From the nineteenth century, large farms in Hainaut brewed barley and hops. In the territory of the municipality of Silly, there were twenty-nine pubs and three breweries for the approximately two thousand souls who populated it at the time. Today, there is only one brewery left in Silly, the only one still active in the entire entity of the same name.

The Silly brewery began in 1850 in a farm called Cense de la Tour, property of Lord Arnould de Limoge, bought by Marcellin Meynsbrughen. He already operated the local oil press, a mill for sunflower oil. It is more than likely that, by starting to make beer, Marcellin Meynsbrughen was only continuing one of the existing activities of the Cense from long ago.

As early as 1904, his son Adelin, who had succeeded him, signed with brewers from Hainaut the first agreement in Belgium creating a mutual insurance covering the risk of accidents in breweries. But Adelin died young, in 1907, leaving only young heirs. His only son, also named Adelin, 16 years old, was forced to abandon his brewing studies in Ghent to come and take over the family business. A cousin came to assist him for a few years.

During World War I, the Meynsbrughens covered their coppers with black paint based on pitch to avoid their confiscation by German troops. The stratagem seems to have succeeded since their brewery was requisitioned to play the role of Central Brewery. It would be the only one in the entity to continue its activities during this period, with other brewers coming to supply themselves there in order to continue to ensure their deliveries.

Until 1955, the Silly brewery always owned five horses, including a dapple-grey (lucky charm). Two stables, one with two horses, the other with three, are located right at the entrance of the property. Around 1930, its fleet consisted of a truck and two horse-drawn drays (carts transporting barrels).