Proposed building in 2013.

Firestone Walker Brewery, which plans to open this year in the old World Gym building at Lincoln and Washington, has “collaborated” with Duvel Moortgat Brewery.

Duvel Moortgat is headquartered in Breendonk, Belgium. Duvel owns Ommegang in New York and Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, Mo. Duvel also owns Brasserie d’Achouffle and De Koninck Brewery, both of Belgium.

Firestone Walker is the 16th largest craft brewer in the United States according to Brewers Association.

David Walker described the Duvel-Firestone Walker arrangement, in “A Lil’ News” as an “elegant solution that will enable us to grow within the framework that meets our standards—all without losing focus on the traits that got us here.

“We will continue to operate independently in Paso Robles as we have always done. Our people and partnerships will remain, and there will be no change discernible in and around the brewery. In other words, we will not miss a beat.”

When asked if they would be selling Duvel beers, Adam Firestone said: “We are not an importer so it will mostly be our beers. We are hoping to try some of Duvel’s really top shelf stuff, and maybe, figure a way to let our Venetian customers do the same.

“Sitting with an the empty building in Venice for three years has been crushingly expensive,” Adam Firestone wrote. We wanted a brewer and not a banker to help us with capital.”

“Meanwhile, we’re still in the permitting vortex at LA City. (Hearing is 5 August with the West LA Area Planning Commission.) A Couple months ago, the Zoning Administrator approved us in a quick hearing. But when the CUP letter came out, they tossed in that we would have to start with a zoning variance if we wanted to be a brewpub. We’ve been applying to be a brewpub for 3 years so this came totally out of left field. Apparently, different departments at the City read the same rules differently. So we had to appeal our own approval! It’s like being approved to open your shoe shop, but then told you need to re-zone if you want to display any shoes. Really frustrating.“