Esen, West Flanders ↘

Nat
en straf.

On 15 November 1980 a few friends brewed their first Oerbier in an empty brewery in Esen, Belgium. We still do it the same stubborn way today: unfiltered, with a copper coolship from 1921, open fermentation and never in a hurry.

Visit us in Esen Discover our beers

Black and white photo of the first Dolle Brouwers raising a glass of Oerbier — Early '80s

Friends raising their glasses at a table in the Oerbar — ...and today, in the Oerbar

The coolship under the roof — The coolship, from 1921

Foaming yeast in an open fermenter — Open fermentation

Mash tun no. 1 in the brewhouse — Mash tun no. 1, probably even older

When we started, nobody talked about craft.

We just called it brewing beer the way it should be. With a coolship, open copper fermenters, hops from Poperinge and yeast that gets its time. The coolship from 1921 and the mash tun are more than a hundred years old and still in use. Closed tanks, filters and quick recipes? Not here.

1835 Doctor Nevejan starts a brewery in Esen.
1980 De Dolle Brouwers take it over. First Oerbier on 15 November.
2000 Stille Nacht Reserva 2000, the first Reserva, matures in Bordeaux barrels.
Now Same building, same coolship, same stubbornness.

Read our story

Our special beers.

Every beer its own face, drawn by hand ↓

Reserva.
Patience in the barrel.

We have been ageing beer in wine barrels since 1996. The first Reserva was Stille Nacht Reserva 2000, in red Bordeaux barrels. Now and then a batch still goes into wine barrels for at least a year. Limited, numbered editions. When it's gone, it's gone.

From grain to bottle, in ten steps.

Malt, mill, mash tun, coolship, open fermenters, two months of rest and then a second fermentation in the bottle. Our Oerbier figure walks you through it step by step.

See how we brew

Drawn map of the ten brewing steps, with the Oerbier figure at each step

Taste it where it's brewed.

Roeselarestraat 12B, Esen

The bar of the Oerbar with its copper taps

The barman pouring a glass in the Oerbar

A woman laughing and raising her glass in the Oerbar

The terrace with yellow parasols next to the brewery

Every Sunday

Brewery tour with tasting

2 pm: in English
3 pm: in Dutch
€10: including three tastings from the cask

Groups of 20 or more can also come on weekdays, by appointment.

Book your spot More about your visit →

Oerbar (our taproom) open Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 7 pm. Closed during the Christmas holidays.

Shop.

Hoodies, T-shirts, a cap, the Oerbier figure, glasses and metal signs with our characters on them. We ship far beyond Belgium, or pick it up for free in the Oerbar. Is your country not listed at checkout? Send us an email at info@dedollebrouwers.be.

Shipping to the USA is possible until 15 January 2027. After that, new US customs rules come in and we'll have to look at it again.