The homebrewery "De Halve Maan" is the only family brewery in the centre of Bruges that is still active. De "Halve Maan" is situated in the heart of our historical town and offers a hospital welcome to the visitors.

In 2005 new life has been blown into the brewery with the revival of the brewery’s activities.

Xavier Vanneste, son of Mrs Véronique Maes, restarted the old brewery after a thorough renovation of the remaining installation. He launched this new beer under the name ‘Brugse Zot’ for which a unique recipe has been developed. Today Brugse Zot is the one and only beer really brewed in Bruges’ towncenter !

By the end of 2008, "Straffe Hendrik" a beer once developed and brewed by the Maes' familiy returned to Bruges and is now being brewed, once again, at the brewery "De Halve Maan" according to the original recipe.

The beers brewed by De Halve Maan Brouwerij have won many prestigous awards in their short life to date. Shortly after its launch in 2006, the pale version of the Brugse Zot won the Gold Medal at the World Beer Cup in Seattle in the category 'Belgian and French Style Ale'. In 2008 the pale Brugse Zot confirmed its leading position by once again winning the Gold Medal in the same category.

Both Brugse Zot and Straffe Hendrik have won awards at the European Beer star awards in 2009 and Australian International Beer Awards in 2010