La Trappe brewmaster Lodewijk Swinkels has left the Dutch Trappist brewery to join Ontario’s Brunswick Bierworks as its brewmaster and head of operations.

He is the seventh generation of brewers and for the past 14 years, has been the brewmaster at De Koningshoeven Brewery (La Trappe).

Here, he won numerous international brewing awards and established La Trappe’s world-renowned barrel aging program. 

Swinkels’ relationship with Brunswick Bierworks goes back decades to the Technical University of Munich in Weihenstephan where he received his training and befriended Brunswick Bierwork’s Senior Brewing Advisor Christian Riemerschmid von der Heide.

He commented: “I was drawn to the passion here and to be honest, I was drawn to the beer. To be able to brew with some of the most iconic and innovative brewers in a brand new, world-class facility is something you dream about.”

Mike Laba, partner at Brunswick Bierworks, added: “It is truly an honor to have one of the world’s best brewmasters coach, train and mentor the Brunswick Bierworks brewing team.”