For many, attending church is like coming home to family and community. A welcoming space without judgment. Like a warm embrace for your soul…and tastebuds.
Welcome to Heilig Hart Brouwerij Bar just outside of Ghent, Belgium, in Wetteren. A place to gather while enjoying unique Belgian beers under the guise of a church.
And literally with the heart of the place watching over you.
Meet Hans Dusselier of Heilig Hart Brouwerij
Former engineer and now founder and owner of Heilig Hart (Dutch for Sacred Heart), Hans Dusselier, will greet you like family. His warm demeanor matches the ambiance of his brewery and taproom: eclectic yet comfortable, spacious yet intimate, and elegant yet casual.
Thanks to a friend we met from saying hi to a stranger at a nearby brewery, Stroom, we were whisked away to this magical brewery in an abandoned church and treated to a personal tour with Hans himself. Although, no matter how special we want to feel from all of this, this is simply who Hans is. He genuinely has a passion for what he does and the people who appreciate it.
A Brewery in a Church
Following Hans through his brewery was like following a kid in a candy store. His passion for not only brewing but also the reinvigoration of this 100-plus-year old church was palpable. A beer lover since his younger days, Hans actually started out making natural wines. When he came across the abandoned church, which closed in 2013, he saw it as an opportunity to be able to sell his wine.
In 2016, he bought the church. And began his transition into the world of brewing. In 2019, he installed the brewery. Today, he believes more in his altar than the original one. His being the brewing system.
The priest who used to run the church believes in that altar, too. At least, according to Hans’ telling of it. “When we opened the church as a church pub, he came five times to drink something. And then he always said, ‘Thank you very very much. It’s better than before.'”
Natural, Organic, Unique Belgian Beers
Hans, together with his son Victor, work hard crafting a quality product that is unique to the region and natural in all that they brew, using spontaneous fermentation (fermentation using wild yeasts and/or bacteria from the air), brewing only with organic ingredients, and no added carbonation. In addition to that, Hans lagers his beer using amphoras, clay pots resembling what ancient winemakers used because these don’t take on the flavors from the vessel like barrels do. He also installed a coolship (an open vessel traditionally used to cool the wort) and dug his own well under the church.
The presentation of the finished product is just as important as crafting it. Victor was behind the bar when our tour was over, ready to showcase what we really came to experience…the beer!
Unlike other breweries in Belgium, there’s not a unique glass for each beer; it all goes in a well-crafted wine glass, which opens up the flavors quite nicely. Both Hans and Victor believe the product speaks for itself. We believe the same.
Photo Tour of Heilig Hart Brouwerij
To fully appreciate the beauty of this brewery in a church, one must walk through the doors, acknowledge the “Holy Water” that greets you, ask for forgiveness for not arriving here sooner, and enjoy a Belgian beer with your new church community.
But for those that can’t make it to Heilig Hart anytime soon, you can wander through images instead. Take caution, though, as these may take over your heart, so much so, that you’ll be booking your flight to Belgium. As you should because we don’t want any broken hearts.
Connect with Heilig Hart Brouwerij
Heilig Hart Brouwerij
Brusselsestraat 85A,
9230 Wetteren
BE.0457.215.438