I discovered the Westmalle Dubbel beer as part of a promotion of certain beers at Waitrose (thanks to my good lady for spotting them and bringing a few home with the shopping). Having read the little information label hung around the neck of the bottle, I was intrigued to find out more about this beer on their website.
A fascinating story it is indeed, as this beer comes from the Westmalle Abbey in the Flanders region of Belgium and is one of only 7 Trappist Monastery breweries in the world. I have not used the blog title lightly or flippantly, as the beers brewed by these monasteries is not for profit, but instead helps to sustain the monastery, and the monk's charitable work. The monks themselves are also allowed to drink the beer (i.e. with their meals)!
The Trappist beers are very strong (the Dubbel is 7% ABV) and taste like the beer equivalent of desert wine - very nice indeed, though definitely a beer to savour in small amounts (a 33cl bottle is just right). The other Westmalle beer is the Tripel (9.5% ABV) and I am guessing that the names refer to the multiple fermentation stages of the beers which make them so strong. There is a 3rd beer called 'Extra' but this is only for the monks (I couldn't help wondering if 'Extra' suggests it is even stronger than the Tripel !).
The Westmalle Abbey website has a great deal of interesting information about the Abbey and its brewery. Sadly, as the brewery is within the abbey/monastery, no public visits/tours are permitted, otherwise I would definitely have suggested putting this one on the OF's future visit list! However they do welcome guests for a few days of contemplation and prayer and who knows, perhaps a beer may be offered with meals?
The website link is: http://www.trappistwestmalle.be/en/page/brouwerij.aspx
If these beers are not available at your supermarket you can purchase a range of Trappist beers from the Beer Hawk website http://www.beerhawk.co.uk/abbey-and-trappist
So to say this beer tastes divine, or even heavenly, is not only true, but the words have their own special meaning in this case ....with the additional pleasure of knowing that your money is going to a very conscientious business and worthy causes. To quote from the Westmalle website:
"The income from the work of the abbey is largely spent - in addition to supporting the monks - on supporting many development projects in Belgium and abroad. Thus nobody with a small or large need comes knocking at the doors of the monastery in vain. The monks are again mindful of Saint Benedict: “He is received as Christ himself.”
I suppose you could say this really is a way to 'drink responsibly'.
Time gentlemen please....
