Stormous, a ransomware group, has admitted to orchestrating the cyber assault on Duvel Moortgat Brewery last Wednesday. Fortunately for beer enthusiasts, the brewery has ample stock to withstand the disruption.

The ransom group announced their involvement via the dark web on March 7th, a day following the attack, listing Duvel as their latest target. Despite this, there is no indication that the Belgian brewery intends to comply with any ransom demands, the specifics of which remain undisclosed. 

Duvel Moortgat has shown resilience in the face of adversity, as their IT department detected the ransomware attack in the early hours of March 6th, prompting an immediate halt in production.

Ellen Aarts, a spokesperson, confirmed the incident, stating that production ceased upon detection of the ransomware, with uncertainty about when it could resume. However, she assured that the brewery possesses sufficient beer inventory to manage the production halt.

Located in Breendonk, Antwerp, Duvel Moortgat is renowned for its signature Duvel ale, alongside Vedett and Maredsous beers, which enjoy international popularity.

Belgian beer enthusiasts took to Reddit to jest about the situation, showcasing their typical humour. Meanwhile, it was revealed that despite the disruption, beer pumps remained operational, leading some employees (excluding IT staff) to enjoy drinks in the cafeteria—a fact perhaps lamented by the IT department.

At present, the timeline for Duvel Moortgat to resume full-scale production remains uncertain, and the perpetrators behind the cyberattack remain unidentified.