Profile
Who is this person?
Ben Vinken is Belgium's first beer sommelier and one of the great advocates for beer-gastronomy culture in the country. For over thirty years, he has published Bière Passion magazine from Antwerp — a reference for Belgian connoisseurs.
On the field
On the ground
Founder and editor of Bière Passion magazine since 1992, he organises the annual Week-End Bière Passion in Antwerp — an unmissable event in the Belgian brewing calendar. His food pairing workshops are among the most renowned in the country.
Why it matters
What they help you discover
With Ben Vinken, Antwerp reveals itself as the Belgian capital of beer-gastronomy pairing — a city where table and glass speak to each other with a sophistication few European destinations can match.
beBeer's take
Ben Vinken laid the foundations of beer food pairing in Belgium long before the term became an international trend. For beer travellers wanting to go beyond tasting alone, his expertise is a unique gateway into Belgian table culture.