Changes

Van Haelen Frères produced Gueuze, Kriek, and Lambic, also supplying wort to local blenders such as Theo Hanssens of [[Hanssens Artisanaal bvba | Hanssens Artisanaal bvba]] and [[West_Flanders#Brouwerij_Van_Honsebrouck|Luc Vanhonsebrouck]] further abroad in Inglemunster. His St. Louis products debuted in 1958, using barrels inoculated with Van Haelen Freres lambic wort. <ref name=GeuzeKriek>[[Books#Geuze_.26_Kriek:_The_Secret_of_Lambic_Beer|''Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer'']] Van den Steen, p. 169</ref>

Frans Van Haelen (1872-1939) was also a well known cultural figure in his time, a patron of the arts and benefactor to the pre-war artist group later known as the Brabant Fauves. This group included the artists Rik Wouters (1882-1916) and Felix De Boeck (1898-1995). They assembled at the brewery, and also worked in a loft above the Cafe Les 3 Pigeons across the street from the brewery. A private gallery was constructed inside the brewery, and Van Haelen's home was full of fine art and antiquities. Van Haelen was a friend of famous Belgian artist James Ensor, and several Ensor paintings were seen hanging inside the brewery before it was demolished in 1971 to build a Delhaize supermarket. Van Haelen also sponsored the restoration of the castle in Beersel from 1928-1939. He was said to be the richest man in Beersel before the second world war.