Masterclasses offer in-depth explorations of food and drink topics, presented by experts and accompanied by demonstrations and tastings.

Belgium is justly famous as the home of some of the best beers in the world. But the beers themselves are woven into the living culture of the bruine kroeg, literally “brown café”, the quintessential Belgian neighbourhood pub. Warm, cozy and a little worn-in, with dark wood, well-loved tables and a long history of regulars, it is a place where people come to meet friends, chat with neighbours, play a game and enjoy a beer without being in a hurry. 

At the heart of this culture is gezelligheid, a uniquely Dutch and Belgian idea of warmth, conviviality and enjoying time together. It is as much about the appreciation of wonderful beers as it is about the experience of sharing them. Join us for an evening inspired by the traditional Belgian bruine kroeg, where beer, food, conversation, games and gezelligheid all come together.

For this introduction to Belgian beers and beer culture, we’ll strive to recreate that experience at The Dep. We’ll taste a selection of classic Belgian café beers, from a classic pintje and refreshing witbier, to rich dark ales and strong Belgian classics. We’ll discover why Belgian beers come in such distinctive glasses and how the right glass, serving ritual and setting are all part of the experience.

Amongst the tastings we’ll enjoy traditional Belgian café bites, like nuts, charcuterie and grilled cheese, and get to know some classic Belgian pub games with cards, dice and some trivia to keep the evening a bit educational. 

This evening is about discovering a different side of Belgian beer culture: not the monks, breweries and brewing traditions of our previous tasting, but the cafés, rituals, food, games and gezelligheid that have made beer such an important part of everyday social life in Belgium.
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Joke Van Loon is a Belgian beer enthusiast with a degree in clinical psychology who had a practice in Antwerp for a decade. Her passion for all things brewing led her to becoming a certified Zythologist (aka beer sommelier) at the PIVA culinary school in Antwerp.

She moved to Toronto in 2025 and devoted herself fully to her studies in beer, creating Tasting Talks - a project that melds her fascination with the topic with her love for connecting people. Making beer culture fun, approachable and engaging, Joke aims to inspire creative tasting and exploring outside of one's comfort zone. @tasting_talks

'The world of beer is so much bigger than most people imagine, and I love creating welcoming spaces where they can learn, explore, discover new flavours, and connect with others over great beer.'