Waterloo Brewery Mont-St-Jean

Waterloo Brewery Mont-St-Jean is the Belgian brewing operation behind the Waterloo beer brand, produced at the Ferme de Mont-Saint-Jean, a classified historic farm located at the heart of the Waterloo battlefield. The brand is owned and exploited by John Martin s.a., a Belgian drinks company based in Genval, and its beers are marketed under the tagline of being brewed in Belgium with the best natural Belgian ingredients. The core range consists of high-fermentation beers, with Waterloo Triple Blond and Waterloo Double Dark described as the two flagship products, complemented by seasonal and flavoured variants such as Waterloo Récolte and Waterloo Red Cherry. The brewery also operates as a visitor destination, combining a microbrewery with a museum and hospitality offer at the Mont-Saint-Jean site. The modern Waterloo beer brand was relaunched in the early 2000s. Anthony Martin, whose family had converted the former Sucrerie de Waterloo into a hotel, sought to revive the Waterloo brand, and in 2005 Adrien Desclée succeeded in brewing and launching Waterloo in Dark and Strong Blond versions. In 2013 Anthony and Adrien partnered to brew the beer on the battlefield itself, and Waterloo joined John Martin's Finest Craft Beer Selection alongside brands such as Timmermans, Guinness, Gordon and Bourgogne. In 2014 the Ferme de Mont-Saint-Jean, once known as the "Hôpital des Anglais", was purchased and fully renovated by the Anthony Martin group, and brewing activities began there immediately. The site gained wider visibility during the 2015 bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo, when descendants of the Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte visited the farm and thousands of people gathered to celebrate its renovation. A medical museum opened there and became a notable attraction for battlefield visitors. In 2016 a micro-distillery was added alongside the microbrewery, extending the site's production and visitor experience. Today Waterloo Brewery Mont-St-Jean presents itself as a craft brewery rooted in the history and terroir of the Waterloo battlefield, with its beers distributed in Belgium and exported to international markets through the John Martin network.

The Waterloo beer brand is presented by its owner as deeply connected to the history of the Battle of Waterloo of 1815, when wine, beer and spirits were consumed in abundance. According to the brand's own history, beer was brewed locally while spirits came from local gin distilleries or were imported from the Netherlands or Great Britain, and it was at the farm that the first bottle of Guinness was officially consumed on the continent, as recounted by an English officer. The modern commercial history begins around 2000. The former Sucrerie de Waterloo had been transformed into a hotel by the Martin family, and Anthony Martin sought to produce and relaunch the Waterloo brand. This project was delayed by a restructuring of the company. In 2005 Adrien Desclée succeeded in brewing and launching the Waterloo brand, with a Dark version and a Strong Blond version. In 2013 Anthony and Adrien entered into partnership with the bold aim of restoring Waterloo to its former glory by brewing it on the battlefield. Waterloo joined the Finest Craft Beer Selection of John Martin alongside Timmermans, Guinness, Gordon and Bourgogne, among others. In 2014 the Ferme de Mont-Saint-Jean, formerly known as the "Hôpital des Anglais" and a classified building at the heart of the Waterloo battlefield, was purchased and fully renovated by the Anthony Martin group. Brewing activities began there immediately. In 2015 the bicentenary celebrations were marked by the presence at the farm of descendants of the Prince of Waterloo (the Duke of Wellington) and of Napoleon Bonaparte. Thousands of people gathered to celebrate the renovation of the farm, and the new medical museum became a must-see for visitors to the battlefield. In 2016 a micro-distillery was added to the microbrewery, extending the site's production capabilities and visitor offer. The brand's official history timeline also lists the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, indicating continued development of the site and product range in the period around the COVID-19 pandemic, although the supplied evidence does not detail the specific events of those years. Today the Waterloo range is described as high-fermentation beers brewed in Belgium with care using the best Belgian and natural ingredients, with Waterloo Triple Blond and Waterloo Double Dark as the two flagship products and further beers such as Waterloo Récolte and Waterloo Red Cherry completing the range. The company states that further recipes will be developed by its master brewers and made available in priority at the Ferme de Mont-Saint-Jean. The Waterloo beer brand and the Ferme de Mont-Saint-Jean are registered trademarks exploited by John Martin s.a., rue du Cerf 191, 1332 Genval, Belgium.

• 2019

  Listed in the brand's official history timeline (details not specified in evidence).

• 2016

  Micro-distillery added alongside the microbrewery at Mont-Saint-Jean.

• 2015

  Bicentenary celebrations at the farm with descendants of Wellington and Napoleon; medical museum opens.

• 2014

  Ferme de Mont-Saint-Jean purchased and fully renovated by the Anthony Martin group; brewing begins on site.

• 2013

  Anthony and Adrien partner to brew Waterloo on the battlefield; Waterloo joins John Martin's Finest Craft Beer Selection.

• 2005

  Adrien Desclée brews and launches the Waterloo brand with Dark and Strong Blond versions.

• 2000

  Anthony Martin seeks to produce and relaunch the Waterloo brand from the former Sucrerie de Waterloo hotel; project delayed by restructuring.

• 1815

  Battle of Waterloo; local beer brewing and consumption documented at the farm site.

Craft beer brewed on the historic Waterloo battlefield, combining Belgian brewing heritage with battlefield tourism and visitor experiences.

• Waterloo Triple Blond

  Flagship high-fermentation blond beer.

• Waterloo Double Dark

  Flagship high-fermentation dark beer.

• Waterloo Récolte

  Complementary beer in the Waterloo range.

• Waterloo Red Cherry

  Cherry-flavoured beer in the Waterloo range.

1. 1La Bière de Waterloo – official websitewaterloo-beer.com
2. 2HISTOIRE – La Bière de Waterloowaterloo-beer.com
3. 3Wikidata Q139720144wikidata.org