EP020 | I Once Had A Comrade

This editorially independent podcast has been supported by VISITFLANDERS as part of the “War Chest” series of stories. Read more. Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck produce a range of beers named after the Battle of Passchendaele, a World War One military operation which took place between July and November of 1917. The Battle of Passchendaele was one of the most horrific tragedies of the First World War. Do beers which use the battle in their branding constitute a tribute to those that fell? Or is the brewery that produces them using a tragic event as a cynical tool for commercial gain? In this podcast, we speak about the beers with Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck staff, Eric Deprez (Guide), Frederic Boulez (Sales & Export) and Marc Schrauwen (Commercial Director), and we visit local café owner Johan Vandewalle (Café Taverne De Dreve) to find out about his experiences living with the legacy of war. We also tour some cemeteries linked to the Battle of Passchendaele to find out more about what happened in 1917. Should the tragic events of war be used by Kasteel Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck in the branding of their Passchendaele beers? Sit back, listen, and enjoy our exploration of the relationship between war and beer.