Hapkin is a beer with a dynamic history.
The story begins with Brouwerij Louwaege; a family brewery with a history dating back to 1877 and spanning five generations, until the brewery was purchased by the Alken-Maes group in 2002.
Of the many beers in Brewery Louwaege’s portfolio, only two survived – Hapkin and Thouroutenaere. The brewery was closed after the purchase, and the old site is now residential accommodation.
Alken-Maes itself is a merger of two brewing companies – Maes and Alken – which made it the second largest brewing company in Belgium. It was sold to Scottish & Newcastle (UK), which in turn was acquired by Heineken in 2008. So lots of behind the scene changes, but the beer is still alive and kicking.
It is a strong blond ale in the style of a Duvel. It is a clear golden orange with a thick foamy head. Lots of Saaz hops and crisp light malts make for a lightly fruity, dry and somewhat spicy blonde ale.
An interesting beer from Alvinne, and one of Belgium's most bitter beers at 115 IBU
by Abdij Averbode (Brouwerij Huyghe)
A multi grain mix of barley oats and spelt, plus dry-hopping make this strong blonde ale a really interesting creation
A Strong Blonde Ale cross Belgian Tripel, with oak chips used in the brewing process to add a hint of vanilla
by Brouwerij De Hoorn (Palm - Swinkels)
A Belgian Strong Blond Ale aged on oak chips
The 'Devil's' little brother, made to the same recipe but without secondary fermentation in the bottle
by Brouwerij van Hoegaarden (AB InBev)
Like a super-charged Hoegaarden witbier...but better
A special Belgian Strong Pale Ale that is the only Belgian beer to use Witloof
A sort of Belgian style strong blonde ale, made using unsold sourdough bread
Like a bigger, tastier (and classier) version of the classic Leffe Blond
A strong blond ale in the style of Duvel, brewed by Het Anker brewery
A delicious strong blond ale with a crisp malt body and a nice hop bitterness
The world renowned Belgian Blond Ale from Orval Trappist Monastery. There simply is no other beer like Orval.
by Brouwerij Palm (Swinkels Family Brewers)
A fruity, malty Belgian pale ale, originally brewed in 2003 to celebrate the 90th birthday of the brewey's former head brewer.
by Brouwerij Verstraete (Deca Services)
An unfiltered, unpasteurised, dry-hopped strong blond ale with barley, oats and wheat in the grain bill
A classic strong pale ale from one of Belgium's old family breweries.
A variation on the acclaimed Piraat strong blond ale, this time with four different hops added at three separate times during the beer-making process
A delicious, complex but light and dry Belgian Strong Blonde Ale from Brasserie St Feuillien
A special Belgian Blonde ale, dry-hopped with Cascade hops. A tribute to Armand Desplenter, one of the founding brewers
A full malt body, spicy Belgian yeast and five different hops in this strong blonde ale
A typical Belgian Blonde style ale, slightly on the sweeter side of things
A typical Belgian dubbel style beer, from a label with an interesting history