Written by About a year ago (at the time of writing) I was fortunate enough to visit Brussels on a business trip and wrote a number of articles for The Brew Club about Belgian Ales. At the time I noted that there are six Trappist breweries in Belgium (Achel, Chimay, Westmalle, Westvleteren, Orval and Rochefort ) and one (De Koningshoeven) in Holland.
It occurred to me that while I’ve reviewed a few ‘Abbey style’ beers – Leffe, Corsendonk, to date the only Trappist beer I have reviewed is La Trappe from De Koningshoeven).
This is an omission I will seek to redress, starting with Westmalle for no other reason than it was my best mate’s favourite beer and the day I’m writing this review would have been his birthday, so cheers mate!
So, the abbey at Westmalle – actually “Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van het Heilig Hart” – was founded in 1794, as a Priory. It’s situated in Flanders which has for many years been the subject of territorial dispute. Much of the first World War was fought in Flanders Fields and indeed as a result of military incursions by the French under Napoleon Bonaparte (who closed all Trappist monasteries in France) the Priory at Westmalle wasn’t really up and praying until 1814, after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo.
The monks adopted the regulations of Armand Jean le Bouthillier de Rancé – the founder of the Cistercian order – which allowed the monks to drink (besides water) the most popular local beverage with their meals. In Flanders the most popular local beverage is beer, and rather than have to buy their beer the monks constructed a small brewery and served their first Trappist beer with lunch on 10th December 1836, the same year that the Priory became an Abbey.
Larger breweries were built in 1897 and 1934 and while the abbey was damaged during World War One, it survived World War Two relatively unscathed.
Westmalle is considered to be the birthplace of the accepted Trappist style brews ‘Dubbel’ and ‘Tripel’ (they can’t spell in Belgium) and Westmalle Tripel is sometimes called “mother of all tripels”.
The first Westmalle Dubbel was brewed in 1856 and while the recipe was modified in 1926 it remains a classic reddish-brown, dark beer brewed to 7% ABV.
Westmalle Tripel was first brewed in 1934 with the completion of the new beer hall. It’s brewed to 9.5% ABV and is a much paler beer than the Dubbel, a golden staw colour yellow.
Both Dubbel and Tripel are bottle conditioned, allowing for secondary fermentation.
There is a third Westmalle Beer – ‘Extra’ but this is brewed only twice a year for consumption by the monks and their guests. Friends who have tasted it (such as Rob the landlord of ‘The Prince of Wales‘ near where I live) report it to be light, with a fruity nose, brewed to 5% ABV. If you ever see a bottle, get your Mastercard ready!
That’s the history, where’s my bottle opener?
Whoah! That’s really lively, that’s the secondary fermentation confirmed.
I now have two thirds of a glass of Westmalle Dubbel, and a rich, spicy, beery smelling kitchen – and a slightly irate wife!
Westmalle Dubbel
As you can see, what’s left of the Dubbel pours with a full foaming off-white head that leaves a satisfying lacing down the glass.
The nose tells you what to expect from the flavour, rich, dark, spicy fruit with a hint of malt. Do you guys in the US get malt-loaf?
It’s full bodied, but not too chewy, and the flavour, well as expected there’s a rich, dark maltiness suffused with spicy fruit and nuts – imagine a Christmas cake made with rum and malt. A good balance of sweet and sour. There are rich dried fruit flavours, with orange and banana and caramel lurking in the shadows, and maybe just a hint of saltiness.
Of course that’s when the hops kick in and remind you that you’re drinking a beer!
Four and a half stars – as I said when I reviewed La Trappe in January 2009 – “These Belgian Beers are just so darn good you have to start differentiating the merely good from the great!”
In this case I’m trying to differentiate the great from the awesome.
Rating: 
Westmalle Tripel
Despite being opened with immense care this too frothed into my recently cleaned kitchen. Never mind, the two thirds of a glass looks and smells wonderfully inviting.
As you can see, it pours with a very full and foaming head that eventually subsides. The beer itself is a very pale straw/amber colour, richer than a lager.
The nose is complex, fruity with more than a hint of apple, no make that spiced apple. Maybe not cinnamon and apple, but there are spices at play here.
The flavour? Well the beer has a fuller mouth feel than the colour would lead you to expect, not chewy, but you know you’re drinking something substantial. The first flavours that hit you are fruits, mainly apple, and a hint of banana and orange peel, these flavours reluctantly cede to the spiciness that again belies the pale colour of the beer, there are hints of clove and pepper and of course a reassuring bite of hops.
There’s a long finish, quite an aftertaste and, of course there’s a full 9.5% ABV hiding in that innocent looking bottle.
This is a really complex beer, maybe not quite as complex as Aventinus but immensely satisfying.
I know this was my mate Jon’s favourite beer, but after consideration I’ll give this another four and a half stars.
Rating:
A great beer, but not quite the greatest – in my opinion!
As I mentioned in my review of the Abbey Style ‘Leffe’ range, “There is an apocryphal tale that the Belgian Government cracked down on the sale of spirits after the first world war, which is why Belgian beers tend to be brewed for strength as well as flavour.” Whether true or not their honest potency is a pleasant change in a world where commercial brewers seem to be reducing the strength of their brews, either by rebranding “Stella 4%” (down from 5.2%) or by stealth – Shepherd Neame Masterbrew down from 4.5% to 4.2% with nary a whisper.
Long may the politically incorrect Belgians continue to brew these superb, full strength ales.
Bob the Brit
Wow Scott, Great review! I haven’t tried anything from Westmalle yet. Is a matter of fact looking at your list of trappist breweries I have only had the full line of Rochfort and the blue and red Chimay. This is definitely lacking in my beer experience. I must rectify it and give these a try. I think that the trappist brews I’ve had are so good, many of the other Belgian beers seem rather ham handed in their approach. I definitely need to give these a try.
.-= Don´s last blog ..Otter Creek Quercus Vitis Humulus: It’s Lost on Me =-.
Hey Don, thanks! Bob really did knock it out if the park with this review!
I’m in the same boat as you really – I’ve had the Blue and White Chimay and possibly one other (it escapes me @ the moment -I’ve been in the E.R. all day) but it’s a gaping hole in my beer experience as well!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Delirium Tremens – Belgian Beer Review =-.
Man, one of these days I’ll actually see the Bob the Brit signature at the end of the post! Why were you in the ER? Hope everything is OK.
.-= Don´s last blog ..Oskar Blues Gordon: The Tin Man Cometh… =-.
I’ve had and like both of them. My favorite is the tripel though. I hope all is ok (ER all day? Yuck!) You’ll need one or two of these after a day like that. Take care.
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Biryani with Shrimp =-.
@Don , its OK. Like Bob says, its about the beer really and not who writes about it! Bob and I are actually thinking of morphing into one entity, but we’re at lagerheads (pun intended!) on how to spell words like color/colour flavor/flavour and stuff like that. Also, we don’t know if we should be called ‘Scob’ or ‘Bott’. We’ll work it out I suppose.
@Rachel @Don – If I could drink after yesterday, I certainly would have! Needless to say, I still have all my arms and limbs – no blood loss or anything terrible like that! Something of a neurological thing. People have been telling me that 40 is when it all starts to come apart – I’m starting to believe them! Thanks for the good thoughts!
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Stone Pale Ale =-.
What a bummer way to spend your vacation! Hope you are feeling better soon. I loke Bott.
.-= Don´s last blog ..Oskar Blues Gordon: The Tin Man Cometh… =-.
Bott it is then! Thanks Don.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Avery Hog Heaven-Barleywine Style Ale =-.
I heard that about 40. Not looking forward to it. Take care of yourself and feel better!
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..Biryani with Shrimp =-.
ah, the trappists. they sure know how to brew a fine one… recommendation: rochefort 10! always a winner for me. also, check out the much-storied westvleteren, sort of the “holy grail” of the trappists. in 2008, i was traveling (honeymoon)–paris to bruges to amsterdam, with a day trip to brussels–and managed to sample 40 belgian beers that i’d not previously had. a highlight was the day trip, especially a lunch visit to bier circus. it’s a place that serves wonderful food, including beer cuisine such as spaghetti bolognese in chimay white sauce (!), and they have some WONDERFUL beer offerings, including a cantillon gueuze brewed just for them. they also have, it is said, an occasional westvleteren in the cellar. i was able to get a hold of one (asking REALLY nicely and without expectation): a 2006 “green cap”, i believe. it really IS wonderful, although the hyperbole of being the best beer in the world is open to question. might just be, though, might just be…
by the way, scott, many thanks for a beer blog that’s pitched at ordinary folk, and not necessaraily for beer hunters and beer geeks only. i’m more of an “i don’t know art, but i know what i like” kinda guy–and your work fits me to a t. many thanks, and many happy returns–and may all your pints be perfect!
brian drier
nagaoka, japan
@brian – thanks so much for the great story and the wonderful comments! While I can’t take credit for this particular beer review (this one is by Bob the Brit) I think we do try keeping the vibe grounded here. Personally, I’m still just learning about beer, so I’ll be the last person to TELL anyone ANYTHING! Its really about exploration, discussion, and sharing, and hopefully, everyone learns something along the way. I sincerely hope you visit often – we appreciate it! Cheers!
great attitude, scott–and i’m really impressed that u keep up with the site so well and respond so comments so quickly and graciously. do u ever do–or have u ever considered doing–pieces highlighting places that offer good beer (pubs, in particular) or locales (e.g., writing up a trip to belgium or even just the local bar)? it might be interesting… IMHO…
Hi @brian – great to hear such enthusiastic responses from you, and to find a fellow fan of Belgian beers – I have a few more Trappist brews on my shelf to review but have yet to find a Westvleteren, I may have to go back to Belgium.
Thanks for the suggestion about writing about locales and bars, I have written reviews in bars, (and even an Indian restaurant) when brews haven’t been available to try at home objectively, and last year wrote a couple of ‘beer tour’ articles (do a search here on ‘Borough Market’). The Borough Market article was very much a labour of love, but judging by the lack of response it fell on stony ground.
Thanks for the feedback, and keep coming back, we have lots of fine ales to enjoy together.
And I have a large (750ml) bottle of ‘Duchesse’ waiting for my birthday next month!
ok, i know this sounds stupid, but… (how) can i upload pics to ur site? i was just about to post some pics of a few favorite beers from the 2008 adventure (including wesvleteren–and rodenbach vin de cereale!), but realized i had no idea how!
HELP!
@brian – Thanks again. As Bob mentioned, we do have some location styled posts, but its hard to generate much interest from them. I suppose its because most people reading about it have likely not been there so its hard to relate to the experience I guess.
We have another guest-poster here, Lee Salawich, who has been sharing with us some of his brewey-tours, the most recent of which was the Guinness brewery in Ireland.
FYI – We’re VERY into guest-posters, so if you’d care to share some if your trips with everyone, just let me know and we’ll get it worked out.
As far as pics, we’re not really set up to accept anything except when put in a post. I do think that if you fan us on Facebook though, you’d be able to post pictures there. http://facebook.com/TheBrewClub
Cheers!