La Ferme au Chene
A Microbrewery located in the historick city of Durby.
The Brotherhood of the Marckloff
1989, the brothers Trine will revive the brewing tradition by transforming their establishment which they call “the Farm to the Oak”. They set up a Microbrewery and set up large premises in a drinking-place with a small restoration of country type. In 1990, the leaders of the Durbuysian tourism, conscious of the most that the Trine family has brought to their city, decide to create a brotherhood that will bear the name of this beer.
Michel Trine defended himself for having wanted this creation in order to enhance his product. Of course, he is very honored and very proud to have been solicited by his peers, but he insists that the brotherhood is above all a tool for the promotion of Durbuy and its region. In addition, the Durbuysian confreres decided to promote another local gastronomic specialty “la Tartouille”, a kind of hot pie with eggs, cheese, bacon, spices.
It is therefore in collaboration with the Syndicat d’Initiative, chaired by Baudouin Haot, and other partners that the new brotherhood will be born in 1991. The neighboring brotherhood, Matoufè de Marche en Famenne, will help and advise by becoming the “godmother.”
Joseph Bernard, a local historian who has now disappeared, will also provide valuable assistance to the young brotherhood by conducting a thorough research on the history of the brewery in Durbuy and, in particular, the names used in the 15th and 16th centuries in the Brewing environments in the region. These names will be used to designate each member of the Council of the Brotherhood.
From September 1991, the fifteen founding members will meet regularly to develop all the details of their future ASBL: costumes, accessories, statutes, calendar, chapter, ceremonial, etc.
The first chapter took place at the end of March 1993; The brotherhood was recognized in March 1994 by the “Noble Council of the Brotherhoods of the Province of Luxembourg” in its second chapter.
The young brotherhood has already demonstrated its seriousness and competence. Since its creation, it has participated in some hundred events in particular in January 1994 when a delegation of the brotherhood was presented to the Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene during a trip in his fief brugeois. In 1995, in its third chapter, five new members received title and dress, 1996 …
The Chapter is held every year on the last weekend of March in an atmosphere of good humor and confraternity from the reception until the end of the dancing dinner. Many personalities are enthroned during the chapter and bear the title of Gruyer d’honneur after having undergone the “rough” test of the tasting.
In 2014, in September, the brotherhood decided to continue the adventure with the
“La Ferme au Chêne” for a first release at the Christmas market in Durbuy.
2015, the chapter will take place on Saturday, March 28th.