The Origins of Slaapmutske: A Passion for Brewing

Dany de Smet's passion for brewing started in his childhood, captivated by the sight of a perfectly poured pilsner. This early fascination led him to pursue a degree in biochemistry, graduating as a brewing engineer in 1992. He began working as a brewmaster at Huyghe Brewery. While working there, his personal passion continued to grow as he experimented with homebrews using materials from the brewery.

The Slaapmutske brand was born from a deeply personal event: the birth of his son, Jonas, over 25 years ago. To celebrate, Dany brewed 50 liters in his garage and bottled it in 75-centiliter bottles. The beer was initially going to be named "Jonas beer," but someone advised against it for the market. The name "Slaapmutske" came from a local tradition where a pacifier is dipped in beer to help crying children fall asleep. When someone jokingly asked if he put sleeping pills in his beer, Dany decided on the name Slaapmutske, which means "sleeping cap".

Dany with his son, Jonas

A Philosophy of Innovation: Renewing Beer Tradition

Dany's brewing philosophy is centered on "renewing beer tradition". He aims to take traditional Belgian styles and give them a modern, innovative twist, such as making them gluten-free or sugar-free. This approach began with his first commercial beers: the Slaapmutske Brown, Blonde, and Triple. The Slaapmutske Blonde was a notable innovation, becoming one of the first beers on the Belgian market to use American hops—specifically Cascade hops—back in 2000.

His commitment to innovation continued with the release of a dry-hopped lager, which was an unusual style 20 years ago.

Dany has always strived to be "one step ahead". This drive led him to be one of the first to produce citric, hoppy, and alcohol-free beers over six years ago. Now, he is focused on producing more sugar-free and gluten-free beers, which he believes is the next major step in beer innovation.

Staying Ahead: Quality and Collaboration

Dany's business is built on an unwavering commitment to quality. He states there are "no compromises" and that quality comes before everything else. He's even willing to discard an entire batch if it doesn't meet his standards. This dedication has earned him a reputation for integrity.

Dany believes that a brewery must continuously innovate to survive in the current market. He has observed many breweries struggling and closing down, which he attributes to a lack of innovation and an unwillingness to collaborate. He sees brewery takeovers and collaborations as a way to leverage each other's strengths and ensure the survival of smaller, diverse breweries against the dominance of big players like Heineken and Carlsberg. He believes that uniting and sharing customers is a way to protect the diversity of the craft beer scene.

Slaapmutske Beer

	L'Arogante: ⓘ The coming together of La Roche-en-Ardenne and Ghent. 👁 Looks clear golden with a white head. 👃 Smells sweet, fruity, hops. 👅 Tastes smooth, round, fruity, sweet, rich bitterness flavor. 🍴 Thai or spicy food.
	Slaapmutske Tripel: ⓘ One of the first beers in Belgium that used the dry-hopping technique. Unchanged recipe for over 24 years. 👁  Deep golden orange, white head. 👃 Smells flat, malt, grain, some hops. 👅 Tastes peppery, a bit of banana hints, slight bitterness, smooth and creamy. 🍴 Try to make a Sorbet with this Tripel!
	Slaapmutske Glutenfree Quadrupel: ⓘ Hop Collection - two malts and one hop, with the hop changing in each recipe. Glutenfree! 👁  Deep amber orange color, big white head. 👃 Smells sweet, caramel, alcohol. 👅 Tastes heavy, alcohol, sweetness, licorice, hint of bitterness in the aftertaste. 🍴 Pairs well with game meat.
	Slaapmutske Witbier: ⓘ 20% wheat, 80% barley malt, and using aromatic hops.  👁 Light golden, slightly hazy, white head. 👃 Herbs, malt. 👅 Light bitter, citrus, herbs. 🍴 Chicken, Fish, Spicy Food
	Slaapmutske Extra Glutenfree Lager: ⓘ Gluten and sugar free lager.  👁 Hazy yellow, white head. 👃 Smells fruity, hoppy, orange, citrusy. 👅 Bitter aftertaste, hint of herbs. 🍴 Pizza

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Q&A with Dany

Do you have a favorite TV series?
I enjoy Flemish police series.

If seasons never changed, what would you most like to live in eternally? 
Spring, with its sense of renewal and fresh energy, is always my favorite.

What is your favorite genre of music or group?
My favorite band is ABBA!