Building of the Vecgulbene brewery began in 1811; stopped in 1914, brewing again from 1922, AS Vecgulbenes alus darītava from 1923. Nationalised in 1940; in 1958 joined with the Alūksne brewery as Vidzemes alus rūpnīca. Privatised in 1991 under its old name; closed in 2009 in the financial crisis, bankruptcy from 2011. Brands Vidzemes, Barona, Vecais draugs. unverified info