhibitions which explore and describe the origins of Belgian beer, dating back to the Middle Ages, and its evolution over time, revealing the secrets passed down from generation to generation.

Through an interactive tour itinerary, which also includes laboratories and workshops, visitors can discover what distinguishes Belgian beer from others, starting from specific fermentation techniques, and immerse themselves in the production process, thus getting closer of the multitude of aromas, flavors and colors of beer. the different varieties of beer: you will be able to touch the ingredients, the malt, the yeast and the hops, admiring and appreciating the differences that the different types of water can cause in the finished product.

The center brings together around a hundred beer producers from across Belgium, including emerging and niche companies, alongside more established brands: the aim is not to create a museum, but an immersive experience.

And at the end of the visit, you can naturally devote yourself to tasting a beer in the new Skybar panoramic, installed on a 350 square meter terrace created on the roof of the palace. There is also the Beer Shop for the purchase of a souvenir, to end with a surprise, a staircase invites you to descend underground, to discover Brussels 1238an archaeological site which houses the remains of the Franciscan monastery on which the Stock Exchange Palace is located.