• Home
  • About PubClub.com Nightlife Pubs And Clubs
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

PubClub

Where The World Goes To Party! A Nightlife & Travel Blog

Global Beer Network Importing Craft Belgian Beers to the U.S.

July 27, 2012 by kevinwilkerson Leave a Comment

Boston-Based Company is Bringing More Than 60 Belgian Beers From 9 Small Breweries to the American Market

Even at 10.5%, Gulden Drack is smooth enough to enjoy on a golden day.


When I received an invitation to meet the head of a U.S. distributor of a number of Belgian craft brews, I first said, “yeah, beer tasting!”

But then I briefly hesitated. Belgian beers can be so strong in alcohol it’s like going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. You don’t know if you’ll come out alive. And these were craft beers. I had better not drive.

I did agree to meet Steve Villani, president of Global Beer Network. We would have the brews at Tony P’s Dockside Grill in Marina del Rey, CA. I could get there on my bicycle taking the bike path along the Pacific Ocean. Then cab back if necessary.

And so, on a super sunny summer afternoon, I was greeted by Villani and his local associate Drew Thaller. Tony P., himself was also there, and that was a bonus. Tony P’s carries Global Beer Network’s beers, has beer dinners every two months (five beers and five courses for $55, and that includes tax and tip; the next one is Aug. 15, and the one after that is Oct. 17) and is also the official University of Florida alumni game-watching bar during college football season.

Belgian beers tend to be heavy tasting and heavy in alcohol. But in the three that I tried from Global Beer Network – Piraat, Gulden Draak and Wittekerke – none exhibited those qualities. And Piratt and Gulden Draak pack a 10.5% alcoholic punch!

I should have been stumbling around as if I had just hit on Manny Pacquiao’s wife. Instead, I was ready to try another and would not hesitate to order them on a sunny afternoon rather than on holding off for a rainy winter’s night.

That was just a sampling of what Boston-based Global Beer has behind the bar, so to speak. It imports more than 60 beers from nine breweries. Witterkerke, a somewhat fruity and mostly refreshing beer with slight wheat overtones, is its biggest seller, primarily because it’s quite popular in Florida.

The beers are sold in 47 states, in bars like Tony P’s that offer huge choices of brews, plus big beer chains like the Yard House, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse and the fast-expanding World of Beer. It’s also sold in specialty stores like Whole Foods and BevMo (in California) as well as some supermarkets such as Kroger and Publix. And Villani wants more.

“We’re growing at a rate of 30% a year,” he said. “But we don’t want to grow too fact because it will sacrifice the quality of the beer. I’ve been doing this for five years now (he spent 17 years with Anheuser-Busch) and we can triple in size and still keep the beer quality.”

Villani travels the country and even takes clients on multi-day trips to Belgium a few times a year so they can tour the actual breweries.

“I’m having fun,” he says. “I travel across the country, meet great people, drink great beer and eat great food. Plus, I get to go to Belgium a few times a year. Life is pretty darned good.”

And so, too, is the beer he distributes.

Here are the breweries that provide the brews to Global Beer Nework:

• Bavik
• Boelens
• De Halve Maan
• Roman
• Silenrieux
• Silly
• The Musketeers
• Van Eecke
• Van Steenberge

Related Story: Global Beer Network President Claims The United States Is the World’s Best Beer Country

Link: Global Beer Network

 

 

Filed Under: Beer Tagged With: beer, Belgian beer, Belgian beers, craft beers, Marina del Rey

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Unfinished Man

Search

Today On PubClub.com

EVENTS CALENDAR:
• Sept. 16-Oct. 3 – Oktoberfest, Munich

LET’S BE SOCIAL!
 
PubClub.com is a member of the Travel & Tourism Marketing Association, Inc.​, and the Travel Massive chapters in Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County (CA).

Instagram

Follow on Instagram

PubClub (@pubclub) • Instagram photos and videos

Destinations

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Destinations (2,264)
    • Africa (1)
    • Asia (18)
      • Japan (5)
        • Tokyo (3)
      • Taiwan (1)
      • Thailand (7)
    • Australia (19)
      • Surfer's Paradise (3)
      • Sydney (5)
    • Brazil (7)
      • Rio (2)
    • Camping (1)
    • Canada (21)
      • Montreal (2)
      • Niagara Falls (5)
      • Toronto (2)
    • Caribbean (63)
      • Cuba (1)
      • San Juan (7)
      • Virgin Islands (24)
    • Central America (1)
      • Costa Rica (1)
    • Europe (106)
      • Amsterdam (14)
      • Britain (1)
      • France (3)
      • Germany (6)
      • Ibiza (2)
      • Kiev (1)
      • London (6)
      • Malta (1)
      • Monaco (1)
      • Moscow (1)
      • Munich (5)
      • Paris (5)
      • Poland (3)
        • Krakow (2)
      • Prague (6)
      • Sweden (1)
      • Switzerland (33)
        • Basel (5)
        • Bern (3)
        • Swiss Alps (1)
        • Zermatt (3)
        • Zurich (4)
    • Greek Islands (29)
      • Corfu (3)
      • Ios (2)
      • Mykonos (7)
      • Santorini (5)
    • Mexico (13)
      • Baja (1)
      • Cabo San Lucas (1)
      • Puerto Vallarta (1)
      • Tijuana (2)
    • Ski Resorts (73)
      • Aspen (1)
      • Austria (5)
      • Big Bear (15)
      • Big Sky (6)
      • Mammoth (18)
      • Squaw Valley (4)
      • Whistler (3)
    • Tokyo (1)
    • USA (1,903)
      • Alabama (3)
      • Alaska (1)
      • Arizona (8)
        • Lake Havasu (1)
        • Scottsdale (3)
        • Sedona (1)
      • Boston (5)
      • California (1,426)
        • Carmel (24)
        • Central Coast (9)
        • Lancaster (16)
        • Los Angeles (830)
          • Catalina Island (12)
          • Culver City (1)
          • El Segundo (4)
          • Hermosa Beach (177)
            • Fourth Of July (12)
            • Smackfest Events (23)
          • Hollywood (17)
          • Huntington Beach (3)
          • Lake Arrowhead (2)
          • Long Beach (43)
            • Grand Prix (12)
          • Manhattan Beach (78)
          • Marina del Rey (6)
          • Newport Beach (44)
          • Orange County (29)
          • Party Report (16)
          • Redondo Beach (82)
          • Santa Monica (4)
          • South Bay (93)
          • Sunset Strip (5)
          • Temecula (13)
          • Venice Beach (5)
        • Mendocino (13)
        • Monterey (30)
          • Restaurant Reviews (10)
        • Napa (5)
        • Oakland (7)
        • Palm Springs (9)
        • Paso Robles (9)
        • San Clemente (1)
        • San Diego (346)
          • Balboa Park (1)
          • Del Mar (14)
          • Events (83)
          • Gaslamp (56)
          • Imperial Beach (6)
          • La Jolla (1)
          • Lifestyle (4)
          • Music (1)
          • Ocean Beach (6)
          • Oceanside (1)
          • Pacific Beach (5)
        • San Francisco (75)
          • Events (15)
        • Santa Barbara (1)
      • Chicago (10)
      • College Towns (1)
      • Colorado (4)
        • Denver (4)
      • Florida (87)
        • Daytona Beach (1)
        • Ft. Lauderdale (4)
        • Jacksonville (1)
        • Key West (24)
        • Keys (8)
        • Miami (10)
        • Panama City Beach (3)
      • Hawaii (25)
        • Waikiki Beach (15)
      • Indiana (1)
      • Indianapolis (3)
      • Las Vegas (173)
      • Michigan (2)
        • Traverse City (2)
      • Nevada (2)
      • New Jersey (1)
      • New Orleans (43)
      • New York City (16)
      • Newport, R.I. (1)
      • North Carolina (1)
      • Oregon (9)
        • Portland (8)
      • Seattle (2)
      • South Carolina (4)
        • Charleston (4)
      • St. Louis (1)
      • Tennessee (51)
        • Franklin (4)
        • Gatlinburg (6)
        • Knoxville (13)
        • Nashville (5)
        • Smoky Mountains (3)
      • Texas (7)
        • Austin (6)
        • San Antonio (1)
      • Utah (2)
      • Virginia (1)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (7)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (4)
  • Hong Kong (1)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Events

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Events (521)
    • BVI Interline Regatta (5)
    • Carnival (5)
    • Cinco de Mayo (2)
    • Exercise and Socalize (2)
    • Fourth of July (8)
    • Halloween (9)
    • Holidays (19)
      • Thanksgiving (7)
    • Indy 500 (10)
    • Kentucky Derby (12)
    • Memorial Day Weekend (5)
    • New Year's Eve (43)
    • Oktoberfest (11)
    • Party Report (46)
    • Running Of The Bulls (5)
    • Spring Break (7)
    • St. Patricks Day (8)
    • Sundance Film Festival (8)
    • Super Bowl (16)
    • Valentine's Day (10)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (7)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (4)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Sports

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (7)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (4)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Sports (525)
    • Baseball (9)
    • Beach Volleyball (3)
    • College Football (296)
    • Golf (13)
    • NFL (45)
    • Olympics (13)
    • Racing (27)
    • Soccer (8)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Lifestyle

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (7)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (4)
  • Lifestyle (1,658)
    • Beach Reads (1)
    • Cannabis (4)
    • Celebrity Sightings (6)
    • Entertainment (22)
    • Mr. Sorehead (3)
    • Music (295)
      • Bands (3)
      • Festivals (59)
      • Jimmy Buffett (47)
      • Trop Rock (13)
    • Party Stories (2)
    • People Profiles (10)
    • Singles Life (7)
      • Men Vs Women (2)
      • Relationships (2)
    • Social Media (2)
    • Spirits (27)
    • Travel (664)
      • Airlines (32)
      • Airports (1)
      • Blogger (369)
      • Cruise Ships (28)
      • Hotels (15)
      • Product Reviews (3)
      • RV (1)
      • Singles Travelers (1)
      • Solo Travel (2)
      • Touring Blog (12)
      • Weather (17)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

From the Bar Stool

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • From The Bar Stool (321)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (7)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (4)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Bars

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Bars (279)
    • Bars & Food (27)
    • Bars & Nightlife (205)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (7)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (4)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

News

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Business News (4,793)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (7)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (4)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • News (7)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Colleges

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Colleges (30)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (7)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (4)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Food and Drinks

  • 72 Hours (5)
  • Food and Drinks (427)
    • Beer (99)
    • Bourbon (2)
    • Cocktails (59)
    • Foddie Blog (27)
    • Restaurants (2)
    • Rum (10)
    • Singles Cooking (1)
    • spirits (9)
    • Spirits & Beer Industry (79)
    • Tequila (22)
    • Vodka (3)
    • Wine (83)
  • Homepage Fun Stuff (7)
  • Homepage Lifestyle (4)
  • Men's Stuff (4)
  • Party Report (3)
  • Virtual Happy Hour (8)

Subscribe To The Party Report

About PubClub.com

PubClub.com is a content-oriented nightlife tourist guide dedicated to social-minded travelers with articles on worldwide destinations such as Amsterdam, the Greek Islands, Prague, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Canada, and more. Top keywords for search are pubclub, pub club, party pubs, club pub, travel pub, pub club night, pubs and clubs and the pub club.
Read More...
Our Terms | Privacy

Legal

Ads

Powered by imFORZA