ANTWERP - 'Modeste' was the first name of the man who spent half a century at the helm of Antwerp Brewery De Koninck. The eponymous beer festival, now held for the third time, is meant to be a homage to ‘father’ De Koninck.

‘Modest’ also indicates that this is a small-scale festival. Modesty is the hallmark of the bigger brewers. No-one is putting up a grand show here. The glass will do the talking for each of them..

I see a remarkable number of microbreweries. Well over thirty of them heeded the call this year. Newcomer Bertingchamps from Gembloers, barely four months old, is the latest addition. Dochter van de Korenaar, known for its stout matured in whisky barrels, attracts a wide audience with its niche beers.

Classics such as Brouwerij Bosteels, Duvel-Moortgat, Palm Breweries and Timmermans also gave acte de présence as well as the Antwerp monuments De Koninck and ‘t Pakhuis.

It is surprising to find so many young microbreweries as well as smaller traditional breweries. In other words: how different worlds manage to find one another. Time to make my way to the bar for a chat and another beer.

Pierre-Alex Carlier of Brasserie de Blaugies manages to tell me that business is booming in his brewery, in between pouring the umpteenth Moneuse. Colleague Luc Pirot of Kempisch Vuur can look back on a good summer.

The terrace of his brewery in Zandhoven was rarely empty. He is another one who has been able to pour his beers without interruption. I am chatting to a Canadian-Belgian beer fan and an American tour operator.

Evidently, international visitors also manage to find their way to the former depot of De Koninck brewery.

In the meantime the Antwerps Bier College (ABC) is guiding visitors through the brewery. The tour includes the equipment of cheese affineur Michel Van Tricht in the former bottling plant.

We catch a glimpse of the old brewing hall, which will soon make way for the new De Koninck visitors’ centre, "this will be the ideal place to enjoy a bolleke De Koninck" I hear myself thinking.