Brasserie Limbourg
History
Early Days
Brasserie Limbourg was founded in Anderlecht by Edouard Limbourg (1877-1940) in 1906. Limbourg was a lambic blender that produced Gueuze & Kriek, located at 58 Sergeant De Bruynestraat. Edouard’s sons Nestor (1905-1984) and Edgard (1903-1992) assisted their father in the blendery, and Nestor later succeeded his father after his death in 1940. Nestor’s nephew François Limbourg (1928-2018) also assisted in the blendery, and later married into the Moriau family, also lambic blenders from Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. Nestor ran Brasserie Limbourg together with François until it's closure around 1965.
The Lambic Cafés
"Café-Brasserie Limbourg" was located near the blendery at rue de Fiennes 9. It was owned by Edouard Limbourg, where he sold his gueuze, and also a popular destination for local farmers from Lennik before returning home on the nearby tram. Ownership later passed to his widow Caroline Speeckaert, and finally to son Edgard. Edouard’s nephew Paul Limbourg (1906-1988) ran the café from 1945-1968. Paul was the son of lambic blender Nestor Limbourg in Gaasbeek. After his retirement in 1968 to his home village of Gaasbeek, the family café was taken over by Artois Breweries. Today the café is now owned by Edgard’s grandson, Dirk.
Edgard Limbourg ran another café and lambic blender in Anderlecht, named "Café Au Pont de Fer - De Ijzerbrug” (The Iron Bridge). It was located at Chaussée de Mons 33 near the Senne river and Port d’Anderlecht. After Edgard's marriage to Albertine Meskens in 1928, he worked together with his father-in-law Jean-Baptiste Meskens, and eventually took over the business. Edgard and Albertine ran the café and the blendery until it closed sometime in the early 1950’s. In recent years, the café building, adjacent warehouse, and stables were demolished by the municipality to create a park path.
Family Connection to Gaasbeek (Lennik)
Edouard Limbourg’s older brother Nestor (1870-1952) was a lambic blender in Gaasbeek (Lennik) along with his son, Maurice (1908-1984). This business began in 1902 and stopped sometime in the 1950’s, later becoming a beer merchant company that is still active today.
21st Century
In 2014, Brasserie Cantillon purchased the vacant Limbourg building near their brewery for a planned expansion project to double their storage space and production. The café on rue de Fiennes is still there, and is once again under family ownership.
Beers
- Gueuze
- Kriek
- Krieken-Lambic Extra
Photos
Edouard and Nestor Limbourg on rue Sergent De Bruyne with delivery truck and workers, in the 1920's. Source: Limbourg family archive
Caroline Speeckaert and son Edgard at the Café-Brasserie Limbourg in the 1920's. Source: Limbourg family archive
Brasserie Limbourg warehouse on rue Sergent De Bruyne. Source: Limbourg family archive
Gueuze Limbourg glass. Source: Cantillon (gift of Mark Linsner)
Sources
- Source: Jean-Paul Limbourg, family heritage research
- Source: Brasserie Cantillon
- Nestor Limbourg genealogy record
- Edgard Limbourg genealogy record
- Edouard Limbourg genealogy record