Leffe Brune Belgian Abbey Beer Large Bottle, 6 x 750 ml

Product Information

I suppose I shouldn’t have been that surprised, Leffe is part of the global InBev empire and brewed at the vast Artois brewery in Leuven. It still clutches to its ‘Abbey’ heritage though; the Leffe glass is modeled on a chalice, and the logo shows an abbey building, represented in stained glass.

Leffe Brune is full bodied, close to a Stout or a Porter, but not too heavy, very quaffable. ( Terry Pratchett– one of my favourite authors – describes quaffing as ‘a lot like drinking, but your ears can get wet’.) The flavour of the Brune is altogether richer, fuller, slightly sweet, but ultimately satisfying there are notes of dark treacle, and chocolate, and a hint of coffee, but it’s not too sweet. Against these ales, most lagers and British ales pale (no pun intended) by comparison. Leffe. It’s one of the world’s most recognisable Belgian beers. Understandably so, it’s had more than 800, albeit tumultuous, years to build a brand and nail that quality. There are few beers that have quite such a development time.

Leffe brune 6.5°

Abbey beers are different from (although similar to) Trappist beers, they are brewed by commercial breweries in something approaching the Trappist style and tend to take the name of a nearby Abbey. This is a largely successful endeavour by the Belgian brewing industry to cash in on the reputation of Trappist beers. In the case of Leffe, the brand was resurrected in the 1950’s although the original abbey was devastated during the French Revolution; beer hadn’t been brewed at the Leffe Abbey for nearly two hundred years. And indeed still isn’t! Abbaye de Leffe in Dinant was founded in the 12th century and, like most abbeys and churches, they built a brewery to serve drinks to parishioners and pilgrims. Most people, including children, drank beer of some sort as it was much safer to drink than water.

Adam, make sure you ask if they can get it! If they can get Blonde, maybe they can get Brune too! (worth a shot!) In 1952, the production of beer was continued, when Father Abbot Nys, helped by brewer Albert Lootvoet, brought a brown ale to market. [2] The brewery was later bought by the international beer company Interbrew (now AB InBev). Leffe was then brewed in Mont-Saint-Guibert until Interbrew closed that brewery. [ citation needed] Now all Leffe brands are brewed at the Stella Artois brewery in Leuven. As of 2012 [update], there were five top-fermented brands made under the Leffe brand. Royalties are paid to the abbey. [2] It’s still a great beer and, I observed, the preferred drink of the locals in Brussels, and you can’t get a better recommendation than that.Well I’d certainly try it. I’ve not heard of anyone trying it, but I can’t see anything that would cause you harm. Maybe a small, cautious, sip initially. Please let us know how you get on!