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HISTORY OF THE
BREWERY
The brewery’s
history dates back
to 1874.
Many
of the hundreds of
home breweries in
Flanders tended to
brew beer on the
side, next to their
main farming
activity. At the
time, the “DE PEER”
brewery was
established in
Ertvelde, with beer
brewing as its
principal activity.
After the First
World War, Paul Van
Steenberge, Jozef
Schelfaut’s
son-in-law and a
professor of
microbiology.
It
was he who
introduced the
latest techniques to
the artisan brewery.
In 1919, he changed
the brewery’s name
to “BROUWERIJ BIOS”,
after the eponymous
beer that was
produced there at
the time. This BIOS
beer was known as
the “FLEMISH
BURGUNDY”, a
high-fermentation
beer, brewed after
the brewery’s own
artisan recipe.
After the death of
his father in 1962,
Jozef Van Steenberge
took over the reins.
He
reoriented the
brewery towards the
production of
top-notch
high-fermentation
beers. The brewery
closed its own malt
house and stopped
growing its own
hops. Instead it
focused on a
procurement policy
of raw materials,
based on
specifications
complying with the
highest quality
standards. In 1978,
the brewery acquired
the recipe of the
beer brewed by the
Augustine Friars in
their abbey in
Ghent. The recipe
was further
developed in
Ertvelde and was
launched in 1982
under the name
“AUGUSTIJN”. It was
an immediate hit and
today it continues
to be the brewery’s
best-selling beer.
The brewery’s
extensive range was
completed with other
high-fermentation
beers, such as
PIRAAT and GULDEN
DRAAK.
In 1990, the
brewery's management
was transferred to
Paul Van Steenberge,
Jozef’s son.
A
new
computer-controlled
brewing hall was
built, as well as a
computer-controlled
keg filling line, a
water purification
installation, a new
bottling line and a
power installation
converted to natural
gas. The expected
saturation of the
national market
encouraged the
brewery to start
prospecting other
countries in search
of new markets. At
present, 60% of the
brewery’s appealing
and varied range of
high-fermentation
beers is bound for
export markets. In
2009, the range was
completed with
AUGUSTIJN DONKER, in
order to realise the
brewery’s ambitious
plans for the
future. The launch
of this new beer was
an excellent excuse
to restyle and
update AUGUSTIJN
BLOND and AUGUSTIJN
GRAND CRU. A new
beer, new labelling,
new impulses …………..
The VAN STEENBERGE
BREWERY is bursting
with ambition and
confidence!
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