You hear about rock star brewers, but rock star importers? If there is such a thing, it’s Don Feinberg and Wendy Littlefield of Vanberg & DeWulf, and they’ll be on tour in the Bay Area next week.
If you discovered Belgian beer while living in the US, you probably have these two to thank. Don started bringing Belgians to America in 1982, when Sierra Nevada was a baby and most of the breweries you enjoy now didn’t exist yet. Duvel? Saison Dupont? Scaldis? They imported them. Brewery Ommegang? They founded it.
The first US brewery dedicated to Belgian-style, bottle-conditioned beer
Here’s where they’ll be when they come to town next week:
- Sunday, April 7: Beer dinner at Abbot’s Cellar in SF. Four-course tasting menu at 6pm, 8 spots, $125 per person plus tax & gratuity. Email reservations@abbotscellar.com to see if spots are still available.
- Monday, April 8: Beer dinner at St. Vincent’s in SF. Open seating 6-10pm, $65 per person, call (415) 285-1200 for reservations. Read the detailed food and beer menu here.
- Wednesday, April 10: Vegan beer dinner at Olde Depot in Oakland. Open seating, a la carte menu, no reservations necessary, prices not yet announced. Menu: Scaldis Amber Quinoa Salad, Dubuisson Cuvée DesTrolls Spaetzel with Battered Dill Sauce, Dupont Foret Panko Chik’n with baby tarragon carrots and arugula, Ölvisholt Brugghús Lava Smoked Imperial Icelandic Stout Mushroom Steak with Caramelized Onion and Potato, Brasserie Castellain Biere De Garde Strawberry Lemon Thai Basil Short Bread Tart
- Wednesday, April 10: Tasting at ØL in Walnut Creek. 3:30-5:30pm. Planned tasting list includes Dupont Foret Blanche, Dupont Foret Organic Saison, Castelain St. Amand French Country Ale, Castelain Blonde, Birra Amiata Contessa, Scheldebrouwerij Hop-Ruiter, Olvisholt Lava, and Dilewyns Vicaris Generaal. (Disclosure: I work there, but not on Wednesdays)
Happy Belgian trails to you!
I had no idea you worked at ØL. I love that place! I even wrote a little blurb about it (http://www.beerverse.blogspot.com/2013/02/beer-in-creek.html). Hopefully I can catch you there sometime. Unfortunately I won’t be able to catch the luminaries there this week due to work.
It’s a new development, Dean. I’m easy to spot there — I’m the only woman on staff