Brasserie Brunehaut

Brewery Brunehaut, also known as Brasserie de Brunehaut, is an artisanal Belgian brewery based in Rongy-Brunehaut in Hainaut, Wallonia, close to the French border. Its identity is closely associated with the brewing heritage of the former Abbaye de Saint-Martin in Tournai and with the Abbaye de Saint-Martin beer label. The brewery presents its historical lineage as reaching back to 1096, when brewing permissions were included in the charter associated with the restoration of the Benedictine abbey. Beer production at the abbey reportedly continued for centuries, but the brewery and much of the abbey complex were destroyed during the French Revolution in 1793. Historical brewing documents and recipes are said to have survived the destruction. Brewing resumed in the area in 1890 through Brasserie de Bruenhaut, using recipes connected with the Saint-Martin tradition. Over the following century the brewery produced more than forty beers. A major capacity expansion took place in 1990, when a new fermentation facility was built approximately two kilometres from the earlier brewery site and doubled production capacity. A change in ownership in 2006 led to a sharper market focus, the retirement of several labels, refreshed packaging and a stronger emphasis on exports. The brewery later developed a geographically broader distribution network, shipping a portfolio of bottled beers to more than twenty countries across four continents. Brunehaut's contemporary proposition combines traditional Belgian brewing methods with organic and sustainability-oriented production. Its beers use top fermentation and, for selected products, bottle conditioning. The brewery's flagship lines include organic and gluten-free Brunehaut beers, Abbaye de Saint-Martin blonde, dubbel, tripel and winter ales, and regional beers such as Abbaye de Saint Amand and Ne Kopstoot. The gluten-free range is certified below five parts per million of gluten and is presented as organic, kosher and vegan-friendly. Organic certification is associated with Certisys under the Belgian code BE-BIO-01. The brewery also reports sourcing barley and wheat from local terroir, including Domaine de Graux, and using rooftop solar arrays to support production. Packaging has been part of the brewery's environmental positioning. Products are sold in capped 33-centilitre bottles and corked 75-centilitre bottles, while draught beer is distributed in 20-litre kegs. In 2008, Brunehaut introduced lightweight, recyclable 30-litre EcoKegs as an export-oriented alternative to packaging with higher transport and disposal impacts. In February 2021, after a two-year documentation process, the brewery became the first brewery in the European Union to receive B Corp certification, reinforcing its emphasis on environmental and social governance. The Abbaye de Saint-Martin labels also retain official Certified Belgian Abbaye Beer status. Brunehaut remains an active member of Belgian Brewers and participates in Belgian beer festivals, while its beers have received medals at international competitions in Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Australia.

The historical identity of Brasserie Brunehaut is rooted in the brewing tradition associated with Abbaye de Saint-Martin in Tournai. According to the brewery's historical account, brewing permissions were included in a 1096 charter issued during the re-establishment of the Benedictine abbey. Beer served an important practical role in medieval communities because brewing could provide a safer drink than contaminated local water. The abbey's brewing activity continued for centuries and became part of the region's religious and economic life. The French Revolution brought a decisive interruption. In 1793, most of the abbey buildings, including the church sanctuary and brewery, were destroyed. Some architectural elements survived, including the former abbot's palace, portions of the Gothic cloister and a Romanesque crypt. Brewing recipes and other documents connected with Saint-Martin were reportedly concealed and preserved despite the revolutionary destruction. Commercial brewing resumed in 1890, during Belgium's industrial and economic expansion, when Brasserie de Bruenhaut drew on the surviving tradition and recipes. The brewery subsequently developed a broad portfolio, with more than forty beers produced over the next century. In 1990, it invested in a new fermentation house located away from the original brewery site, doubling production capacity and providing a more modern production base. A 2006 ownership change marked a strategic reset. Seven products were discontinued, packaging was redesigned and the business concentrated more closely on selected Belgian and abbey-style identities. The refocused portfolio also supported export growth. Brunehaut later distributed eleven labels in more than twenty countries across four continents, using small and large bottle formats as well as draught kegs. The modern brewery combines historical Belgian methods with certification-led production. Its beers use top fermentation, and the abbey ales are associated with bottle conditioning. Organic and gluten-free products became central to the brand's differentiation. The brewery describes its gluten-free beers as certified below five parts per million of gluten and reports organic certification through Certisys. It also emphasizes vegan and kosher suitability, local agricultural sourcing and solar power generated by rooftop arrays. Sustainability became more visible in the packaging and corporate model. In 2008, Brunehaut introduced lightweight recyclable 30-litre EcoKegs for export use. In February 2021, after two years of preparation and documentation, it became the first brewery in the European Union to obtain B Corp certification. The company also retains association with the Certified Belgian Abbaye Beer program through its Abbaye de Saint-Martin labels. Its history and product identity therefore combine medieval abbey heritage, nineteenth-century revival, twentieth-century capacity investment and a twenty-first-century focus on organic, gluten-free and socially responsible brewing.

1. 2021B Corp certification

   The brewery obtained B Corp certification after a two-year documentation process and was described as the first certified B Corp brewery in the European Union.

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2. 2008EcoKeg export format introduced

   Brunehaut became the first European brewer described in the reference material as offering lightweight recyclable 30-litre EcoKegs for export.

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3. 2006Portfolio and export repositioning

   Following an ownership change, the brewery retired seven labels, commissioned new packaging and increased its export focus.

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4. 1990Fermentation capacity doubles

   A new fermentation facility was built approximately two kilometres from the original site, doubling production capacity.

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5. 1890Commercial brewing resumes

   Brasserie de Bruenhaut resumed brewing using recipes associated with the Saint-Martin tradition.

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6. 1793Abbey brewery destroyed during the French Revolution

   The abbey brewery and much of the surrounding complex were destroyed, although some buildings and brewing documents survived.

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7. Saint-Martin brewing tradition documented

   A charter connected with the restoration of Abbaye de Saint-Martin included brewing permissions, forming the historical foundation of the brewery's abbey narrative.

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Traditional Belgian abbey and regional brewing with an organic, gluten-free and sustainability-focused contemporary proposition.

• Brunehaut Gluten-free Bio BlondeOrganic gluten-free blonde ale

  A 6.5% ABV organic blonde beer in Brunehaut's gluten-free range. The brewery presents the line as certified below five parts per million of gluten and suitable for vegan and kosher consumers. It is part of the brand's contemporary export-oriented portfolio and illustrates the brewery's effort to combine Belgian brewing traditions with dietary and certification requirements.

• Brunehaut Gluten-free Bio AmberOrganic gluten-free amber ale

  A 6.5% ABV organic amber beer designed around Brunehaut's gluten-free brewing proposition. It represents the brewery's darker and maltier interpretation of the certified gluten-free range and has received recognition in international beer competitions.

• Brunehaut Gluten-free Bio BlancheOrganic gluten-free white beer

  A 5% ABV organic witbier-style product within the gluten-free range. The beer extends Brunehaut's portfolio beyond strong abbey ales into a lighter Belgian regional style while maintaining the brewery's organic and gluten-free positioning.

• Brunehaut Gluten-free Bio SaisonOrganic gluten-free saison

  A 4.5% ABV organic saison in the gluten-free collection. Its farmhouse-inspired style gives the range a lighter and more refreshing option alongside the brewery's stronger blond and amber beers.

• Brunehaut Gluten-free Bio TripleOrganic gluten-free tripel-style ale

  A 7.5% ABV organic gluten-free blonde ale in a tripel-inspired style. It links Brunehaut's modern dietary certification proposition with the stronger, bottle-conditioned Belgian ale tradition associated with the brewery.

• Abbaye de Saint-Martin BlondeOrganic abbey-style blonde ale

  A 7% ABV organic blonde abbey beer associated with the Saint-Martin heritage. The brewery describes it as triple-hopped and includes it among the labels retaining Certified Belgian Abbaye Beer status.

• Abbaye de Saint-Martin BruneOrganic abbey-style dubbel

  An 8% ABV organic dark abbey ale in the dubbel tradition. It is one of the brewery's established Saint-Martin labels and has received awards in international abbey-beer competitions.

• Abbaye de Saint-Martin TripelOrganic abbey-style tripel

  A 9% ABV organic tripel-style abbey ale. The beer is associated with bottle conditioning and has received recognition at international beer competitions.

• Abbaye de Saint-Martin Winter AleOrganic winter ale

  An 8.5% ABV seasonal-style organic winter ale carrying the Saint-Martin abbey identity. It extends the abbey range with a stronger beer intended for colder-season consumption.

• Abbaye de Saint AmandRegional juniper-spiced blond ale

  A 7% ABV regional blond ale flavoured with juniper. It represents Brunehaut's use of regional and specialty styles beyond the core Saint-Martin abbey range.

• Ne KopstootRegional ale

  A 7% ABV ale whose name is translated in the reference material as 'head butt.' It belongs to Brunehaut's regional specialty offering rather than its central abbey or gluten-free families.

• Mont Saint-AubertBière de garde

  A discontinued bière de garde label that was associated with Brunehaut's regional and specialty-beer portfolio. The product received international recognition before being listed among the brewery's discontinued twenty-first-century labels.

• Brunehaut Gluten-free Bio Pomfraiz'Fruit beer

  A discontinued 5.5% ABV fruit-oriented beer from Brunehaut's earlier gluten-free organic portfolio.

• 2021B Corp sustainability program

  European Union

  After two years of preparation and documentation, Brunehaut pursued B Corp certification to formalize assessment of its social and environmental performance.

  Outcome. The brewery received certification and was described as the first B Corp brewery in the European Union.

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• 2008EcoKeg export packaging

  Europe · Asia · North America · South America

  Brunehaut promoted lightweight recyclable 30-litre EcoKegs as an export packaging alternative to conventional beer bottles and non-reused containers.

  Outcome. The initiative became part of the brewery's environmental and export positioning.

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• 2021Formalize sustainability through B Corp certificationStrategy

  The brewery undertook a two-year documentation process to evaluate and document its business practices.

  What changed. Brunehaut obtained B Corp certification.

  Aftermath. The certification strengthened the brand's environmental and social positioning and established a stated first-mover distinction among European Union breweries.

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• 2008Launch of recyclable EcoKeg formatProduct launch

  Export beer distribution created a need for packaging that could reduce weight and environmental impact compared with conventional bottle shipments.

  What changed. Brunehaut introduced lightweight recyclable 30-litre EcoKegs for export use.

  Aftermath. The format became a notable part of the brewery's sustainability narrative and packaging offer.

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• 2006Refocus the portfolio and expand exportsStrategy

  A change in ownership prompted a review of the brewery's product range and market priorities.

  What changed. Seven products were retired, new labels and packaging were commissioned, and the business concentrated on a smaller portfolio with greater export potential.

  Aftermath. The brewery subsequently reported distribution of eleven labels in more than twenty countries across four continents.

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• 2021Brunehaut becomes the first B Corp brewery in the European Union

  Following a two-year documentation and assessment process, Brunehaut received B Corp certification, highlighting its environmental and social commitments.

  Other
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• 2008Brunehaut introduces recyclable 30-litre EcoKegs

  The brewery introduced lightweight recyclable EcoKegs for export distribution as an alternative to less reusable or recyclable packaging formats.

  Product launch
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• 2006Ownership change reshapes Brunehaut's product and export strategy

  A change in ownership led to tighter market positioning, the retirement of seven products, new packaging and expanded export activity.

  Other
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• 1990Brunehaut expands its fermentation capacity

  A purpose-built fermentation house approximately two kilometres from the original site doubled the brewery's production capacity.

  Other
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1. Brasserie Brunehaut
2. Brewery Brunehaut official website