The Brewery

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The Beer

Brugse Zot, a city beer for Bruges brewed by De Halve Maan, was launched in 2005 by Xavier Vanneste, but its name harks back to the late Middle Ages, when the Emperor Maximilian of Austria visited Bruges.

He witnessed a parade of jesters and madmen (fools called ‘zotten’). Afterwards, the citizens of Bruges asked the Emperor for a ‘zothuis’ (or madhouse). Whereupon he responded: “A madhouse is all I have seen today.”

Brugse Zot is a very drinkable thirst-quencher with bags of character, brewed with four varieties of malt and two types of aroma hops. Thanks to re-fermentation the taste evolves in the bottle. The blonde Brugse Zot has now acquired a dark sibling: the strong, full-mouthed Brugse Zot Dubbel, brewed with Saaz hops and six specialty malts.

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Alcohol

6% ABV

Fermentation

Brugse Zot is a top-fermented beer that re-ferments in the bottle.

Ingredients

Water, house yeast, pils malts and speciality malts, Styrian Golding and Hallertau aroma hops.

Colour & Transparency

Brugse Zot is a clear beer, golden to dark blonde in colour with a rich white head of froth.

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Serving Temperature

7-10°C / 44-50°F

Serving Glass

Brugse Zot is served in a tall, tulip-shaped, long stemmed and branded glass that allows the aromas to develop beautifully.

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Character, Tastes & Aromas

It is a very thirst-quenching, sparkling and refreshingly fruity beer with plenty of herbs. In the nose you immediately get aromas of citrus and hops.

There are taste impressions of malt and bread, lemon and herbs. The carbon dioxide gives a taste explosion in the mouth. There is a pleasant bitterness and a dry finish.

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Culinary

 

N/A

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Keeping and Storage

Brugse Zot will keep for 24 months in the bottle and for 12 months on tap. Keep upright in a dark, cool and dry place, the larger 75 cl bottles are preferably stored horizontally.

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Availability

Bottle ✔       On Tap ✔

Bottle: 33 cl, 75 cl. On Tap: 15 l barrels.

As the beer hails from Bruges, you will find it all around the medieval city, in bars, cafés, hotels, shops and supermarkets. For those not visiting Bruges, never fear; Brugse Zot is a very popular beer that can be found and enjoyed throughout Belgium.

The active and successful export activities of De Halve Maan also mean the beer is easily procured outside the country and online.

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Other Brouwerij De Halve Maan Beers

Straffe Hendrik Tripel
The launch of Straffe Hendrik – still the brewery’s flagship beer - heralded the era of strong degustation beers at De Halve Maan. Its brewer is the oldest in Bruges, based in its historic city centre, and also well known for its ...

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Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel
Straffe Hendrik heralded the era of strong degustation beers brewed by De Halve Maan in Bruges. It is the flagship beer produced by the oldest brewery in Bruges’ inner city, known for its Brugse Zot Blond and Donker (Dark). Straf ...