Een kast vol passie voor de Brouwmeester van Florijn

A cabinet full of passion for the Brewmaster of Florijn

A cabinet for your collection of books, kitchenware, model trains, hobby materials: at Lundia, we encounter the most wonderful questions, often born from a passion. That's what energizes us! That's why, under the banner of "a cabinet full of passion," we visit people who passionately share what drives them.

“I can wake up in the middle of the night with an idea, and I have to work it out immediately. I am simply a nutcase. You have to be a bit mad to be able to do this.” Speaking: Roel Wagemans (46). As brewmaster at Florijn, he performs at ‘Champions League’ level. With his experience, it can hardly be otherwise. He wielded the stirring rod at renowned beer brands such as Brewery ‘t IJ, Uiltje Brewing Company, and Jopen – according to the interviewer, the top 3 craft beer brands in the Netherlands.

Open houten kast met meerdere glazen gevuld met bier en korrels, voor grote roestvrijstalen brouwketels

Hobby that got out of hand

Turning your passion into work often starts with a hobby that got out of hand. Roel is a prime example. His brewing career took off in Australia, where he lived with his wife. He started with a brewing kit from the supermarket and was instantly hooked. "When something grabs me, I can't let go and I sink my teeth into it. They call it ADHD," he laughs. His homebrewing hobby quickly spiraled out of control. "The whole house was full of brewing equipment. My wife was going crazy with all those bottles fermenting." Friends recommended a brewing program at the local university. That's how he made the transition from hobby brewer to brewmaster. After completing his training, Roel worked at several large and small breweries in Australia. "Especially at the microbreweries, I experienced the passion and love that was missing at the larger breweries. You can imagine where I felt most at home."

Best of both worlds

Eventually, his homeland beckoned. When his daughter was born, Roel moved back to the Netherlands. He started working at Jopen in Haarlem, where he still lives happily. He then became brewmaster at Brouwerij 't IJ in Amsterdam and later, together with his founder Robbert Uyleman, founded the production brewery Uiltje Brewing Company in Haarlem. Now, he's found the perfect combination at Florijn brewery in Nijmegen. "After many years of working in production breweries, I wanted to be closer to the people again and see who I'm making those delicious beers for. At Florijn, I manage the brewing process and connect with people by hosting tastings. It's both of the best worlds!"

When asked about his future plans, Roel says: “I always think big. It would be fantastic to put Florijn on the map beyond the region—and even outside the Netherlands! I'd love to have a few nice medals hanging on the wall. But first, it's important to put Florijn in a good place. We have to make sure the beer is top-notch, that the foundation is right. As you can see, we're still in the middle of renovations. We open on May 27th.” His personal goal is primarily to maintain a balance between work and family life. He's agreed to spend three days at the brewery, which will give him more time for his wife and daughter in Haarlem. During the three days in Nijmegen, he lives above his second home, the Brewery. He lives in the old-fashioned student digs in the city where he studied and lived years ago. “So, as far as I'm concerned, things have come full circle!”

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