Nestled in the heart of Hainaut, in Le Roeulx, the Saint Feuillien Brewery carries the history of an Irish saint, a passionate family, and a brewing tradition that spans centuries. Founded in 1873 by Stéphanie Friart, it is today one of the great Belgian abbey beer houses.
1873
Founding
5th
Generation
150+
Years of History
655
Martyr of St-Feuillien
1. Saint Feuillien: The Martyr Monk and the Abbey
🍀 An Irish Monk in Hainaut
In the 7th century, an Irish monk who came to evangelize the region was murdered in the town of Le Roeulx one October evening in 655. Since then, pilgrims have flocked to the site of his martyrdom. In his honor, in 1125, young religious men founded the Abbey of Saint-Feuillien in the same town. For seven centuries, the abbey thrived as a place of prayer, study, and brewing, until its destruction by the soldiers of the French Revolution in 1796.
Fortunately, the brewing tradition did not disappear for long. The Saint Feuillien brewery was reborn in 1873, founded by Stéphanie Friart, and has since perpetuated the abbey's legacy.
2. The Friart Family: A Brewing Saga
From Stéphanie Friart to the 5th Generation
Founded by Stéphanie Friart
Great-great-aunt of the current shareholders, Stéphanie Friart founded the brewery at the entrance to Le Roeulx, where light beers were produced. Her talent was recognized at the Antwerp World's Fair in 1894 and at the International Exhibition of Food Products in Geneva in 1895.
Benoît Friart and Modernization
Stéphanie handed over the business to her nephew Benoît Friart, who in 1920 acquired a more modern brewery in the center of the town. He maintained both sites and produced, among others, the Grisette, Belge, Saison, and Triple Wallonne.
Abbey Beer and Christmas Cuvée
The brewery produced the pils Rhodia, a nod to the Rhodians, and in 1952 launched the St-Feuillien, an abbey beer available in Blonde and Brune varieties. In 1969, the Cuvée de Noël was born — one of the first Christmas beers in Wallonia.
Triple in Champagne Bottles
In 1988, the first batch of St-Feuillien Triple was bottled in champagne bottles (Magnum 1.5 L – Jeroboam 3 L – Methuselah 6 L – Salmanazar 9 L): a first in Belgium. From 1993 to 1998, all 19th-century buildings were restored.
Grisette BIO and Harvest of Awards
The Grisette Fruits des Bois was created in 2004. In 2009, the Saison from St-Feuillien won the World Beer Award in its category. In 2010, the St-Feuillien Blonde received the same title for Abbey Blonde Beers. In 2011, the Grand Cru was born. In 2014, the Grisette Blonde became gluten-free and received BIO certification.
3. The Beers: From Abbey to Signature
A rich range, between tradition and innovation
Abbey Beers
Saint Feuillien Blonde
7.5 %
Type: Top fermentation, recognized Belgian abbey beer, blonde.
Tasting: Pale golden blonde beer, cloudy, with a correct, dense but not sticky foam. The nose is pleasant with citrus (lemon) and hop (sulfurous) notes. On the palate, the aroma of rose blends with those of solvent, malt, and resinous tree (pine). The mouth is relatively balanced with a persistent bitterness.
Pairings: Seafood, fish, light dishes.
Saint Feuillien Brune Réserve
8.5 %
Type: Top fermentation, recognized Belgian abbey beer, brown.
Tasting: A creamy, not abundant foam tops this clear beer of a fairly light brown with reddish hues. On the nose, you will mainly find fermentation odors (floral/rose and solvent). These notes persist on the palate, pushing more subtle and pleasant aromas of anise, juniper, licorice, caramel, rhubarb, and lemon into the background. Low bitterness beer.
Pairings: Red meats, aged cheeses, chocolate desserts.
Saint Feuillien Triple
8.5 %
Type: Top fermentation, recognized Belgian abbey beer, blonde, triple.
Tasting: Pale golden blonde beer, slightly cloudy, covered with a beautiful foam. Surprising smells of celery and Madeira emerge, mixed with floral notes and coriander. The mouth seems less bitter than it actually is.
Saint Feuillien Quadruple
11 %
Type: Top fermentation, recognized Belgian abbey beer, brown.
Tasting: Very dark brown and very dense beer. Complex aroma finely caramelized with nuances of Madeira wine and candied fruit, complemented by a touch of fermentation esters (banana-like). Powerful body, soft bitterness, and chocolate malts.
Pairings: Rich desserts, aged cheeses, dark chocolates.
Saint Feuillien Cuvée de Noël
9 %
Type: Top fermentation, recognized Belgian abbey beer, brown.
Tasting: One of the first Christmas beers in Wallonia (1969). Deep ruby brown color, compact and stable, slightly brownish foam. Very intense nose thanks to the spices. Round, sweet beer, built on the balance between caramelized malts and long cold storage.
Pairings: Game, festive dishes, spiced desserts.
Grisette BIO & Signature
The Grisette is a heritage beer type from Hainaut, very old and very localized. The first Grisette Amber at the St-Feuillien Brewery dates back to 1919. The range now includes the Grisette Blonde BIO (gluten-free) and the Grisette Blanche BIO.
Among the "Signature" beers, the Grand Cru undergoes secondary bottle fermentation, giving them complex aromas and a long shelf life.
The St-Feuillien Triple Distilled Malt represents a diversification close to the core business: a distillate obtained by triple distillation of the beer, aged for six months in Bourbon barrels.
4. A Family and Independent Brewery
Belgian Family Brewers & Confrérie Saint-Feuillien
🏅 Belgian Family Brewers
The St-Feuillien Brewery is a member of the Belgian Family Brewers association, which brings together 21 historic and independent family breweries. This label guarantees the consumer that the beer is truly brewed in Belgium by an independent family brewery for at least 50 years or 3 successive generations, and that it is exclusive — not subject to any copies under another name.
⚜️ The Confrérie Saint-Feuillien
For nearly 30 years, the Confrérie Saint-Feuillien has maintained the cultural connection to the territory through travel, visits, meetings, conferences, and gastronomy. Outward-looking, it maintains ties with Ireland, England, France, and many regions of Belgium.
"At the heart of Rhodien, Beer of St-Feuillien"
Founded by Stéphanie Friart and carried today by Benoît Friart, Dominique Friart, and the 5th generation with Ann Friart, the brewery embodies the transmission of know-how over more than 150 years.
5. Visit the Saint Feuillien Brewery
Practical Information
🗓️ Guided Tours — Every Saturday at 2 PM
Every Saturday afternoon, the brewery opens its doors for a guided tour of its historic 19th-century site and a virtual tour of the new production site inaugurated in 2023. The tour concludes with a tasting of two beers of your choice.
Duration
2 hours · Max. 25 people
Rates
Adult (18+): 12 € (tasting included)
Child (6–18 years): 8 €
Child (0–6 years): free
Address
20 rue d'Houdeng
7070 Le Roeulx
+32 (0)64 31 18 18
Group tours are available in French and English, every day of the week depending on availability. Reservations: visites@st-feuillien.com
📌 Good to Know
Remember to book online as the number of places is limited. The shop is open during visits. Take the opportunity to discover the town of Le Roeulx and its tourist activities: leroeulxtourisme.be.
More information on the official website: st-feuillien.com
Conclusion: Saint-Feuillien, a Living Legend
From the abbey of the Irish martyr monk to the modern family brewery, Saint-Feuillien embodies over a thousand years of connection between a land, a know-how, and a passion. Five generations of the Friart family have perpetuated and renewed this tradition, combining loyalty to the terroir and innovative boldness — from the first Grisette Amber of 1919 to the very recent ST-FEU of 2026.
Every sip of St-Feuillien is a journey through the history of Hainaut and Belgian brewing.