Brewing Returns To Ancient Belgian Abbey

After a 200 year hiatus the Grimbergen Abbey in Belgium is once again brewing its legendary ales within its storied walls…

The state-of-the-art Grimbergen Abbey Brewery, will bring brewing back to where it all started when the abbey was founded almost 900 years ago.

It’s also the first time in 200 years that beers have been brewed inside the walls of the abbey, with beer-making ceasing after the building was destroyed during the French Revolution.

The Abbey Brewery will serve as an innovation hub, combining brewing traditions drawn from the ancient books of the abbey’s library with new and innovative techniques to craft unique limited-edition batches of exceptional premium beers. The cutting-edge facillity was built in a close partnership between the Grimbergen Abbey and Carlsberg Group who distribute its beers throughout the world.

“The new microbrewery is a place to reignite past traditions, just like our symbol the Phoenix we always have the strength to rise again, but to add fresh thinking too,” said Father Karel Stautemas, who was instrumental in the building of the new facility and has added the new title of Abbey Brewer to his monistic life”

“We want to combine our experience, nearly nine centuries of it, with innovation in pursuit of the most delicious and unique new brews. I think that the microbrewery allows us to do that, to explore and experiment with styles and ingredients in a really exciting way.”

Father Karel joins Master Brewer Marc-Antoine Sochon, a 28-year-old brewing wunderkind from France who began brewing in his parents’ garage.

“We are setting a marker for Belgian beers worldwide. The new brewery allows us to craft batches of delicious beers inspired by new and old brewing techniques to create brand-new sensory experiences,” said Marc-Antoine. “These new brews will provide fans of Grimbergen a chance to journey through amazing new tastes and flavors that could only be conceived in the unique surrounds of Grimbergen Abbey.”

To celebrate the abbey’s new brewery Grimbergen has released three new brews – Grimbergen Magnum Opus Brut Beer, Grimbergen Ignis Quadruple and Grimbergen Astrum Pale Ale.

And later this year, Grimbergen will also open a Brewery Experience Centre that will give visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves into the rich heritage of Grimbergen and the history behind its innovation.

###

Want more on Grimbergen? There’s this…

UNCOVERED MEDIEVAL RECIPES INSPIRE MONKS TO REVIVE BREWING HERITAGE