Vanberg & DeWulf

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Vanberg & DeWulf was an American importation business that brought premium Belgian beer to the United States. [1] Its portfolio was purchased by Total Beverage Solution. [2]

Contents

History

Vanberg & DeWulf was established in 1982 by Donald Feinberg, and in 1990 his wife, Wendy Littlefield, joined him as a partner in the business. [3] Vanberg & DeWulf has worked exclusively with breweries that are independent, family-run and artisanal in their approach. Vanberg & DeWulf started by offering some of what are now familiar names in Belgian brewing: Duvel first, [4] followed quickly by Castelain, Rodenbach, Kwak, Blanche de Bruges, Affligem, Frank Boon's lambics, Dubuisson, Dupont, and Slaghmuylder. They brought French Bieres de Gardes to the US market, first with Jenlain and then Brasserie Castelain [5]

In 1996, Vanberg & DeWulf opened Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York, with Duvel Moortgat and Scaldis. [6] Brewery Ommegang was the first brewery in the US dedicated to Belgian-style all bottle-conditioned, cork-finished beers. [7] [8] [9] In 2003, Duvel Moortgat purchased Vanberg & DeWulf's majority stake in Ommegang as well as Vanberg & DeWulf's import rights to import Duvel beers. [10]

Following the sale of Ommegang, Feinberg rebuilt the remaining portfolio over the next five years. [11]

In 2011, Vanberg & DeWulf celebrated 30 years of bringing Belgian beers to the United States with the Coast-to-Coast-Toast [12] , [13] [14] a nationwide promotion of Belgian beer. 350 of the top Belgian beer accounts in the United States participated in the event, in conjunction with Untappd. [15] Vanberg & DeWulf has since celebrated the Coast-to-Coast Toast annually in November as a celebration of craft and family-run breweries, and it has become the largest one-day celebration of craft and specialty beer culture in the country. [16]

In 2014, its portfolio was purchased by Total Beverage Solution.

Beers

Vanberg & DeWulf imported forty-three beers from eleven breweries in four countries representing more than twenty styles, mostly Belgian or Belgian-influenced. The company represented beers brewed by: [17]

Belgian Classic Brewers:

The Vanberg & DeWulf “Honorary Belgian Beer” collection of beers includes:

Awards & accomplishments

Many of the beers imported by Vanberg & DeWulf have received World Beer Cup Awards, including three silver, six gold, and one platinum medal in 2012. [34] In 2013, their own Vanberg et Famille Lambickx De Troch scored a 98 and earned a platinum medal. [35]

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References

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