Westmalle Dubbel

Westmalle Dubbel is a Belgian Trappist dubbel brewed at 7% ABV by Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle, at the Abbey of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Malle, Belgium. It carries the official Authentic Trappist Product label, which means the beer is brewed within the walls of the monastery, under the supervision of the monastic community, with income going towards the monks' living costs and local charitable causes. Westmalle is one of the beers credited with defining the dubbel style, and its recipe has changed little since it was first brewed for wider sale in the 1920s.

Crafty Canary brings in Westmalle Dubbel through Cave Direct, a family owned drinks distributor established in 1979 and now one of the UK's largest importers of Belgian beer, with long standing relationships across the country's family brewers and Trappist abbeys. Stocking a genuine Trappist beer like this alongside the rest of the range reflects Crafty Canary's approach as an independent Welsh bottle shop, seeking out well made beer from small, serious producers rather than simply the biggest names on the market.

In the glass, Westmalle Dubbel is a dark, reddish brown ale with a thick, creamy off-white head, the result of a top fermented brew that undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle. The aroma carries caramel and dark malt alongside the fruity esters typical of Belgian yeast strains, often compared to ripe banana. On the palate it is rich and complex, with sweet malt, caramel and dried fruit such as raisin or cherry balanced by a long, dry, faintly bitter finish. The 7% ABV is present but well integrated, giving the beer warmth without heaviness, and the carbonation and soft mouthfeel keep it from feeling cloying despite its strength.

Dubbel is a food friendly style, and Westmalle Dubbel pairs well with roasted or braised meats, game, and rich stews, where its malt sweetness and dried fruit character can stand up to slow cooked, savoury flavours. It also suits mature and washed rind cheeses, and its caramel notes make it a natural match for dark chocolate desserts. As with most bottle conditioned beers, it benefits from being poured carefully in one motion, leaving the fine yeast sediment in the bottle for a clearer pour, or rolled gently beforehand for drinkers who prefer the added texture and additional B vitamins the yeast brings.

Served at cellar temperature, around 10 to 12 degrees, in a wide bowled glass, Westmalle Dubbel shows why it remains a reference point for the dubbel style nearly a century after it was first brewed. For anyone building a collection of classic Belgian and Trappist beers, or simply looking for something more substantial than a standard ale, it is a well established and dependable choice from one of only a small number of breweries in the world entitled to use the Trappist name.