A FEW WORDS ABOUT US

Gino Vantieghem -  Brew Master    

        With a long and passionate carreer in  the brewing of the frotty stuff... 

        Gino started his brewing carreer with an internship at Brouwerij

       Riva in  Dentergem right after his studies at the University of Leuven

       (BioEngineer ).   

        As brewmaster at Unibroue in Quebec he created a wide range of

       hugely successful beers.   Gino was one of only two Belgian brewers

       who helped to jumpstart the Craftbeer movement in the US and Canada

       in the early 1990's.   (the other one being legendary brewer white beer

       brewer Pierre  Celis (Hoegaarden, Celis White).

        After the takeover of Unibroue  by Sleemans Breweries Gino returned

       to Belgium where he rekindled the now defunct Riva brewery and turned

       it into Liefmans Breweries.   By the age of 37 he received the prestigious

       Master of the Barley Lifetime Achievement Award out of the hands of

       Legendary beerwriter Michael 'the beerhunter' Jackson (not sure about

       his moonwalking skills though). 

        Gino until today remains the most awarded Belgian Brewer in the

       World Beer  Championships with the most different (types of) beers.

        Gino our Master Wizard has created many award winning beers and

       he will do so again for De Feniks !   

   Jasper Candaele - Yeast Whisperer

        Jasper is a very talented BioEngineer and Brewer.  Having studied in

       Gent  and having  worked  at Flemish Institure for BioTechnology VIB

       he has a keen knowledge of brewing technology.

        An accomplished brewer in his own right he was the creator of our

       Jazz' Black Oatmeal Delight stout.  Next to doing most of the

       operational  work in the brewery (hard labour) he helps to fine tune

       our recipes.

 Kurt Decoene  -   Barrel Master & Apprentice wizard euh....                                    

        Beer, wine  & Single Malt Whisk(e)y drinker with  a long and passionate

       carreer in drinking the stuff.   It's the only thing he's good at really. 

       Well that and a modest talent in Problem Solving, a talent honed by a

       quarter century of fixing computer problems and project management.

      Currently Kurt still works 4/5 at a multinational company as a Regulatory

      IT Specialist.

        Kurt and his wife Angela (Wang) have almost a decade of experience

       doing business in and with  China. 

        Kurt loves good food and drink.  A course of Artisanal brewing was

       a good start.  It not only was a great way to learn more about brewing

       beer but also introduced him to a number of other  people who are   

       passionate  about beer and brewing.   

 Angela Wang - Queen of Ales

       A force of nature with an established  career (18 years) in management,

      TV, purchasing  and  sales both  in China and in Europe.    Angela

      studied International Business Management at VIVES. 

       She speaks Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese &  Hunan), English, Dutch

      and basic French.  She has a background in Classic Chinese Dance and

      is  a prominent member of the Chinese  community in Belgium  and  she

      is also actively involved in numerous Cultural events. 

      Angela  increasingly helps to develop additional business for De Feniks

      both in the domestic market as  abroad.

Article number: FBBPW035