September 8, 2006 -- It was announced this morning that Duvel Moortgat, Belgian brewers of the strong golden ale, Duvel, and the Maredsous line of abbey-style ales, has purchased the southern Belgian Brasserie d’Achouffe, producers of the popular spiced ales, La Chouffe and McChouffe. At the time of writing, no press release was available on the Duvel website at www.duvel.be, but the purchase was confirmed by Laurent Demuynck, president of Duvel USA, and Christian Bauweraerts, co-founder of Brasserie d’Achouffe. (Michel Moortgat, ceo of Duvel Moortgat, was in meetings and unavailable for comment.)

Asked his reasons for selling to the larger company. Bauweraerts cited the increased opportunity the Duvel Moortgat ownership presents. “When you look at France, England and Holland, Duvel has 20 salespeople in each place, while we have one for all of Europe. It’s obvious that this presents more growth potential,” Bauweraerts said.

Bauweraerts also mentioned the increasingly difficulty environment for the small brewer in Europe. “When you invest your life in building a business and then see Europe headed towards warning labels like you see on cigarettes and excise taxes getting higher, it’s not a good environment for the small brewer,” he observed.

Noting that the company has 21 people employed at the brewery in Achouffe, Bauweraerts said that Michel Moortgat “believes in our brewery” and has committed to keeping it open and doubling the brewing capacity from 35,000 hectolitres to 70,000 hl.

Bauweraerts and Brasserie d’Achouffe co-founder Pierre Gobron will stay on with the company because “we need continuity,” Bauweraerts said. The duo’s brewpub, Les 3 Fourquets in nearby Courtil will remain independent, Bauweraerts said. “With 1,000 hl capacity, we will be hobby brewers again,” he laughed.

Squelching rumours that the production of any Chouffe beers will come to the Duvel-owned Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York, Demuynck said that he doesn’t have enough capacity for his own brands at present, much less new ones. “It won’t happen,” he said.

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