Difference between revisions of "Brouwerij Willems"

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[[List_of_Closed_Lambic_Breweries_and_Blenders|←List of Closed Lambic Breweries and Blenders]]
 
[[List_of_Closed_Lambic_Breweries_and_Blenders|←List of Closed Lambic Breweries and Blenders]]
 
[[File:Willems.jpg|550px|right|thumb|1930's advertising sign. Source: José Willems]]
 
[[File:Willems.jpg|550px|right|thumb|1930's advertising sign. Source: José Willems]]
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[[File:LodeWillems.jpg|550px|left|thumb|Only known photo of Lode Willems. Source: José Willems]]
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
  
Founded by Louis (Lode) Willems (b. 1895) on Weverstraat in Wambeek. Produced Gueuze and Krieken-Lambic. Willems was a direct competitor of [[Brouwerij_De_Troch|De Troch]], both in brewing and political life. He won the mayoral election in 1933 against Louis De Troch by 15 votes, but passed away before his inauguration in 1933. The brewery operations were continued by his widow Maria Severanckx until 1936.
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Founded in 1930 by Louis (Lode) Willems (b. 1895) at [https://bit.ly/2ssltWQ Weverstraat 11] in Wambeek. The brewery produced Gueuze and Krieken-Lambic. Willems was a direct competitor of [[Brouwerij_De_Troch|Louis De Troch]], both in brewing and political life. De Troch had been the mayor of Wambeek since 1899, and used his influence to apply political pressure on his competitors, waging an economic war on his business rivals in the 1930's. In 1932, Lode Willems was elected as a provincial councilor. In 1933, he ran against incumbent mayor Louis De Troch, and won by 15 votes. Shortly before his planned inauguration as mayor of Wambeek, he suddenly passed away. It is believed that he was poisoned, and sadly his grave was also defaced by political opponents.  
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The brewery operations were continued solely by his widow Maria Severanckx until 1935. By 1936, a partnership was formed with a Baron von Lynden Ollenhaller via a business contact of Severanckx's uncle. Unfortunately, Ollenhaller severely mismanaged the brewery and it soon fell into disrepair. Even the diligent and skillful widow Severanckx couldn't save it from ruin. The brewery equipment and inventory were eventually sold off to [[Brouwerij_De_Troch|Louis De Troch]].
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==Beers==
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*Gueuze
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*Krieken-Lambic
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==Photos==
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<gallery>
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File:LodeWillems.jpg|Only known photo of Lode Willems. Source: José Willems
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File:Willems.jpg|1930's advertising sign. Source: José Willems
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File:Wambeek-scan1.jpg|Scanned pages from <i>Wambeek: Bijdragen Tot de Geschiedenis.</i>
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File:Willems-building1.jpg|Former Brouwerij Willems at Weverstraat 11, Wambeek. Source: Google Maps
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File:Willems-building2.jpg|Photo of former Brouwerij Willems, rear building with fireplace smokestack. Source: José Willems
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</gallery>
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
*Conversation with José Willems, a direct descendant of Lode Willems.
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*Correspondence with José Willems, granddaughter of Lode Willems, 2017.
*Jef Van den Steen, [https://www.lambic.info/Books#Geuze_.26_Kriek:_The_Secret_of_Lambic_Beer Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer, 2012. pp. 80]
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*Jef Van den Steen, [https://www.lambic.info/Books#Geuze_.26_Kriek:_The_Secret_of_Lambic_Beer Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer, 2012. pp. 80.]
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* Guido Van Cauwelaert, [https://bit.ly/2Fq6Zzt "In Search of a Grandfather Who Changed the History of Wambeek"], Editie Pajot, 01 Dec 2017.
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* Wambeek: Bijdragen Tot de Geschiedenis / Luc Van Eeckhoudt, Luc Sergooris, Armand Timmermans – 1993 – bibliotheek Ternat siso 938.1. pp. 306-307.

Latest revision as of 13:59, 30 April 2020

←List of Closed Lambic Breweries and Blenders

1930's advertising sign. Source: José Willems
Only known photo of Lode Willems. Source: José Willems

History

Founded in 1930 by Louis (Lode) Willems (b. 1895) at Weverstraat 11 in Wambeek. The brewery produced Gueuze and Krieken-Lambic. Willems was a direct competitor of Louis De Troch, both in brewing and political life. De Troch had been the mayor of Wambeek since 1899, and used his influence to apply political pressure on his competitors, waging an economic war on his business rivals in the 1930's. In 1932, Lode Willems was elected as a provincial councilor. In 1933, he ran against incumbent mayor Louis De Troch, and won by 15 votes. Shortly before his planned inauguration as mayor of Wambeek, he suddenly passed away. It is believed that he was poisoned, and sadly his grave was also defaced by political opponents.

The brewery operations were continued solely by his widow Maria Severanckx until 1935. By 1936, a partnership was formed with a Baron von Lynden Ollenhaller via a business contact of Severanckx's uncle. Unfortunately, Ollenhaller severely mismanaged the brewery and it soon fell into disrepair. Even the diligent and skillful widow Severanckx couldn't save it from ruin. The brewery equipment and inventory were eventually sold off to Louis De Troch.

Beers

  • Gueuze
  • Krieken-Lambic

Photos

Sources