Bush (beer)

Lore & Background

In 1933, one year after Alfred and Amédée inherited their parents' brewery, they decided to compete with the English, who held a strong position in the market for beers with 6–8% alcohol. The brothers created Bush beer with a 12% alcohol content. To compete with the English, they gave the beer an English name: 'Dubuisson bière' was translated into English as 'Bush beer'. In the United States, the beer is sold under the name 'Scaldis', the Latin name of the river Scheldt. In 1998, the name changed to Amber Bush, reflecting the beer's characteristic colour.

The brewery is totally independent; Hugues Dubuisson makes decisions alone. It is semi-independent in raw materials: the brewery has its own laboratory yeast culture and uses water drawn from its own well between 37 and 45 metres deep. Hops and barley are purchased from the Czech Republic.

The Bush range includes Amber Bush (created 1933, sold in 33 cl bottles; 75 cl bottles are called Tripel Amber Bush); Bush Blonde (10.5% alcohol, 33 cl; 75 cl called Bush Blonde Triple); Christmas Bush (12°, 33 cl; 75 cl called Christmas Premium Bush at 13%); Night Bush (13%, a Christmas Bush matured 6–9 months in wooden casks that held Burgundy from Nuits-Saint-Georges); Luxury Bush (13%, an Amber Bush matured in oak barrels for 6 months, sold only in 75 cl); Pêche Mel' Bush (8.5%, half Timmermans lambic at 4% and half Amber Bush); and the discontinued Bush 7 (7.5%). Cuvée des Trolls (7%) is the only Dubuisson beer not called Bush; two microbreweries are devoted to it, one in Mons and one in Louvain-la-Neuve. It is sold in 33 cl bottles; 75 cl bottles are called Tripel Cuvée des Trolls.

Reader's Guide

Bush beer, particularly Amber Bush, holds a notable place in Belgian brewing as one of the oldest 'special' Belgian beers and the most popular among the Bush range. Its creation in 1933 was a direct response to English strong beers, and the decision to give it an English name reflects that competitive origin. The beer's high alcohol content—originally 12%, later reaching 16% for Amber Bush—and its claim to be 'The strongest Belgian beer' have defined its identity. The brewery's independence and its use of its own yeast culture and well water underscore a commitment to self-reliance, though hops and barley are sourced from the Czech Republic. The range has expanded over time to include variations such as Bush Blonde, Christmas Bush, and barrel-aged versions like Night Bush and Luxury Bush. Export began in 1996 to France, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, the UK, Canada, Japan, and the United States, and later extended to Taiwan, Hungary, Brazil, and South Africa. The Cuvée des Trolls, while not bearing the Bush name, is a related product with dedicated microbreweries.

Did You Know?

• Bush beer was originally created in 1933 with a 12% alcohol content to compete with English strong beers.
• Pêche Mel' Bush is made of half Timmermans lambic beer and half Amber Bush.