New Holland
New Holland
New Holland Brewing Company is an independent American craft brewery and distillery headquartered in Holland in the US state of Michigan, not far from the shore of Lake Michigan. It was founded in 1997 by childhood friends Brett VanderKamp and Jason Spaulding, who had grown up together in Midland and discovered their passion for homebrewing at Hope College. After two years of planning they opened their brewery in an abandoned factory with only 10,000 US dollars, convinced that their hometown and the brewing world needed renewal. Spaulding later founded Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids with his wife Kris, and VanderKamp remained at the helm of New Holland as founder and CEO.
The best-known product is Dragon's Milk, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout at 11% ABV that was first brewed in 2001 and developed into one of the best-known barrel-aged stouts in the USA, with a following that is almost cult-like. The name refers to a medieval term for robust ales and elixirs served in celebration at the end of a journey, and in 2018 the brewery made Dragon's Milk its own brand, which today includes further varieties such as Dragon's Milk Crimson Keep, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial red ale, Tales of Gold, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial golden ale, and the pastry stout variant Reserve. In 2005 New Holland began distilling bourbon, whiskey, rum, gin and vodka, which has been sold since 2008, with the distillery starting with bourbon and rye in the same barrels in which Dragon's Milk matured.
Today, with nearly 400 employees and an annual production of around 50,000 US barrels, the brewery ranks among the largest independent craft breweries in Michigan, and its beers and spirits are sold across the USA and worldwide. The company operates several brewery restaurants, spirits tasting rooms and stores, now also offers canned cocktails as well as whiskeys under the Walley Run brand, and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022 with a series of legacy beers such as Mad Hatter. With its combination of craft brewing, barrel ageing and community spirit and with collaborations such as the one with Dungeons & Dragons, New Holland shows how a hobby in an old factory can become one of the defining craft brands of America.