The Belgian Smaak Podcast | Exploring the world of Belgian beer

About The Belgian Smaak Podcast | Exploring the world of Belgian beer

Breandán Kearney sits down with some of the most high-profile people in the world of Belgian beer to discuss beer styles, brands, and the stories behind the breweries and to find out what makes beer culture in Belgium so special.

Publisher

Breandán Kearney

Category

arts · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Apr 2016

Latest episode

24 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 70 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   24 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

   EP057 | Rolling Hills

   Host Breandán Kearney interviews Edward Vandermeersch of Rolling Hills brewery about family, Oud Bruin, and life lessons.

2. 

   5 Feb 2026

   EP056 | Generational Handover

   In the past year, Belgian family breweries Het Anker and De Ryck have ended generations of family ownership. Family breweries sit at the heart of Belgian beer but the topic of generational handover in these breweries is rarely spoken about in much detail: what it means to inherit a brewery, to carry a family name forward, and to take responsibility for something that existed long before any of us were born. Three family brewers—Céline Lefebvre from Brasserie Lefebvre (sixth generation), Albert De Brabandere from Brouwerij De Brabandere (fifth generation), and Karel Boon from Brouwerij Boon (second generation)—sit down with Breandán Kearney to talk about what it takes to inherit a legacy, deal with succession, and decide how to navigate challenging economics.

3. 

   9 Dec 2025

   EP055 | Recognition

   2026 will mark the ten-year anniversary of the UNESCO recognition of Belgian beer culture as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity (the only country in the world to do so). The behind-the-scenes story of how Belgium pulled it off—with plot twists and political wrangling and strategic compromise—demonstrates the essence of the country's character: ruthlessly pragmatic and quietly persuasive.

Inside a recent episode

EP057 | Rolling Hills

Published 24 Sept 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] They made similar products. They had their high days. Also in the 30s were the high days of Liefmans, but also of Petre de Vos. And my father grew up in that brewery. His best friend was Emmanuel's uncle. And they were born on the same day and they were inseparable. And, you know, when they were 13, 14 years old, they would hide away in the attics with the other older cousins of the Petre family to drink beer. You know, it was like a very old school Catholic Flemish city, like an old world that does not exist anymore. And they were just... break free from that inside the brewery and inside the hills of the Vlaams Ardalen. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

14,650,558

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

33 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

38 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

52

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

51

Contact The Belgian Smaak Podcast | Exploring the world of Belgian beer

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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