Belgian beers are highly sought after in the U.S., but in Belgium, more and more people are looking to the Belgian craft beer scene for something different.
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Welcome to Stroom, a Belgian Craft Brewery
Stroom Brouwers, what we would call a craft brewery, is a Belgian independent brewery. Not associated with any abbey or Trappist beers, and not attempting to be either, they are still a Belgian brewery. They just happen to brew a few more options than one would typically expect from a traditional Belgian brewery.
Yes, you can still find the beloved Belgian-style beers here, but you’ll also find a Norwegian farmhouse ale with a kick of Sichuan peppercorns, a coffee IPA, a Vienna lager, a raspberry sour, and more.
“The influence of the craft beer scene is undeniable, but we’re a Belgium brewery through and through.”
Farrell Styers, Co-founder and Head Brewer at Stroom
Once you step past the industrial entrance, located along the Scheldt River, you’ll also find an inviting atmosphere. It’s as though you’ve stepped onto your friend’s backyard deck. A deck that just happens to have friendly staff (more than likely a member of one of the owner’s families or one of the owners themselves) ready to welcome you in with a selection of craft beers.
This craft brewery just happens to be in the medieval city of Gent, Belgium. Because that just happened to be the city that Farrell, co-owner of Stroom, fell in love with.
Meet Farrell Styers, Co-founder at Stroom Brouwers
Farrell Styers, Co-founder and Head Brewer at Stroom, never had plans to be a brewer. He never had plans to move to Belgium, either. But we’re thankful that this is where his path took him.
Playing in punk bands when younger in Denver, he had what he calls a quarter-life crisis. So he moved to Egypt. Then to DC. Then to Kyrgyzstan.
So, how did a brewery in Gent come into play? Farrell blames that one on his friend and now business partner. Belgian Carl Uytterhaeghe and American Farrell Styers met in Kyrgyzstan. Years later, Carl asked Farrell the golden question. “What would it look like if we started a brewery?”
This is the story behind Stroom. A confluence of beer, family, community, and culture. Join us as we talk about independent breweries in Belgium finding their place amidst historical breweries that have been intertwined in its culture for centuries. We also chat about travel, art, music, sustainability, the story behind the name, and always, the beer that brings us all together.
“The beers gotta be great, but let’s be honest. Humans have been brewing beer for more than 10,000 years, but that’s just the first step and an immense amount of what makes a brewery what it is is everything else around it.”
Farrell Styers, Co-founder and Head Brewer at Stroom
Connect with Stroom
Stroom Brouwers
Forelstraat 27
Gent, Belgium
More Places for Great Beer in Gent
We mentioned a few other must-visit breweries and beer bars on the podcast. Here’s the list to help you get there, too!
- Heilig Hart Brouwerij
- Dok Brewing Company
- Dulle Griet
- Waterhuis aan de Bierkant
- ‘t Dreupelkot
- Barrazza
Want More International Craft Beer?
Medellín Craft Beer
La Paz Craft Beer
Global B-Corp Craft Beer
For about the price of a beer, your virtual (or actual) beer purchase will help keep us on the road bringing you the stories behind the beer. Let us know you did just that, and we’ll put together a virtual happy hour with you, if we’re not already in person together.
“We appreciate you highlighting our brewery on your podcast, your enthusiasm for craft breweries, travel and adventure and the patronage of not only you, but the friends you bring into Tres Litros.”
Jason at Tres Litros Beer Co
“Ken and April do a fantastic job of mixing the culture of beer and adventure into something akin to a fine barrel-aged sour. They are wise beyond their years. Loving this podcast and it will be on our weekly playlist for SURE!”
The Dog In Us
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