Brouwerij De Molen
Brouwerij De Molen was a Dutch craft brewery in Bodegraven, Netherlands, founded in 2004 and closed October 2025, serving craft beer enthusiasts with experimental, barrel-aged specialty beers through DTC e-commerce, wholesale, and export to ~30 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersBodegraven, Netherlands
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Brouwerij De Molen does
Brouwerij De Molen was a Dutch craft brewery founded by Menno Olivier in 2004, operating from the historic korenmolen De Arkduif in Bodegraven and a purpose-built brewery commissioned in 2011 at Doortocht 4. Originally started in 1992 as De Salamander out of the founder's garage, the brewery became a pioneer of the Dutch craft beer movement, reaching #1 in the Netherlands and #6 globally on RateBeer in 2017 with ~500,000 raters. The product portfolio combined a fixed range of ~20 beers with an experimental program that released a new brew every six weeks, alongside barrel-aged specialties matured in Château Talbot Grand Cru, Calvados, and Balcones whiskey barrels.
The business operated across four revenue streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce through the brouwerijdemolen.nl webshop (PostNL delivery across the Netherlands, €15 minimum order, free shipping above €60), on-site Brouwcafé tours and tastings at €20 per person, wholesale distribution through Dutch specialty beer retailers, and international export to approximately 30 countries representing 50% of production. The brewery was a subsidiary of Royal Swinkels Family Brewers and operated a social enterprise workshop with Stichting Philadelphia, employing 15-26 participants daily in packaging and fulfillment. It also hosted the Borefts Bier Festival annually from 2009-2025, attracting ~7,000 visitors from 35 nationalities.
The company is no longer operational. Royal Swinkels announced the preliminary closure decision on January 23, 2025 and confirmed permanent shutdown effective October 1, 2025, citing craft beer market saturation and a shrinking Dutch beer market as rendering the Bodegraven setup unviable. The webshop was discontinued; remaining inventory was redirected to partner platform Dare to Drink Different at a 25% discount. At closure the brewery employed 19 people including founders Menno Olivier and John Brus.
Brouwerij De Molen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Brouwerij De Molen
- Legal name
- Brouwerij De Molen B.V.
- Website
- https://brouwerijdemolen.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Closed
- Short description
- Brouwerij De Molen was a Dutch craft brewery in Bodegraven, Netherlands, founded in 2004 and closed October 2025, serving craft beer enthusiasts with experimental, barrel-aged specialty beers through DTC e-commerce, wholesale, and export to ~30 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Brouwerij De Molen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer / Specialty Brewing
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE)
Keywords
Where Brouwerij De Molen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bodegraven
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Brouwerij De Molen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Direct Beer Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of craft beers through e-commerce webshop. Fixed range of 20 beers plus limited-edition specials and barrel-aged releases. Products sold in 33cl bottles and occasional 75cl formats.
- E-commerce Operations: Online sales with shipping across Netherlands via PostNL. Orders over €60 qualify for free shipping. Minimum order value of €15.
- Tours and Tastings: Brouwcafé tours offering brewery visits with beer tastings. Saturdays at 12:30 and 14:30, plus appointments for groups of 6+. €20 per person for standard tours.
- Wholesale Distribution: 50% of production exported to approximately 30 countries. Sold through beer shops and specialty beer cafés in Netherlands and internationally.
- Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold through webshop for use on all products online.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard 33cl beer bottles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tour and Tasting Experience |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping costs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Brouwerij De Molen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Brouwerij De Molen is a Dutch craft brewery that produces and sells specialty beers — including stouts, IPAs, pale ales, and quadrupels — through its on-site Brouwcafé, e-commerce store, specialty retail partners, and international export channels in roughly 30 countries. The brewery also offers guided tours, tastings, and hosted the annual Borefts Bier Festival (held since 2009).
Product overview
Brouwerij De Molen is a craft beer brewery based in Bodegraven, Netherlands, that operated from 2004 to October 2025. The company produced a wide and varied collection of specialty beers in styles including Stout, Porter, Barley Wine, Pale Ale, Sour, Lager, and Saison. The product portfolio centered on a fixed range of approximately 20 core beers, supplemented by experimental limited-edition releases every six weeks. The brewery also organized the annual Borefts Bier Festival (2009-2025), offered brewery tours and tastings, and maintained an e-commerce webshop for direct beer sales. Following closure, remaining inventory was sold through a partner platform (Dare to Drink Different). Notable product lines include the Bitter & Sweet Imperial Stout, Chateau & Rouge barrel-aged Quadrupel, Dame & Blanche Weizenbock, Maple & Pecan Imperial Stout, and the Oude Legendes (Old Legends) collection of discontinued beers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brouwerij De Molen craft beers (stouts, IPAs, pale ales, quadrupels, barrel-aged varieties)
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked #1 brewery in Netherlands on RateBeer for multiple consecutive years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Brouwerij De Molen
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Brouwerij De Molen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Brouwerij De Molen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- COOK&BOONminorCharity partnership with COOK&BOON cycling event and Stichting Alzheimer. De Molen brewed a special NEIPA beer for the event proceeds.
- Stichting AlzheimerminorCharity partnership through COOK&BOON cycling event. De Molen brewed a special beer with proceeds going to Alzheimer's research.
- KIKAminorBrouwerij De Molen brewed the 'Geniet & Geef' beer for KIKA (children's cancer fund). Charity beer with proceeds supporting children with cancer.
- Stichting PhiladelphiacoreBrouwerij De Molen hosts an internal workshop for clients of Stichting Philadelphia, a care organization for people with intellectual disabilities. Average 15-26 participants daily support brewery operations including labeling, bottling line work, warehouse tasks, and packaging. This social enterprise partnership provided meaningful employment and day activities for Philadelphia participants.
- Dare to Drink DifferentminorAfter brewery closure October 1, 2025, Dare to Drink Different became the authorized seller of remaining De Molen beer inventory. Offering 25% discount on remaining stock.
- Fire&Food MagazineminorBrouwerij De Molen collaborates with Fire&Food magazine for beer and food pairing content. Features De Molen beers in recipes and BBQ content in Netherlands and Belgium's most-read outdoor cooking magazine.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Brouwerij De Molen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Jopen: Dutch craft brewery founded in Haarlem with award-winning specialty beers and a strong domestic following, directly comparable to De Molen's Dutch craft positioning and barrel-aged portfolio.
- Brouwerij 't IJ: Amsterdam-based craft brewery with a strong taproom and city identity, comparable to De Molen as a Netherlands craft brewer combining on-premise experience with broad specialty distribution.
- Oedipus Brewing: Dutch craft brewery known for experimental recipes and bold branding, comparable to De Molen's experimental six-week release cadence and craft enthusiast focus.
- De Prael: Amsterdam craft brewery combining specialty beer production with a social mission employing disadvantaged workers, comparable to De Molen's Stichting Philadelphia social enterprise angle.
- 't Uiltje Brewing: Dutch craft brewery specializing in hop-forward and experimental beers, comparable to De Molen's flavor-forward experimental portfolio.
- Mikkeller: Danish craft brewery with globally distributed specialty and barrel-aged beers, highly comparable to De Molen in product style, international export reach, and experimental brewing approach.
- BrewDog: Global craft brewery with extensive international distribution and a brand-driven model, comparable to De Molen's export-led growth and RateBeer-style reputation strategy.
- Nøgne Ø: Norwegian craft brewery specializing in bold, high-ABV specialty beers with international distribution, comparable to De Molen's high-ABV stout/quadrupel focus.
- Omnipollo: Swedish craft brewery renowned for experimental flavors, pastry stouts, and collaboration brews, comparable to De Molen's novel ingredient combinations and barrel-aged programs.
Emerging players
- Cantillon: Belgian family-run brewery specializing in traditional lambic and barrel-aged sour beers, comparable to De Molen's barrel-aging expertise and cult craft beer status.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Brouwerij De Molen social profiles
Digital presenceBrouwerij De Molen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Brouwerij De Molen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Brouwerij De Molen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Brouwerij De Molen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Brouwerij De Molen
What does Brouwerij De Molen do?
Brouwerij De Molen is a Dutch craft brewery that produces and sells specialty beers — including stouts, IPAs, pale ales, and quadrupels — through its on-site Brouwcafé, e-commerce store, specialty retail partners, and international export channels in roughly 30 countries. The brewery also offers guided tours, tastings, and hosted the annual Borefts Bier Festival (held since 2009).
Is Brouwerij De Molen a public or private company?
Brouwerij De Molen is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently closed.
When was Brouwerij De Molen founded?
Brouwerij De Molen was founded in 2004.
Where is Brouwerij De Molen based?
Brouwerij De Molen is headquartered in Bodegraven, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Brouwerij De Molen make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Direct Beer Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Operations, tours and Tastings, wholesale Distribution and gift Certificates.
Who are Brouwerij De Molen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Jopen, Brouwerij 't IJ, Oedipus Brewing, De Prael, 't Uiltje Brewing, Mikkeller, BrewDog, Nøgne Ø and Omnipollo. Cantillon is listed as an emerging player.
Does Brouwerij De Molen have an API?
No public API is recorded for Brouwerij De Molen.
What industry is Brouwerij De Molen in?
Brouwerij De Molen's product category is Craft Beer / Specialty Brewing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAC, Microbreweries & Craft Breweries, with a secondary code of THAJAGAE, Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings. Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2082.