Group John Martin

John Martin is a Belgian brewing company with an unusually international beginning: an Englishman arriving in Antwerp in 1909, carrying British beer traditions into Belgium and building a family business around brewing, importing and distribution. From Martin’s Pale Ale and Gordon Scotch Ale to lambic and farmhouse brewing sites, its heritage is less a single beer style than a bridge between Belgian craft and British inspiration. An Antwerp beginning John Martin settled in Antwerp in 1909 and began importing English, Scottish and Irish speciality beers in oak barrels. The company’s own brewery history presents this encounter with British pale ale as the inspiration for Martin’s Pale Ale, while its wider business became closely associated with the distribution of Guinness in Belgium. From one house to a wider Belgian portfolio The company’s heritage expanded beyond its original Antwerp identity. In 1924, John Martin registered Gordon Scotch Ale, the starting point of the Gordon Finest Beers range. In 1993, the family company acquired Timmermans, bringing a historic lambic brewery into the John Martin group and linking the business to spontaneous-fermentation brewing as well as English-style ales. A living family brewery group Today, John Martin combines brand ownership, brewing and distribution from Genval, while its portfolio and brewing sites include Martin’s, Gordon, Timmermans, Bourgogne des Flandres, Waterloo and Maredret. Its Antwerp connection remains visible through Martin’s Docks and the later return of Martin’s beers to brewing in Antwerp through a partnership with Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie. John Martin’s defining character is its documented role as a Belgian family brewery shaped by a distinctly British brewing inheritance. Antwerp, Belgium 1909 1909: Englishman John Martin founded the company in Antwerp. 1924: John Martin registered Gordon Scotch Ale, the beginning of the Gordon Finest Beers range. 1958: Bulldog Pale Ale was renamed Martin’s Pale Ale for the Brussels World’s Fair. 1993: John Martin acquired the historic Timmermans lambic brewery.