Kiwi brewer Chris O'Leary launched Hawke's Bay's Limburg Brewing Company in 1999. Having previously brewed for four years at Roosters Brewhouse in Hastings, Chris named his brewery Limburg after the Dutch province that is the home of his wife's family. The name was also significant because the province borders both Belgium and Germany, whose beer styles were Chris' major brewing influences. His first three beers were Belgian and German-style wheat beers.

In 2003 Chris received perhaps his ultimate accolade when the late English "beer hunter", Michael Jackson, selected Limburg Witbier for distribution to members of his exclusive US-based mail order beer club.

Sadly Limburg ran into financial difficulties and the Hawke's Bay brewery was sold, the last bottles disappearing from the shelves in late 2008.