De Dolle Brouwers

De Dolle Brouwers is a Belgian brewery, based in Esen in the province of West Flanders. The name means, literally, "the mad brewers" and this attitude is reflected in their whimsical graphics and adventurous brewing style.

The building housing the brewery is believed to date from 1835 and has a long brewing history since its inception by local doctor Louis Nevejan, having become the Costenoble brewery in approximately 1882 and remaining in that family for three generations.

It was defunct when purchased by De Dolle and restored to function as a brewery in 1980 by the legendary Kris Herteeler.

Beavertown Stingy Jack Spiced Pumpkin Ale

Beavertown Stingy Jack, A Spiced Pumpkin Ale, containing maple syrup, brown sugar, cardamom, nutmeg, crystalized ginger, nutmeg, clove and cinnamon.  Also used a load of spices at the end of the boil as well as roast pumpkins glazed in maple syrup.

"Stingy (STIN-GEE) isn’t a name we thought up all on our own though, no sir. Stingy was a miserable old drunk who loved playing tricks on everyone. One Halloween night, Jack ran into the Devil himself in a local pub. Jack tricked the Devil into buying him one last drink in exchange for his soul. The Devil turned himself into a six pence to pay the bar tender but Jack snatched the coin and put it in his pocket next to a silver crucifix, trapping the Devil. Jack refused to let the Devil go unless he promised not to take his soul for another 10 years. The Devil agreed and Jack let him go.

Ten years later the Devil found Jack on a country road, he had come back to collect what he was due. Jack thought quickly "OK, but before you take my soul can you get me one last apple from that tree?" The Devil saw no harm in this and jumped into the tree to get the apple. Straight away Jack drew a crucifix on the tree trapping the Devil again. This time, Jack made the Devil promise he would never take his soul when he passed away. The Devil had no option but to agree.

Stingy Jack eventually died and went to the Gates of Heaven. God would not let him enter as he was a deceitful, tight-fisted old drunk. Jack went to the bowls of Hell. The Devil kept his word and would not let him enter either. He sent Jack back out in to the darkness giving him a burning ember from the fires of hell to light his way. The burning rock was too hot for Jack to carry so he hollowed out an old pumpkin and placed the ember inside. He walked off into the dark abyss with the glowing pumpkin lighting his way and was never seen again...."