smaak
/smaːk/ [noun] /flemish/
(1) taste: the ability to discern what is of good quality;
(2) taste: the sensation of flavour perceived in the mouth.
LET US BE YOUR GUIDE
A note from the Editor
I know how confusing Belgian beer can be.
When I first arrived in Belgium, I was overwhelmed by just how different everything was: the beer styles; the spoken languages; the brewing politics.
But since then, I've spent years reporting on beer here as a way of better understanding the place that I live.
During that journey, I met writers, photographers, illustrators, graphic designers, and sound engineers, each with a passion for Belgian beer and a talent for telling stories. Now, we're a team that can help guide you.
We aspire to meaningful, long-form, narrative journalism, beautiful photography and illustration, and engaging, high quality sound production.
We create award-winning stories, podcasts, and resources which help make your experiences with Belgian beer richer and more fulfilling.
We are Belgian Smaak.
—Breandán Kearney (Editor-in-Chief)
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ABOUT US
Some things to know
Award-winning
We've been recognised by food magazines like Saveur and Knack Weekend as well as Writers Guilds in the UK and the US, including winning awards such as Best Beer Blog, Best Beer Podcast, Best International Reporting, and Beer Writer of the Year.
Highly qualified
We've studied brewing in Belgium as well as achieving certifications from the Cicerone®, BJCP, and IBD Beer Academy Sommelier Programmes.
Subscriber focussed
Our community consists of thousands of engaged subscribers, including beer enthusiasts, brewing professionals, homebrewers, culture vultures, and foodies.
Extensive experience
We contribute to a host of other beer and food publications, including National Geographic Food, Good Beer Hunting, Craft Beer and Brewing, Pellicle Mag, Brew Your Own, Ferment, and Belgian Beer and Food Magazine.
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Testimonials
Belgian Smaak has proven itself to be a valuable resource for beer and food lovers like myself.
Paul Walsh, Editor of Belgian Beer and Food Magazine
Belgian Smaak articles are a joy to read; informative, entertaining, full of quirky facts and written in a flowing, accessible style.
Sheila Dillon, Presenter of BBC's The Food Programme
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Award-winning stories, podcasts, and resources about Belgian beer, straight to your inbox.
We value your privacy.
OUR TEAM
Meet the people behind Belgian Smaak.
Breandán Kearney
Editor-in-Chief
Breandán is a writer, photographer and podcaster, originally from Ireland and now based in Belgium. He is a Certified Cicerone®, an IBD accredited beer sommelier, and a BJCP judge. Breandán has experience judging at international beer competitions, has worked in production at an award-winning commercial brewery in Belgium, and writes for publications around the world.
Eoghan Walsh
Writer & Editor
Eoghan is the founder of the Brussels Beer City blog and the author of the book Brussels Beer City: Stories from Brussels' Brewing Past. He has been recognised for his writing by the BGBW and the NAGBW and his work has featured in The Irish Times, The Guardian, and Brussels media Bruzz. See more here.
Clifford Lucas
Photographer
Cliff Lucas is a Brussels-based freelance photographer and videographer specialised in food and drink who helps people and businesses tell a meaningful and memorable story. See more here.
Elisa Depypere
Producer
Elisa Depypere is a teacher of languages and a food enthusiast. Elisa assists with a range of production tasks on Belgian Smaak, including reporting and research assistance, translations, and logistics.
Oisín Kearney
Editor
Oisín is an award-winning writer, editor, filmmaker, and theatre director. He has worked on documentaries for CNN, ESPN, BBC, RTÉ, DK, SVT, De Correspondent, NPO2, and Colombian television, has published two plays, and co-wrote BBC Three series My Left Nut.
Ashley Joanna
Photographer
Ashley is a photographer from New York who now lives in Belgium. Her passion for travel and culture has led her to create photo stories around the world for various travel magazines and for clients such as Canon and Olympus. Ashley specialises in portrait photography and contributes to our Humans of Belgian Beer series. See more here.
Claire Bullen
Writer & Editor
Claire is a writer and editor who specialises in food, drink, and travel writing. She is the author of "The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings" (Ryland Peters & Small, 2019). She was Editor-in-Chief at Good Beer Hunting, writes beer columns for Imbibe Magazine, and has written campaigns for a range of global brands including TripAdvisor, Virgin Atlantic, and Zipcar.
Flore Deman
Illustrator
Flore is a Belgian illustrator based in Waregem who illustrates for a range of magazines, agencies, and businesses. Her work was shortlisted in the Editorial category of the World Illustration Awards 2020 and she works on children's books with major publishers. See more here.
Em Sauter
Illustrator
Em is an award-winning cartoonist and the creator of Pints and Panels. She is an Advanced Cicerone® and is currently writing a book about visual beer education, scheduled for publication in 2022. See more here.
Sophie Callewaert
Photographer
Sophie Callewaert is a photographer based in Ghent. With qualifications in journalism and photography, she has worked with restaurants and breweries and shoots for the food and drinks section of one of Belgium’s national television stations. Her reportage work has been featured in Belgium's national broadsheet newspapers. See more here.
Jonny Garrett
Writer
Jonny Garrett is a beer writer, podcaster, and videographer based in London. He is the author of the award-winning book "A Year in Beer" and the Founder of the YouTube channel The Craft Beer Channel. Jonny has served as the Chair of the British Guild of Beer Writers and in both 2019 and 2022 was named Beer Writer of the Year.
Ciara Elizabeth Smyth
Editor
Ciara is an editor, playwright, director, and actor from Dublin. She has received several theatre Writers in Residencies and most recently has been awarded a place on the Dublin Fringe Festival's inaugural DUETS and Rough Magic SEEDS Programmes.
Melanie Epp
Writer
Melanie Epp is a freelance journalist from Canada, now living in Belgium. She specialises in agricultural reporting and food and drinks writing. She writes regularly for over 25 publications in Canada, the U.S., and Europe. She has been writing professionally since 2010.
Mike Kearney
Music
Mike Kearney is a musician and composer based in Edinburgh who writes and records the music for the Belgian Smaak Podcast.
Dave Wallace
Music
Dave Wallace is a musician and sound engineer based in Edinburgh who records and arranges the music for the Belgian Smaak Podcast.
Leander Meuris
Sound Engineer
Leander Meuris is a sound technician assisting with the Belgian Smaak Podcast. Leander’s interest in beer stems from his experience and qualifications as a researcher and teacher in Biochemistry at Ghent University. He also works as a sound technician with musicians.
Cody Watson
Designer
Cody Watson is a digital designer and visual director, originally from Arizona and now living in Gavere, Belgium. Cody is the graphic designer for Belgian Smaak.
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