Bitterness is Better: Brasserie De La Senne Co-Founder Yvan De Baets to Showcase Brussels Craft at the BGBW Awards 2025

VISITFLANDERS is delighted to announce that Yvan De Baets, co-founder of the iconic Brasserie de la Senne, will be one of the three featured guest brewers at its bar in this year's British Guild of Beer Writers Awards dinner at Big Penny Social on Thursday 27th November 2025.

Established in 2003 by Yvan De Baets and Bernard Leboucq, Brasserie de la Senne is has been credited with spearheading the contemporary craft beer movement in Brussels. The brewery is all about staying true to natural, traditional brewing. Their beers aren’t filtered or pasteurised, have no additives, and proudly highlight a bold flavour that is often overlooked, bitterness. However, their beers are not confined only to bitterness; they are always balanced with the aromatic contribution of malt, hops, and fermentation. Yvan, who has a background in political science and is a passionate advocate for beer authenticity, has focused his career on crafting beers that are full of character, and many are surprisingly light in alcohol, proving that flavour complexity doesn’t require a high ABV.The brewery, named after the river that founded Brussels, moved into its own custom-built facility in the city in 2010, cementing its identity as 100% Brussels-made.

The five beers being served by this brewery at the awards dinner are a testament to the its commitment to quality, tradition, and taste:

Featured Beers from Brasserie de la Senne:

Petit Boulba (2.5% ABV): A delightfully light and thirst-quenching hoppy Light Ale. Named as a reminder of the brewery's early, physically demanding days, this beer was conceived as the perfect low-alcohol refreshment. It is a blonde, cloudy beer with notes of white fruits and fine herbal touches, offering a super refreshing and very dry finish.

Zinnebir (5.8% ABV): Often considered the flagship of the brewery. This Belgian Pale Ale strikes a perfect balance. It is golden blond, intensely fragrant with fruity and hoppy aromas, supported by a pleasant malt sweetness. It finishes with a fine bitterness and a long, refreshing aftertaste, making it a true ambassador for the Brussels brewing scene.

Jambe-de-Bois (8.0% ABV): A powerful and full-bodied hoppy Tripel, which translates literally to "Wooden Leg." This blond and copper-coloured ale features a complex scent of ripe banana and a subtle blend of old varieties of aromatic hops. The flavour is dominated by rich malt, balanced by a long and delicate bitterness.

Brett Saison (5.3% ABV): A modern take on the traditional Saison, fermented with an added, custom-selected Brettanomyces yeast strain. This yeast imparts classic rustic characteristics alongside bright, fruity esters, resulting in a beer that is dry, highly complex, and distinctly refreshing with notes of pineapple, apricot, and hay.

Schieve-Xmas Christmas Beer (8% ABV): Brasserie de la Senne’s limited-edition Christmas offering. This typically showcases a stronger, darker Belgian style. Expect a warming coppery coloured beer with winter spices, caramel, biscuits, candied fruits and orange notes, all underpinned with balance and complexity.

For  a “Senne”-sational and unmissable tasting opportunity join us, including Yvan De Baets, at the VISITFLANDERS bar, to sample these exceptional, characterful beers at the awards dinner on the evening of Thursday 27th November 2025. 

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Notes to Editors:

2026  marks the 10th anniversary of Belgian Beer Culture being inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, keep in touch with us for news about events and promotions to celebrate this special milestone via our press releases and newsletters.

About Brasserie de la Senne Founded by Yvan De Baets and Bernard Leboucq in 2003, Brasserie de la Senne began professionally brewing in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw before achieving their dream of establishing a brewery in Brussels in 2010, named after the river Senne. They are globally respected for their dedication to natural, unfiltered, and unpasteurised beers that champion bitterness and flavour over strength.

About VISITFLANDERS :This Flemish government agency is the official tourist organisation for Flanders.  The organisation strives for the sustainable development and promotion of tourism to and within Flanders, with a view to boosting the economic return, employment and the well-being of its inhabitants. www.visitflanders.com

Flanders House

1a Cavendish Square

London

W1G 0LD

For more information please contact: Anita Rampall

anita.rampall@visitflanders.com 

0207 299 3594

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