Beer of the Weekend #127: Grimbergen Double

I just got back from watching Exit Through the Gift Shop. I highly recommend it.

In light of my Belgian beer quandary last Friday, BotW is all-Belgian this weekend. I have a Belgian base lager (which I will review tomorrow night) and a true Belgian ale to enjoy in my Allagash tulip.

The first beer this weekend is Grimbergen Double, brewed by the Abbey of Grimbergen in Grimbergen, Belgium.


The brewing is no longer done at the abbey, but at the Brouwerij Alken-Maes of Alken, Belgium.

Serving type: Six 11.2-ounce (330ml) bottles. No freshness or born-on date, which surprises me.

Appearance: Straight pour into my Allagash tulip. The color is a dark burgundy. Two fingers of a slightly tanned head developed and dissipated to a billowy cap, then a ring around the outside.

Smell: Very sweet, fruity aroma, which was so sharp I misinterpreted it as alcohol on the first whiff. Banana, apple cider, and grapes. The grapes remind me of communion wine. Belgian yeast presents itself as the beer warms.

Taste: Follows the smell, but is not as sweet; the apple cider and grapes let the banana and yeast dominate. Caramel malts balance it perfectly. The mouthfeel is bread-like and chewy.

Drinkability: Superb. This is one of those “I’m going to give myself a present” brews. Very tasty stuff.

Fun facts about Grimbergen Double:

-Style: Dubbel. BA has this to say:

The Belgian Dubbel is a rich malty beer with some spicy / phenolic and mild alcoholic characteristics. Not as much fruitiness as the Belgian Strong Dark Ale but some dark fruit aromas and flavors may be present. Mild hop bitterness with no lingering hop flavors. It may show traits of a steely caramel flavor from the use of crystal malt or dark candy sugar. Look for a medium to full body with an expressive carbonation.

Traditionally a Trappist Ale, many brew similar “Abbey Dubbels” to try and emulate the originals (Trappist Westvleteren 8, Westmalle Trappist Dubbel & Chimay Première).

-Price: $11.99/sixer at the BevMo! on Beach.

-Serving temperature: BA recommends 45-50ºF, but Beers of the World suggests a serving range of 50-54ºF. However, the carrier — yes, a serving recommendation on the carrier! — encompasses both, saying “serve between 45º-55ºF.”

-Alcohol content: 6.5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), chocolate, and beef. Beers of the World recommends “rich sauce-based meat dishes such as spicy stew.” The Grimbergen website has this suggestion, en français: “Convient parfaitement avec la viande de bœuf, les brochettes ou les ragoûts.” The English translation is “Perfect with beef, kababs, or stews.”

-The Abbey of Grimbergen was founded in 1128 by Saint Norbert to serve as a refuge for pilgrims. It has burned to the ground twice, and in 1629, when it was rebuilt for the second time, the abbey adopted the symbol of the phoenix, which appears on its beer labels. The abbey’s motto, “Ardet nec consumitur,” means “burnt but not destroyed.”

-Here’s a nice little history of Grimbergen Double printed on the carrier:

Grimbergen Abbey Ale was first brewed as far back as the early middle ages by Norbertine monks. The recipe for this outstanding Abbey Ale has been carefully guarded throughout the centuries by the monks of the Abbey of Grimbergen. Their beautiful monastery with its phoenix stained-glass windows lies just north of Brussels. The tradition of ale brewing by the monks originates from the former role of abbeys as inns for pilgrims.

-Printed on the carrier’s handle is one of the trademarks of the Union of Belgian Breweries (UBB): Certified Belgian Abbey Ale. Because “abbey ale” has become a marketing ploy, only members of the UBB who meet specific guidelines are able to have their abbey beers certified. Check out this webpage, which explains it all: http://www.beerparadise.be/emc.asp?pageId=728. Needless to say, Grimbergen Double is a true abbey brew.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A.