Specialties of Menen

Ne Goen, Menens wieltjesbier

The Origin of the Beer

After the example of many other cities that also have brewed their own strong beer prepared according to traditional methods in support of a feast, the company ALL-DRINKS took the idea to brew a beer that characterized the typical atmosphere of Menen.

It chose the real beer of the feast of the wheel, the "echt Menens Wieltjesbier", because the Feasts of the Wheel enjoy great fame even far beyond the town borders. The name they gave to the beer, "Ne Goen" (= a real good one), is an expression that is frequently used in the region. Who does not like "ne goen", a good beer, from time to time? It is a short somewhat humoristic name that will stick in the people's mind for a long time.

The Label

The label has been designed by publicity agency Roetynck. It was decided to use a folkloristic, simple and clear drawing. It represents the two town giants Jan Van Meenen and his wife Bette. The Belfry with the clock on 3 PM, because it is exactly on the stroke of 3 that the wheels are thrown out over the public. And, of course, the Menen wheel too should be represented on the label.

The Glass

The glass is of the Grand-Cru type. It is a high elegant glass with the name "Ne Goen" and a Menen wheel printed on it. The glasses have been made in Italy.

The Beer

The beer has been brewed by the brewery Van Steenberghe from Ertvelde. "Ne Goen" is a high fermentation dark lager with secondary fermentation in the bottle. It contains 8% volume alcohol. It has a slightly sweet taste and a long-lasting creamy aftertaste. The beer somewhat looks like the Duvel beer but its aftertaste is much less brackish. It drinks easily and therefore is a somewhat treacherous beer.

"Ne Goen" is now already fully appreciated by both drinkers of dark ale and lager. It is understood that the beer is fully launched in the period of the Feasts of the Wheel, though it is available all year round.

The Menen tarts

A poem that dates from 1560 entitled "In den Langen Adieu" (In the Long Farewell) talks of the Kandeeleters of Menen, literally the caudle eaters, referring to fairgoers, pleasure-seekers, people who like to show off.

With one stroke of the pen, the inhabitants of Menen are also called tart bakers, as their apple and jam tarts were well-known for miles around. On the occasion of the Feasts of the Wheel, the union Brood- and Banketbakkersbond pays each year special attention to the Menen Tart in order to satisfy the tart lovers as much as possible.

The Menen tart is a delicacy that is prepared according to an old recipe. Originally, it was rather a small tartlet (also called swine ears). It is only on the occasion of the second edition of the Feasts of the Wheel that it was brought to its actual size (22 cm).

On the occasion of the 75^th anniversary (1978), the bakers and confectioners of Menen rewrote the recipe. The tart only contains natural products: pineapple, almond paste and apples and does not contain colouring agents.

The Menen Tarts: to lick your fingers!