News from the Silly Brewery Return to NewsANNIVERSARY 175 YEARS 1850: birth of the Silly BrewerySince the 19th century, the large farms of Hainaut brewed barley and hops. On the territory of the commune of Silly, there were twenty-nine bistros and three brasseries for the approximately two thousand souls who populated it then. Today, there is only one brewery left in Silly, the only one still operating in the entire entity of the same name.
The Silly brewery had its beginnings in 1850 on a farm called Cense de la Tour, property of Lord Arnould of Limoge bought by Marcellin Meynsbrughen. He already operates the local twister, a mill for sunflower oil. It is more than probable that, by starting to make beer, Marcellin Meynsbrughen was only continuing one of the activities that had existed at La Cense for a long time.
As early as 1904, his son Adelin, who had succeeded, signed the first agreement in Belgium with brewers from Hainaut creating a mutual insurance company covering the risk of accidents in breweries. But Adelin died young, in 1907, leaving only young heirs. His only son, also named Adelin, 16 years old, was forced to abandon his brewing studies in Ghent to take over the management of the family business. A cousin came to assist him for a few years.
During the First World War, the Meynsbrughen covered their coppers with black paint based on pitch in order to avoid their confiscation by the German troops. The stratagem seems to have succeeded since their brewery is requisitioned to play the role of Brasserie Centrale. It will be the only one in the entity to continue its activities during this period, the other brewers coming to obtain supplies there in order to be able to continue to ensure their deliveries.
Until 1955, the Silly brewery will always own five horses, including a dappled one (lucky charm). Two stables, one with two horses, the other with three, are located just at the entrance to the property. Around 1930, his cart consisted of a truck and two haquets (carts carrying barrels) on horseback.
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