Beer in Belgium

Beer in Belgium includes abbey beers, lambics, pilsners, Flemish red ales, sour brown ales, strong ales, Wheat beers and others. As of 2024, there were 411 breweries in Belgium, ranging from international companies, such as AB InBev to traditional breweries, like Trappist monasteries to microbreweries. Correspondingly, the number of Belgian breweries continues to grow, with over 1,600 unique Belgian beers available. On average, Belgians drink 68 litres of beer each year, down from around 200 each year in 1900. In 2024, this amounts to a total consumption of approximately 6.4 million hectoliters, representing around 30% of Belgium’s total beer production. Most beers are bought or served in reusable bottles, rather than cans, and virtually every beer has its own branded, sometimes uniquely shaped, glass. In 2016, UNESCO inscribed Belgian beer culture on their list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.