The Kestemont Brewery in Dilbeek, Belgium, has become a new member of the High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers (HORAL). The council now has a total of 11 Belgium breweries which collectively account for 80% of traditional lambic production.
The Kestemont family bought the partially restored buildings of the former Goossens brewery in 2017 and three years later the first batch of lambic was put into wooden casks to start aging. They began by ordering wort from the Den Herberg brewery but soon invested in their own brewing equipment, with a 1,500 liter brewhouse.
The barrel room includes French wine barrels, Italian wine barrels and various cognac barrels. The brewery makes 100% traditionally made fruit lambics. The entire brewery site is protected as historical heritage since 2017.
HORAL was founded in 1997. The non-profit organisation has united most Geuze blenders and lambic breweries in Flemish and Walloon Brabant. These include: Boon; De Oude Cam; De Troch; Den Herberg; Eylenbosch; Hanssens; Kestemont; Lambiek Fabriek; Lindemans; Mort Subite; Oud Beersel; Tilquin and Timmermans.
More on the brewery here.