Brasserie Louis & Emile De Coster
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Contents
History
Brasserie Louis & Emile De Coster was originally founded in 1865, at Rue des Fabriques 32 in the Molenbeek area of Brussels. In 1875, Louis De Coster was listed at Rue Notre-Dame-du-Sommeil 75. In 1892, brothers Louis & Emile De Coster assumed ownership of the brewery. In 1916, the brewery moved to a newly constructed facility at Quai du Hainaut 39-65. De Coster was also known as "Brasserie Le Cornet Du Poste". It is believed that De Coster was the first to add saccharine to lambic to mask overly acetic or sour qualities. They were one of the early producers of industrially bottled, filtered, and capped gueuze, or "capsulekengeuze".
The brewery was eventually acquired by De Boeck under Brasserie Unies in 1966, and closed after Brasserie Unies was acquired by Belle-Vue in 1969. The brewery buildings were later used as the headquarters for Belle-Vue, brewing there until 1992, but the property was vacant after 1996. 1 2
In 2008, Interbrew sold the brewery buildings to the municipality of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. The former brewery buildings were repurposed into two hotels and an art museum, which opened to the public in 2013 and 2016 respectively.
Timeline
- 1865: Founded at Rue des Fabriques 32, Molenbeek.
- 1875: Louis De Coster also listed at Rue Notre-Dame-du-Sommeil 75.
- 1892: Louis & Emile De Coster assume ownership.
- 1902: Louis De Coster listed at Rue des Fabriques 32, Molenbeek.
- 1916: Moved to a new, larger brewery installation; from Rue Verrept-Dekeyser 9 to Quai du Haunaut 39-65, Molenbeek.
- 1966: Acquired by De Boeck under Brasserie Unies.
- 1969: Closed by Belle-Vue after Brasserie Unies was acquired.
Beers
- Gueuze Cornet de Poste
- Gueuze De Coster
- Kriek De Coster
- Krieken Lambic
Breweriana
De Coster enamel sign, 1939.
De Coster enamel sign, 1940's.
De Coster enamel sign, 1950's.
De Coster enamel sign, 1940's.
De Coster sign, 1960's. Photo: Wolfram von Eschenbach
Louis & Emile De Coster brewery advertisement. Source: Guy Moerenhout
Louis & Emile De Coster stamped wooden crate.
De Coster Gueuze label. Source: Mistertbman, Delcampe.net
Photos
Former De Coster brewery buildings, now the MiMA Museum and Meininger Hotel. 2019 Photo: Matt
Former De Coster brewery buildings, now the MiMA Museum and Meininger Hotel. 2019 Photo: Matt
Sign at the former De Coster brewery, former site of Belle Vue brewery headquarters. 2019 Photo: Matt
Old Belle-Vue sign at the former De Coster brewery. 2019 Photo: Matt
1921 photo of lambic barrels in the brewery cellar. Source: Guy Moerenhout
