Koen van Gelder
Team Lead E-commerce
Beer market in Belgium - statistics & facts
Belgium is known around the world for its beer. Belgian beer tradition is characterized by a large variety of flavors, colors, and alcohol percentages, meaning that there is a Belgian beer for every consumer. Some of Belgium’s breweries are among the oldest known production sites, and their beers are consistently rated highly by beer aficionados globally. In addition, Belgium is home to Stella Artois, one of the biggest beer brands in the world.
Beer has been a popular drink in Europe since the Middle Ages, when it was often brewed at religious locations. In Belgium, monks have been brewing beer for over a thousand years, with some of them still working to this day. These so-called Trappist beers, a type of Belgian abbey beer, have inspired the beer types and flavors that are being brewed today, from a subtle blonde beer to a strong 'Tripel'. Whereas the number of abbey breweries has been declining for centuries, the total number of breweries is increasing rapidly. As of 2021, there are 408 breweries in Belgium; twice as many as in 2015. Most of these breweries produce pilseners, making lager beer the most popular beer type in the country.
In 2021, Belgium exported nearly 1.7 billion liters of beer, making it the third-largest exporter of beer in the world. Belgian beer mostly flows to other European countries, although the U.S. and Russia are also thirsty customers. Whereas one would expect a highly coveted Belgian "speciaalbier" to be served in specialized bars and restaurants, Belgian consumers often buy their beers in supermarkets and other retail locations.
Belgian beer is brewed with tradition
Beer has been a popular drink in Europe since the Middle Ages, when it was often brewed at religious locations. In Belgium, monks have been brewing beer for over a thousand years, with some of them still working to this day. These so-called Trappist beers, a type of Belgian abbey beer, have inspired the beer types and flavors that are being brewed today, from a subtle blonde beer to a strong 'Tripel'. Whereas the number of abbey breweries has been declining for centuries, the total number of breweries is increasing rapidly. As of 2021, there are 408 breweries in Belgium; twice as many as in 2015. Most of these breweries produce pilseners, making lager beer the most popular beer type in the country.
A highly sought-after beverage
In 2021, Belgium exported nearly 1.7 billion liters of beer, making it the third-largest exporter of beer in the world. Belgian beer mostly flows to other European countries, although the U.S. and Russia are also thirsty customers. Whereas one would expect a highly coveted Belgian "speciaalbier" to be served in specialized bars and restaurants, Belgian consumers often buy their beers in supermarkets and other retail locations.
