BierTalk English 46 - Interview with Sibren de Bast, brewer and co-founder of Man & Brouw from Wilsele, Leuven, Belgium

Episode von BierTalk von Markus Raupach · 25. Juli 2026 · 1 h 06 min

In this episode I travel to Belgium, just outside Leuven, to visit one of the most charming hidden gems I have come across in a long time: Man & Brouw. There, quite literally in a shipping container at the back of a garden, Sibren and his friend Tom have built a tiny brewery with huge imagination. What started as homebrewing and a bit of pandemic-era restlessness turned into a wonderfully creative project where every batch is a new idea, every beer tells its own story, and engineering meets brewing in the best possible way. We talk about how the brewery came to life, why there was never really a masterplan, and how Sibren and Tom developed their very personal style: small-scale, experimental, playful and uncompromising. Their beers range from a delicate chamomile grisette to cider-saison hybrids, hop-accented sour beers, pepper-driven creations, a black session IPA and even a freeze-distilled stout-like specialty. Along the way, Sibren explains how they test herbs, spices and peppers like scientists, why they prefer to keep the batches small, and how growing hops, mint and other ingredients in the garden helps shape the identity of the beers. It is a conversation about curiosity, friendship and the freedom that comes with staying small. We also touch on Leuven’s inspiring beer scene, the support between local brewers, and the challenge of finding the right places for such unusual beers. Above all, this episode shows that some of the most exciting brewing ideas do not come from huge brewhouses, but from passionate people who dare to experiment. A lovely and flavorful talk about hidden places, big creativity and beers that stay in your memory long after the glass is empty.

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