The Viven Brewery was officially launched in 1999 by Willy De Lobel, a homebrewer who turned his recipes into reality. Renting time on the brewing equipment of the renowned De Proef Brouwerij, he brewed a Blond (the ‘Chapel of Viven’) and a Bruin (the ‘Monastery of Viven).
In 2003, the brewery was sold to Tony Traen, son of the local drinks distributor. Tony tweaked the recipes of the old beers and in 2010 introduced a few new creations, with the beer still being brewed at De Proef Brouwerij.
The really exciting news came at the start of 2015, when Tony established his own small brewery in the beautiful little village of Damme. Just a quick 10 minute bicycle ride along a scenic canal, small farms and even a windmill - if you ever find yourself in Bruges, a small diversion to Damme is well worth the effort.
The beer is a tasty Belgian dubbel style, pouring a ruby-brown colour with a sweetish aroma. The flavour is prunes, figs and raisins, with burned sugar and a slight hint of chocolate and even licorice. But not as sweet as the aroma suggest, with the beer quite dry and a hint of acidity.
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
The Pater 6 from St Bernardus is in the Belgian dubbel style
by Brouwerij Palm (Swinkels Family Brewers)
From the Palm Brewery portfolio comes the Steenbrugge Bruin
A cross between Flemish brewing tradition, and the big IPA's of the US West Coast
A Belgian style IPA, taking a step back to an older style IPA recipe
A delicious English style porter, with the addition of a subtle smoked malt
