‘De Cam’ is Old Dutch for ‘brewery’, but Karel Goddeau does not brew lambic himself. He is a geuze blender: Karel buys lambic wort from craft breweries and allows it to mature in hundred-year-old wooden barrels. He then blends and bottles it to create a smooth, authentic geuze or surprising fruit beers.
Find out more about Lambiekland and the various breweries and events
Practical
Book your visit here
This brewery is part of the Lambiekland Passport.
The Desert Walk passes by the stekerij.
Alcohol abuse is harmful to your health.
Location and accessibility
Bicycle parking in the inner courtyard.
Story
The De Cam geuze blender is situated in the heart of Gooik, where it shares the cobblestones of the inner courtyard with Volkscafé De Cam and the Folk Instrument Museum. It’s a place where tradition is cherished – you can sense it straight away. The building where Karel Goddeau, the blender, matures the wort from artisanal lambic brewers in hundred-year-old barrels was already known as ‘des Heeres Landcamme’ as far back as 1515. In Old Dutch, ‘Cam’ means ‘brewery’, and that name lives on here to this day.
Karel Goddeau has been the passionate blender here for 25 years. De Cam has its own orchard with sour cherries, apples, cherries and plums. Karel is a master at making delicious fruit beers, but he also likes to take things a step further. He even combines wine grapes such as Riesling and Pinot Noir with lambic in surprising ways.
Experience
You’ll step outside feeling like a fan, thanks to the infectious enthusiasm of blender Karel.
Visit and guided tour
Every Saturday and Sunday, the gates of De Cam geuze blender swing open. Are you coming with a group? Guided tours are available every day, but it’s best to book in advance. And of course, a tasting is included!
🕙 From 12.30 pm to 6 pm.
🦽 Fully accessible. No adapted toilet facilities available.
