Even though Belgium is often associated with waffles, chocolate and fries, it is our beers that are the most unique. With more than 2000 different types of beer, we have an enormous variety of different tastes and flavors to try.

Belgian beers made in Ghent

Ghent has a more than 50 kinds of beer. Some great and unique beers that are made in and around the city, sometimes going back centuries. These are some beers that you must try during your stay:

• Gruut is a brewery right down our city center. They make an excellent blonde, but also an amber, dark, strong Belgian ale and a non-alcoholic beer. This is a unique beer, because it doesn't contain hops. It is based on recipes from the early middle ages, when hops were not available in our region. You can also visit the brewery and do a beer tasting!

• Gulden Draak is named after the Golden Dragon that sits on top of our Belfry, symbolic guardian of the city and its freedom. It is a dark belgian beer with 10.5% alcohol, made in the vicinity of Ghent by Brewery Van Steenberghe.

• Gentse Strop is made by another brewery close by the city (Roman). The name refers to the noose, the symbol of my people. It's a blonde with 6.9% alcohol.

• Artevelde is a relatively new brewery, right next to our city hall in the city center. They have several varieties available. You can also visit the brewery and order 3 sample beers!

• Ouwen Duiker is a more modern beer by Hedonis brewery, made with different kinds of American hops. If you love bitter, this will be a beer for you!

• Augustijn used to be a trappist, made by the monks in the Augustine monestary in Ghent since 1296. However, they sold their recipe years ago to finance the renovation of their monestary. The recipe changed hands, but didn't change flavor. A great blonde and brown.