Belgian Beer World announces opening weekend in September

Belgian Beer World will finally be opening next month in Brussels' former stock exchange building, the Bourse, two months later than planned.

The reasons for the delay are not yet clear, but the 1 July opening did not come to fruition and 9 September will be the opening weekend for the museum focusing on Belgian beer culture.

“Which other country in the world can boast having a beer culture that has Unesco intangible cultural heritage status, and also has an interactive discovery centre, a magical, multi-sensory experience open to all in a former stock exchange building?” reads an announcement on the attraction's official website.

“Belgian beer absolutely deserves a special place devoted to the discovery and sampling of its brews: Belgian Beer World, the new resident of the famous Brussels Stock Exchange is doing just that.

"Because beer is much more than a Belgian tradition that continuously enriches and inspires the whole world."

The 23rd edition of the Belgian Beer Weekend will take place first. From 1-3 September, around 49 small and large breweries will present some 400 beers to the public on the Grand-Place.

Admission is free, but tasting the beers – in special tasting glasses – is subject to payment.

The following week will see the Bourse building officially inauguarated as the new museum of Belgian Beer World.

“[Beer] is part of small everyday pleasures as well as major celebrations in our country,” the museum organisers said.

“Because this heritage is more vibrant than ever thanks to the creativity of brewers, the richness of ingredients, the diversity of techniques and of course, the expert taste buds of Belgian drinkers… we are delighted to announce the forthcoming opening of Belgian Beer World.”

Belgian Beer World will feature the heritage aspect of Belgian beer culture and also explain the brewing process in detail, with "multi-sensory studios" designed to allow visitors to experience the many aromas and flavours in beer.

The influence of Belgian beer abroad also has its own section.

At the end of the experience, visitors will be able to visit the rooftop bar that will be set up on the roof of the Bourse on a 350m² terrace.

The creation of Belgian Beer World involved a budget of €10 million.