Westmalle

Why it matters

The naming and the shape of two entire Belgian style categories descend from this brewery’s products.

Details

Reference beers

• Westmalle Dubbel7% ABV

  The reference dubbel — dark, raisin-and-fig, dry-finishing — and the beer that gave the category its name alongside its tripel sibling.

• Westmalle Tripel9.5% ABV

  The beer that gave the tripel its name and its shape: pale, dry, spicy and deceptively strong.

BeerHQ carries only the products that anchor something. This is not the brewery’s full range.

Styles it is associated with

• Dubbel — A dark Belgian ale rich in raisin, plum and caramel from dark candi sugar, dry-finishing despite its sweetness of flavour.
• Tripel — A strong pale Belgian ale that is simultaneously rich and dry, with pepper, orchard fruit and a sparkling, deceptive drinkability.

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.