A beer that has played a key role in raising the profile of Trappist beer in Belgium and abroad, while becoming a classic of Belgian beer culture in its own right, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Westmalle Dubbel was first brewed a century ago when the monks of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Westmalle perfected their dark beer.

The monks of Westmalle brewed their first beer in 1836 to accompany their meals. Twenty years later, the abbey’s accounts recorded two distinct beers: a light table beer for the community’s own consumption and a slightly stronger brown beer. When brewing resumed after the First World War, the monks continued to develop this brown beer.

The name ‘Dubbel Bruin’ would go on to emerge in the 1920s and in 1926, the monks refined the recipe, creating the Westmalle Dubbel we know today. The name ‘Dubbel’ also dates from this period and refers to the use of twice as much malt as in the original brown beer.

What began as a brown Trappist beer went on to set the benchmark for an entire beer style as Philippe Van Assche, general manager of Westmalle Brewery explained.

He said: “Speciality beers were nowhere near as prominent then as they are today. Westmalle Dubbel helped the abbey brewery grow and contributed to Trappist beer securing a permanent place in Belgium’s beer landscape.

“A century later, it is still brewed according to the same philosophy, with an unwavering focus on quality, craftsmanship and continuity.”

To mark the centenary, the 33 cl bottle will temporarily feature a specially designed label and matching crown cap from mid-August. A special edition of the iconic Westmalle glass will also be released, featuring a design commemorating 100 years of Westmalle Dubbel.

Van Assche added: “For the monks, brewing has never been an end in itself. The brewery’s revenue is used first and foremost to meet the needs of the community.

“Beer production also enables the monks to assist other abbeys and contribute to numerous charitable causes. Westmalle Dubbel has therefore become more than a beer with character; it is also a beer with purpose. A hundred years on, it remains a symbol of the Trappist brewing tradition.”