Visit the Caracole Brewery: a unique brewing journey, by the wood fire

Would you like a visit to the Caracole Brewery? 

There is no shortage of ideas for outdoor activities in Dinant, whether cultural, heritage… or even sporting.

However, sometimes the weather isn't ideal for these outdoor activities. Of course, you can enjoy the comfort of our cottages and relax indoors. But it's also possible to enjoy activities that keep you dry: a visit to the Caracole Brewery in Falmignoul is just one option.

If you like beer and want to discover a typical local brewery: this is the destination! 

Of course, it is entirely possible to visit the brewery... when it's not raining!

However, we invite you to read the practical information below before going to Falmignoul, in particular to check the opening hours of the Brewery. 

Before pushing the door, a reminder: “a beer brewed wisely should be enjoyed in moderation”.

And there is certainly wisdom in the making of Caracole beers.

Brief history of Brasserie Caracole

Let's be clear from the start: this visit is an invitation to a journey through time. You'll quickly realize this once you step through the front door.

You're not at a newly built craft brewery at all.

Judging by the inscription on a wooden barrel, still present on the premises, brewing activity began in 1765.That's over 250 years ago. Before that, because the building is even older, it may have been a stable or a barn.

Of course, the current brewery is more recent: we will come back to that.

But since 1765, beer has been brewed in Falmignoul. This activity continued until the early 1970s. On the eve of the Second World War, in 1939, a brick chimney collapsed, destroying part of the buildings.

It wasn't until 1994 that two Namur-based entrepreneurs, François Tonglet and Jean-Pierre Debrasthe business. Initially there to purchase equipment, they ultimately decided to buy the entire building and relocate their brewery, originally based in Namur. Together, they revived the local brewing industry.

With one major concern: preserving the old brewing method, which involved heating the copper vats with a wood fire. The brewery was renamed and took on the name by which it is known today.

If the beginning of the 21st century saw a real boom in local micro-breweries, particularly in Belgium, launching such an activity at the end of the 20th century was a daring bet. 

The Brasserie Caracole, nowadays

A bold bet, but a winning bet: the beers produced at the moment bear witness to the success of the brewery, a significant part of which is exported (nearly two thirds).

The beers have found their niche and their consumers, well beyond the affluent dinantregion. And it is not necessary to shine like Leffe to exist in beer glasses. Every year, around a million bottles leave the brewery.

In 2024, as proof of the brewery's dynamism, a new beer was added to the already well-stocked range of Caracole products. We'll be serving it to you soon.

In addition to its own beers, the Brewery also produces brews for so-called label beers, at the request of associations or regional groups. 

As mentioned previously, an important element to highlight about this brewery is a particularity that makes it unique in the Belgian brewing landscape (and even far beyond): the beers are still brewed over a wood fire.

What is a “caracole”?

In the French language, the word “caracole” does not exist. At least, not in the official language.

However, the verb " caracoler " does indeed exist. In the field of horsemanship, this verb refers to the circles and jumps performed by horses. It can also describe a person riding ahead on their horse. This meaning gave rise to the expression "caracoler en tête" (to lead the way).

We are far from the world of brewers and beer.

The word "caracole" is a Belgianism, to designate a mollusc whose shell is spiral-shaped.

In short, a snail.

And now you understand the visual of Brasserie Caracole, representing a character wearing a helmet inspired by a mollusk shell.

Source: Dictionary of Belgianisms, M Francard, De Boeck – Duculot, 2010.

The different beers from Brasserie Caracole

Visit to the Caracole Brewery and tasting

It is possible to visit the facilities of the Brasserie Caracole.

However, we encourage you to check the brewery's website for tour options. These vary depending on the season. Generally, the brewery is open every weekend of the year (Saturday and Sunday), from 2 pm to 7 pm.

If you wish, you can combine the visit with a tasting on site. A space is provided for this purpose inside. 

Likewise, you have the possibility to buy the different local beers. For tasting, one option is to choose the range of 4 classic beers from the Brasserie, served in galopins (14 cl). You will taste successively: the Spir-Ale, the Saxo, the Caracole, before finishing with the Nostradamus.  

You can ask that the kids be served one after the other, or all together. However, we can only recommend that you respect the tasting order proposed to you.

So, if you happen to open the door of Brasserie Caracole and taste (in moderation) the local production, don't hesitate to leave a review in the comments.

If you are staying at Gîtes kangourou Dinant, you will find an explanatory flyer about the Brasserie in the welcome folder. In each of the two lodges, you even have the original glass of Caracole... if you prefer to taste it after your return.

Do you want to know more about Brasserie Caracole?

Would you like more information about Brasserie Caracole?

Feel free to visit the brewery's website. You'll find all the information about tours there, as well as a large photo gallery of the brewery.

You can also watch the report that the local television station Matélé dedicated to the owner of Caracole, François Tonglet.

You can also consult this article from the Journal l'Echo dedicated to the Caracole published in 2005: Michael Jackson (who is not who you might think at first glance), describes this brewery asunique in the world.

And it’s in Dinant !