Immediately after the publication of a new edition you expect a wave of bad news as better-informed local readers feed in about all those breweries that closed ages ago, so this report is not as bad as it looks.

The exception to this general rule is the loss of Oud Beersel, one of the handful of traditional lambic brewers and gueuze blenders left in the Pajottenland area west of Brussels. Although the café is up for sale - without the mortierpijp organ that was sold and shipped to the US a few months back - the brewery appears not to be.

The Artisans Brasseurs brewpub in Namur has closed and the Mibrana brewery that was based there has been dismantled. Although there have been rumours that it will relocate no confirmation has been received and we have or details of any proposed new site.

I am assured that the Touffe brewery closed some time ago. This quirky set-up managed to move from a cheeky launch (the beers were named after saints but the brewery's name meant "tuft" and its logo that looked remarkably like a cartoon of the pubic triangle!) to an ignominious demise without ever crossing the Guide's path. That was impressive.

Rumours of the closure of the Rochefortoise brewery in Eprave, no relation to the Trappist brand of similar name, quickened a few months ago. Unless someone tells me otherwise I am assuming this is now a goner too.

I would need some persuading that the Basse Semois brewery is still functioning. It was said to have relocated from near Bouillon in south-eastern Luxembourg province, up the way to Florenville. A beer called Tchafette (8% spiced ambrée, **/*) was encountered on recent travels. It claimed to come from people called Amphora, based in Theux and appears to have nothing in common with Tchafête. If anyone finds out more, please let us know.