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The history of the De Troch brewery is a complicated mix of family inheritances and land purchases that date back to approximately 1795, when Joannes Franciscus De Troch (1766-1808) and his wife purchased an extensive farm with a number of outbuildings. Sometime around 1818-1820, a brewery and chicory roasting works were added. The brewery passed hands several times through the family of Joannes De Troch’s wife after her death in 1818. In 1857, Petronella Schoonjans married her nephew Egidius De Troch.<ref name=GeuzeKriek>Jef Van den Steen, [[Books#Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer|Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer]], 2012</ref>
Like many lambic brewers, Egidius De Troch became involved in politics and eventually was elected mayor of Wambeek in 1885. While mayor, Egidius continued to develop the brewery and erected the buildings which are still in use today. In 1861, Egidius and Petronella had a son, Ludovicus (Louis I), who would eventually take over the brewery in 1899. Louis I was also succeeded his father as elected mayor of Wambeek after his fatherfrom 1899-1933. The marriage between Louis De Troch and Maria Josepha De Neve produced seven children, only two of whom outlived their parents; their oldest son Ludovicus Albertus (Louis II) and Magdalena Theresia.<ref name=GeuzeKriek>Jef Van den Steen, [[Books#Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer|Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer]], 2012</ref>
In 1923, the first Louis De Troch installed a new brewing system that included cast iron mash tuns which are still in use today. By 1936, his son and successor Louis De Troch II had taken over the brewery, and in 1938 he also became the mayor of Wambeek, where he remained until 1976. Louis I passed away in 1940. By 1954, with the pilsner craze in full swing, Louis II was the only brewer left in Wambeek. In 1964, De Troch also opened up a beer shop to keep the business running.<ref name=GeuzeKriek>Jef Van den Steen, [[Books#Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer|Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer]], 2012</ref><ref name=HoralDeTroch>http://www.horal.be/leden/de-troch-wambeek Horal - De Troch (Dutch)</ref>
By 1974, Louis De Troch II was ready to retire and passed the brewery on to his nephew Jos Raes, who had been working at the brewery since 1972. Jos (short for Jozef), the son of Magdalena and Raymond Raes, was raised by his uncle Louis and aunt Maria Louisa in the brewery. Jos downsized the farming aspect of the business after his uncle Louis II passed away in 1982. He continued to grow the brewery by introducing a line of ‘exotic’ beers under a new name, with the De Troch name still reserved for the more traditional lambics. The name Chapeau did not become official until 1991. These sweetened products, made with fruit juices rather than whole fruits, are credited as having kept De Troch afloat in a time when many lambic breweries and blenders were closing their doors. Many of these sweetened fruit lambics were brewed on demand or at the request of groups or individuals.<ref name=GeuzeKriek>Jef Van den Steen, [[Books#Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer|Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer]], 2012</ref><ref name=HoralDeTroch>http://www.horal.be/leden/de-troch-wambeek Horal - De Troch (Dutch)</ref>