Conferences
Hot topics in the beer world, from brewing technologies, brewing skills, consumers’ expectations, trade, trends etc...
24/02/25 - Monday
State of the Belgian Brewing Industry
Paul Lefebvre
Co-owner Brasserie Lefebvre / President of EBC
Luc De Raedemaeker
Director BeComevPaul and Luc will share their unique take on the challenges, trends, and opportunities shaping the future of Belgian beer. From global competition to sustainability and innovation. They will highlight the key factors impacting our cherished brewing tradition today.
This is more than just a speech—it’s a rare chance to hear from one of the industry’s top leaders, someone who has worked to preserve and promote the reputation of Belgian beer around the world.
Hoses: The Overlooked Hygiene Risk
Eugène Burgers
Sales Manager HeproflexHoses are indispensable in any brewery but can pose a hygiene risk if not correctly maintained or assembled. Specialist Eugène Burgers explores how improper material selection, handling, assembly, and wear can lead to contamination. Gain insights into hose structure, elastomer liners, couplings, swaging, leakage prevention and do's & don'ts to keep your brewing process clean, safe, and efficient.
Start to Lambic
Jo Panneels
Co-founder and Co-owner of the Lambiek Fabriek
Gert Christiaens
Owner Oud Beersel / Chairman Horal
Erik De Keersmaeker
Owner Eylenbosch Brewery
Tim Verwilghen
Visit Flanders (Moderator)Lambic is a fascinating beer style with a rich tradition. It’s a style that nearly disappeared but has made a remarkable comeback. After a sharp decline in producers, we’ve seen renewed interest from brewers eager to dive into lambic production.
However, while lambic is beautiful, magical, and full of promise, it’s also a challenging style to master—and even harder to make popular. Things can get pretty wild in Lambicland! If you’re considering joining this unique world, it’s crucial to be well-prepared.
In this interactive session, we’ll delve into the challenges you might face, the key factors for success, and what’s needed beyond a great product. We’ll also discuss the role HORAL can play in supporting your journey.
Our speakers, once rookies themselves, have successfully carved out their place in Lambicland over the past few decades. They’ll share their experiences, present their cases, and engage in a lively debate with you—the audience—while answering your questions.
FEBED and the Beer Market: Opportunities for Brewers
Hilde Stockman
Director FEBEDWe’ll explore what FEBED represents for the distribution and sale of beer in Belgium. We’ll dive into the challenges and opportunities for brewers. How can you ensure your beer reaches the right audience? What can FEBED do for you? From logistics and networking to practical tips for getting your beer into the market—everything will be covered.
Crafting Your Beer Story: What Works, What Inspires
Frederik Picard
Managing Partner, ReputationsEvery brewery has a story, but how do you make yours stand out? In this presentation, we will explore:
- How to turn your brand into a powerful narrative
- Proven strategies to truly convince consumers
- Inspiring examples from the world of beer
Whether you are a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this session will provide practical insights and ideas to elevate your brand and connect with your audience. Let’s explore what it takes to craft a story that sells.
NABLAB through fermentation
Gino Baert
Fermentis
Andrea Felician
Pinnacle by AB Biotek
Thierry Cowez
Buyer & Sourcing Manager at CINOCO / ModeratorThe rising demand for non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beers (NABLAB) has led craft brewers to brew a wider variety of great tasting NABLAB styles than ever before. In-depth research into their production has been done and there are different approaches possible to produce NABLAB, each of which requires substantial process and recipe optimization. In this session, we’ll focus on crafting high quality NABLAB using a limited fermentation approach. What are the challenges you’ll probably face and how can your yeast provider help you to reach the goals you have in mind. Two of them present you the research they’ve done, the options they offer, the current best practices, … We open the debate and make sure you leave with more answers than questions.