BierTalk English 43 - Interview with Bart Delvaux, Brewer and Founder of Brouwerij De Coureur in Leuven, Belgium

In this BeerTalk episode, we head to Belgium — to Leuven, one of
the country’s true beer hotspots — and step into a place that
instantly sticks in your memory: Bart Delvaux’s taproom brewery in
Kessel-Lo, where beer culture meets bike culture in the most
Belgian way possible. Bart shares how it all started with
homebrewing in a basement, then took a surprising turn during a
work relocation to Chicago — and a bicycle crash that (ironically)
led him straight into the world of American taprooms. What began as
a setback became the spark for a new life: returning to Belgium,
building a brewery, and creating a space where locals and visitors
can drink fresh beer on draft, right next to the kettles. We talk
about Bart’s crossover brewing philosophy — from an easy-drinking
cream ale and a smooth, low-ABV tripel, to a bold West Coast IPA,
plus monthly specials that range from refreshing sour gose to
stouts with chili, tonka beans, and other twists. Bart explains why
they don’t bottle, how they keep quality and freshness in their own
hands, and why the taproom experience matters just as much as the
beer itself. One highlight: Bart’s obsession with creating beers
that surprise you — like a white stout that looks like a pilsner
but drinks like a stout, built through careful ingredient testing
(and a lot of patience). And yes, we also get into hop water, food
collaborations (tacos + jalapeño gose!), and the warm, supportive
way Leuven’s brewers work together...