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The phrase “En Stoemelings” is Brussels dialect for “in secret” or “under the table”.
Denys Van Elewyck was homebrewing as an archeology student. Samuel Languy went to India to study video game production.
In 2015 the school friends from age 12 started a tiny commercial brewery producing classic Belgian styles “with a twist” in a small glass-front space in the heart of the Marolles district of Brussels.
They’re known by some in Belgium as the brewery with the rope, a string with a tag hanging on their otherwise non-distinct 75cl brown champagne bottles.
The names of their beers are very Brussels, with a sense of humour both cheeky and dark: Curieuse Neus, Cuvée Houdini, Noirolles, Chike Madame.
At the time we recorded the podcast last year, En Stoemelings were brewing in a tiny unit in the Marolles.
Since then, they’ve moved to another location in Brussels, increasing production from 2 hectolitres per batch to 18 hectolitres per batch.
We talk about their scrapes with customs and excise before their launch, the administrative challenges of crowdfunding and the issues they continue to face in the pricing of their beers as a small outfit.
They’re sometimes called “the little brother” of Cantillon and De La Senne, and in that context, we discuss the politics of brewing in the city of Brussels and their relationship with the other breweries in the city.
Gregarious, hard-working, lassier-faire. Like they say all the time: “Het is Ca Va.”
Sit back, listen and enjoy Samuel Languy of Brasserie En Stoemelings.
