By the time firefighters reached the scene, the flames had spread to every floor and had subsumed a 900m2 hall.
The flames were a couple of metres high, and there were concerns that the fire would spread to nearby buildings. Around 60 firefighters were summoned to extinguish the flames, and a drone was used to get a better idea of the situation.
By 2.30am the fire was under control, with firefighters continuing to work into the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to a report issued by the CGDIS, around 100 firefighters were deployed from five different centres. A drone was used to enable aerial visibility.
No one was injured in the fire, and the new brewery located next to the affected building was not affected. What caused the fire has not yet been established.
Witness appeal
Police have not ruled out the possibility of arson and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone with information relating to people or vehicles seen near the scene of the fire during the night of Saturday to Sunday should contact police on (+352) 244 801 000 or by email at police.diekirchvianden@police.etat.lu.
Historic loss
Diekirch mayor Claude Haagen extended heartfelt thanks to the efforts of the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps. He said there had been numerous difficulties at the site in recent months, with people repeatedly breaking and entering. Additional security had been added to the site earlier this year to prevent intruders from gaining access.
The site was a listed building and should have been maintained, with plans to build on the site in the future. Haagen described the fire as an emotional loss for the people of Diekirch, on the occasion of the brewery's 150 year anniversary.
To see what the old brewery looked like before the fire, see this instalment of 'the hidden sites of Luxembourg'. You can also find out more about the history (and future) of the Diekirch brewery in our Luxembourgish Beer series.
