With this beer we can push a little further into the origins of this label. ‘Witkap’ translates as ‘white cap’, and is reference to the white cowls of the Cistercian order of monks; from where todays Trappist monks all came.
In fact, Witkap is considered to be the oldest surviving members of the ‘Abbey Beer’ family. So it pre-dates more established and larger breweries like Leffe and Grimbergen. This particular beer was first brewed way back in 1929!
The Dubbel is a style that appears in the arsenal of any traditional Belgian brewery, and this beer is pretty traditional. Maybe the most unique characteristic of this beer is the very dark colour. Much darker than a traditional Belgian Dubbel style.
It has a very full aroma of chocolate, caramel, dates, cherries with herbs and a hint of vanilla from the yeast. This all follows through in the flavour with an inviting early sweetness to gives up a little to the spicy hop note to ensure it doesn’t finish too sweet, but with a lingering pleasant aftertaste.