Van Der Brew
Kim Vandermeulen and Linda Young opened van der Brew in Winthrop, Maine, in 2018. The brewery is located within walking distance of Main Street, in an industrial building on the shore of Maranacook Lake. During the summer months, it attracts vacationers from the many nearby lakes. According to Vandermeulen, the brewery is a “community center that sells beer.”
Description of interview with Kim Vandermeulen
Kim Vandermeulen, co-owner of van der Brew in Winthrop, discusses his upbringing, involvement in the craft-beer sector, and his impressions of craft beer in Maine. Vandermeulen was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, before going to college in Boulder, Colorado. After studying engineering in Boulder, he decided to attend Northeastern Law School and worked in legal services in Maine after graduating. It was in the early 80s that Vandermeulen and two of his law partners decided to start a craft brewery. Although this business never fully developed, he discusses how his renewed interest in craft beer in recent years inspired him to try again. He talks about the challenges that came with opening his brewery, including the increasing costs and limitations of the physical space, and discusses the dynamics of running a business with his wife.
Vandermeulen discusses the past, present, and potential future of van der Brew. He explains how the company’s slogan, “Brew well. Do good. Have fun,” reflects his goals and the goals of the brewery: make good beer, have a positive impact on the world, and have fun doing it. He also discusses events that take place at the brewery, including fundraisers and food-truck partnerships. Vandermeulen emphasizes how the desire to create a positive space for the local community influenced his decision to open van der Brew and how that community has embraced the brewery.
The interview was conducted by Nina Antone and Jordan Miller in October 2019.