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Zuur crowdfunding campaign raises nearly €700,000 for Brussels bars

14:26 21/06/2021

The crowdfunding campaign Zuur in support of Brussels bars shut during the coronavirus crisis has raised €683,000. Everyone who contributed has a bottle of Zuur beer coming, brewed specially for the campaign.

The Brussels-based organisation Growfunding launched the Zuur initiative back in February, in co-operation with the Brussels Capital-Region. Zuur means ‘sour’, referring to the feeling of being closed for all those months and to the limited-edition brew, a mix of Cantillon’s lambic and a blonde by En Stoemelings.

Donors to the Growfunding campaign could contribute to one of 82 bars in the region to help get them through the crisis. More than 8,500 people did so.

Those people not only got a bottle of Zuur but could choose from one of many rewards offered by Brussels businesses and organisations. Those were funded by the region, allowing an extra €200,000 to be pumped back into the capital. Some of that went to non-profit organisations, which planted trees for instance, or delivered food packages to those in need.

Last Friday, a celebration was held when donors could pick up their beer in their favourite bars, some of which took to the street to hand out free samples of Zuur to passers-by. Marching bands added to the party atmosphere.

“To be able to open the doors and set up our terraces is such a huge relief, undoubtedly for all bar owners,” Jorn Peeters, who owns Les Brasseurs on Boulevard Anspach and Le Coq on Rue Aguste Orts, told Bruzz. “I want to thank everyone who contributed to the Zuur initiative, to us and to all the other bars. It’s also so cool that supporters are coming in to pick up their Zuur beers, that that can be done in person.”

 

Written by Lisa Bradshaw