Brasserie de la Mule

Brasserie de la Mule stands out in Brussels' crowded beer landscape by doing something almost no one else does: brewing authentic German-style lagers. Head brewer Joël Galy, a former Brasserie de la Senne brewer, has taken over a 19th-century tram stable in Schaerbeek and turned it into a unique taproom where you can taste helles, pils, and other lager styles made with traditional decoction mashing—a technique rarely seen in Belgium.

The space itself is delightfully rough around the edges, with exposed brick walls, air ducts running along the ceiling, and wooden cable drums serving as tables. It's not polished or pretentious; instead, it has that communal, Bavarian pub feel Galy was aiming for. The beers are all organic and undergo generous eight-week lagering periods, resulting in clean, crisp beers that taste distinctly different from the mass-produced Belgian pilsners you find everywhere else.

While the beer list might seem limited compared to other craft breweries, the quality and uniqueness more than make up for it. It's a place for beer nerds and curious drinkers alike who want to experience something different in Brussels. The staff is knowledgeable and passionate, ready to explain why their approach to lager brewing is so special.