The Rodenbach brewery has been producing its distinctive Flemish red-brown ale in Roeselare since 1821. The brewery is famous for its sour ales, aged for up to two years in enormous oak foeders — some 150 years old — where wild yeasts create the beer's characteristic tart, fruity complexity. Rodenbach Grand Cru and Vintage are considered among the finest sour beers in the world.
The brewery offers guided tours that take you through the production process and into the barrel hall, where rows of massive wooden casks stretch into the distance. The tour ends with a tasting. Book in advance, especially during summer and weekends. Even if you cannot get on a tour, the beers are widely available in Roeselare's cafes — order a Rodenbach Grand Cru and drink it where it was made.