Huyghe

Leon Huyghe established the Melle brewery in 1906, and it has remained in family ownership since, currently managed by the fourth generation. Huyghe built its international profile through Delirium Tremens, a strong Belgian ale first brewed in December 1988 and recognised by its pink elephant branding. In early 2024, the brewery entered the alcohol-free beer category for the first time, having invested in a dedicated dealcoholisation plant at its Melle site. The process applies vacuum evaporation to remove alcohol at low temperature: by reducing the pressure inside the vessel, the boiling point of alcohol drops, allowing it to be drawn off without the heat that would otherwise strip aroma and flavour from the finished beer. This is the brewery's own production capacity rather than a contracted process.

The AF portfolio spans specialty beers and fruit beers, extending the Huyghe range into the alcohol-free category while remaining consistent with the brewery's specialty-beer identity.

Huyghe has also set a formal sustainability target to become the most sustainable brewer in Belgium, supported by investment in a greener brewhouse. The AF range is distributed through specialist alcohol-free retailers, reflecting a launch positioning aimed at enthusiasts familiar with Belgian specialty beer rather than a mainstream supermarket rollout. That distribution profile and premium bracket pricing place Huyghe's AF beers squarely in the considered-purchase tier for sober-curious drinkers who want the character of a Belgian specialty beer without the alcohol.