Abbaye de Leffe

Why it matters

The clearest example of an abbey beer that is licensed rather than monastic: brewed commercially under an abbey name, which is a distinction most drinkers never learn and which separates Leffe from the Trappist producers it sits beside on a shelf.

Details

Reference beers

• Leffe Blonde6.6% ABV

  For much of the world the first Belgian beer encountered, and a licensed abbey brand rather than a monastic one.

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Styles it is associated with

• Belgian blond ale — A moderately strong golden Belgian ale, soft and lightly sweet, with gentle yeast fruit and spice and a dry finish.

Traditions

• Belgian abbey and Trappist brewing — Strong, highly attenuated, bottle-conditioned ales built on expressive yeast and candi sugar, produced in or licensed by monastic communities.