Stella Artois

InBev opened a new fully automated brewery in Leuven in 1993, and by 2006, total production volume was over 10 million hl annually.

The old Brewery which strangely enough sits facing the new one almost, closed down in the mid 90s when the newer more upto date brewery was built.

Their is only one word I can think of to describe this place and that is epic! Having been drunk many a weekend on Stella it was an opportunity to good to miss and with our trip centred around Belgium it was high on the list of sites to explore.

There hasnt been many reports emerge from here over the past few years and we wasnt convinced we would be able to see inside but after some scouting around we eventually found our way in.

The main brewing hall is beyond words it looks more like a palace than a brewery and the giant copper brewing pots still in situ is just some thing else. To be stood in the place of one of your favourite beers was just astounding and probably my favourite explore of the entire trip.

The main brewing room was just amazing and I think we spent more time in here than anywhere else.

Just when we had got over the grandure of the main hall. We ventured round the corner and found more hidden gems. Crates and crates of old Stella cases and bottles. Some dated back to the 1960s and some had "Eylenbosch  Schepdaal" embossed on them.

On top of this we found the funky twin stairs and the control rooms and of course the roof which gave a nice view of the surroundings and the newer brewery further up the road.

An absoloutley amazing place in every way and one of my favourite explores of all time, an awesome explore of a legendary site.