St Bernardus would have to be one of the most criminally under-rated breweries in Belgium I reckon. They are probably most well-known for the fact they used to produce the Westvleteren beers under licence (1946-1992), and people compare their ABT 12 to the Westy 12.
But they are an exceptionally good brewery in their own right, with each of the beers I’ve ever tried from them being an excellent example of the style.
The Pater 6 is a Belgian dubbel style, so think of beers like Westmalle Dubbel or Rochefort 6. The dubbel is a staple beer in most traditional Belgian beer portfolios, and while it may not be the trendiest, most talked about of beer styles, dubbels are very easy beers to suggest to drinkers of all levels and experience.
The beer pours a lovely brown colour with an aroma of sweet caramel malt, dark fruits and Belgian yeast. The dark malts and Belgian candi sugar offer an inviting sweetness up front. There is also dried dark fruits and a little spice on offer, with a good carbonation aiding a dryness to the finish.
A classic Belgian dubbel brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge
Dubbel style beer brewed with 6 different malts and Saaz hops for a unique bitterness.
by Brouwerij Corsendonk (at Brasserie Du Bocq)
A classic Belgian dubbel style ale, ticking all the boxes as a perfect example of the style.
by Brouwerij Emelisse/Slot-Oostende
Emelisse's take on the classic Belgian Dubbel style
A typical Belgian dubbel style beer, from a label with an interesting history
A big dubbel that doesn't just copy the Belgian style
La Debauche presents their interpretation of the classic Belgian Dubbel style
A typically taste Belgian Dubbel or Brune/Bruin with a sweet fruity and malty body, balanced by an earthy, spicy and slightly citrus hop bite
by Mokke Bier
A Belgian Dubbel with a rich malty body and a few subtle hints of something a little different
A deliciously malty Begian Dubbel made using 6 different specialty malts
A tasty Belgian Dubbel from an old abbey label, now owned by the might of Heineken
The baby of the Rochefort range; an amber brown dubbed style ale with all the elegance of a classic Trappist ale
by Brouwerij Palm (Swinkels Family Brewers)
From the Palm Brewery portfolio comes the Steenbrugge Bruin
A traditional style Belgian dubbel from a little brewery in the village of Damme, just outside Bruges
The showpiece quadrupel of the St Bernardus Brewery - as close to Westvleteren 12 as you can get without the real thing.
The most recent creation from St Bernardus, it is everything a dark Christmas ale should be.
A premium dubbel style beer, packed full of deep rich flavours and aromas.
A Belgian witbier originally made in 2012 as a one-off special, revived in 2020
An Abbey Ale in the classic Trappist tripel style - a perfect balance between bitter and sweet.
This traditional Witbier has been developed in cooperation with Master Brewer Pierre Celis, the Godfather of Hoegaarden.
The 'second' tripel from the St Bernardus brewery is less well known, but still delicious
