After delivering his own beer for the first time to Café De Kleine Wereld on the Grote Markt in 2015, Roel Buckens decided to start his own brewery. Frontaal was born at STEK, the creative incubator of Breda. There, Roel brewed approximately 3,000 litres of beer per month in a small sea container without a licence. It soon became clear that Frontaal needed investors to grow. After considering several options, Roel ultimately chose crowdfunding. Together with dozens of investors, he took Frontaal to the next level.

After a while, it turned out that STEK was too small for the brewery. For the next step, Roel came into contact with several parties that wanted to become co-owners of Frontaal or even take over the brewery completely. Instead, Roel chose crowdfunding once again, but this time with the idea of equity participation. In other words: everyone who invests in Frontaal via crowdfunding becomes a co-owner with a share of the profits. This made Frontaal the first brewery in the Netherlands that belongs to everyone. At the moment, the brewery has over 4000 investors, about half of whom are from Breda!

Meanwhile, Brewery Frontaal has become a national phenomenon. The brewery brews about 55,000 litres per month. These aren't always the same beers. The team continually comes up with new, surprising flavour combinations that make the drinker think: 'Beer for Thought'. This philosophy goes beyond merely tasting beer. Brewery Frontaal challenges you to reflect on what you consume. Moreover, the brewery aims to operate waste-free and CO2 negative by 2024. Beer for Thought indeed.

That Frontaal is all about beer is immediately evident. Next to the brewery in the Faam is the brew café where you can taste Frontaal's latest creations. Additionally, they regularly invite other breweries for the well-known tap takeovers, where different beers are showcased. As the grand finale, Frontaal organises 'Brewda', where you can enjoy the craft brews from a variety of breweries both in summer and winter.

After four years at the Faam, it was time for the brewery to expand again. Through the well-known crowdfunding, Frontaal raised five million euros last year and has launched a campaign for another four million. This makes Frontaal the most funded brewery in the Netherlands. With this, Frontaal could take a new step. The brewery has moved to the distribution centre The Bay at Steenen Hoofd in Breda, where there is eight times as much space for beer production. In addition, production goes beyond just beer. Frontaal has further expanded its range to include non-alcoholic drinks, distilled beverages, and even coffee! The well-known brewpub is still at the Faam.

Are you already in the mood for beer? Take a look yourself at Frontaal! The Brew Café of Frontaal is part of our Explore Creative Breda route. This route takes you past the creative hotspots in Breda. Surprising places that each in their own way are sustainably and especially creatively making an impact. As a shop, welcoming hospitality, or cultural venue.