by Brasserie du l'Abbeye du Val-Dieu

In 2016 the Abbey of Val-Dieu celebrated 800 years of history.  To mark the milestone, the brewery created this special Belgian Pale Ale called Cuvee 800 (of course).

Val-Dieu are the only true ‘abbey beers’ with the beers still brewed on the site.  Most abbey beers are a commercial arrangement for a brewery to brew beer under licence using the abbey name.

Back to the beer, and it is no surprise that it is a really good beer.  I was more than pleasantly surprised when this arrived and I first tasted it.

A really yeasty aroma offers up banana and clove, with a bready malt note.  The beer is really vibrant, well carbonated, kind of bouncing the bubbles of flavour over your taste buds.  And tasty it is.

Light grainy malts mix with fruit flavours of banana, pear and lemon citrus.  There is also a grassy, slightly herbal note from the hops which lift the mouthfeel of this beer as well.  As it warms a little the flavours soften to present a beautifully balanced beer.  One that I very much enjoyed, and a fitting tribute to the colourful history of this abbey.

 

Sign up for the monthly six pack »

See all of the July 2021 monthly six pack


Country
Belgium
Alcohol
5.5%
Style
Belgian Pale Ale
Size
330ml

More Belgian Pale Ales

Arabier

by De Dolle Brouwers

De Dolle's hoppy Belgian Pale Ale is an absolute cracker

Belgoo Luppo Extra

by Belgoo Beer

A Belgian Pale Ale dry-hopped for a grassy and floral bitterness

Belgoo Saisonneke

by Belgoo Beer

A beer that is a cross between a Belgian Pale Ale and a traditional saison

Brew By Numbers 20/03 Belgian Pale - Crystal & Tettnang

by Brew By Numbers

A lovely crisp and flavoursome Belgian Pale Ale featuring Crystal & Tettnang hops

Brew By Numbers 20/04 Belgian Pale - Blanc & Mandarina

by Brew By Numbers

Another variation of BBNo's Belgian Pale style, this time featuring Hallertau Blanc and Mandarina Bavaria hops

Brussels Calling 2014

by Brasserie De La Senne

The 2014 vintage of De La Senne's commemorative brew - a ripper Belgian Pale Ale

Brussels Calling 2016

by Brasserie De La Senne

De La Senne's once-a-year birthday celebratory pale ale, this time using an experimental hop from Slovenia

Chouffe 40 Years

by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)

Chouffe's special 40th Birthday beer

Chouffe Soleil

by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)

The spring time seasonal beer from La Chouffe

Cuvee des Trolls

by Brasserie Dubuisson

This is an unfiltered, naturally cloudy lager that bridges the gap between commercial beers and a Belgian Blond Ale

De Dolle XL Pale Ale

by De Dolle Brouwers

A special pale ale with bitter orange peel was brewed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of De Dolle Brouwers

De La Senne Bruxellensis

by Brasserie De La Senne

A Belgian ale 100% fermented with a Brussels Brettanomyces yeast, conditioned for 4 months in the bottle before release

De La Senne Ribenniz

by Brasserie De La Senne

The first beer in the trilogy of collaborations to celebrate 20 years of Zinnebir

De La Senne Taras Boulba

by Brasserie De La Senne

A refreshing over-hopped Belgian pale ale

De La Senne Zinne Des Flandres

by Brasserie De La Senne

The second beer in the 'Zinnebir' celebration/collaboration series

Den Herberg Cuvee Deville

by Den Herberg

This Belgian Pale Ale is referred to as an Orval clone

De Ranke Simplex

by Brouwerij De Ranke

A Belgian ale with an assertive hop bitterness, brewed to the character of an old style pilsner

Ename Pater

by Brouwerij Roman NV

The newest beer in the Ename range is this Belgian Pale Ale

Hertenheer

by Brouwerij Het Nest

A lovely blond bitter beer from one of Belgium's home-brewing success stories

Kasteel Xtra

by Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck

A Belgian Pale Ale from Kasteel brewery

Lupulus Hopera

by Brasserie Les 3 Fourquets

A slightly happier Belgian pale ale from Brasserie Les 3 Fourquets

Millevertus Pot'ame IPA

by Brasserie Artisinale Millevertus

A really well-balanced Belgian Pale Ale featuring Chinook hops

Punchy Flowers (des Legendes/De Ranke collab)

by Brasserie Des Legendes

A very tasty amber coloured Belgian Pale Ale that uses four different malts and five different hops

Rulles Epeautre

by Brasserie Artisanale de Rulles

A tasty Belgian Pale Ale with more than a hint of saison about it

Tongerlo Lux Blond

by Brouwerij Haacht

A Belgian Blond that has achieved some notable recognition on the world beer stage

Verzet Super NoAH

by Brouwers Verzet

A light and sessionable Belgian Pale Ale (or light Belgian Blond) that proudly uses 'No American Hops'

Westmalle Extra

by Abdij Der Trappisten Van Westmalle

The beer that the monks of Westmalle usually keep to themselves

Westmalle Trappist Extra 4.8% (330ml)

by Abdij Der Trappisten Van Westmalle

Westmalle's Trappist pale ale - the beer the Monk's drink

XX Bitter

by Brouwerij De Ranke

Belgium's hoppy beer, but there is more to this beer than just the hops

Also from Brasserie du l'Abbeye du Val-Dieu

Val-Dieu Grand Cru

by Brasserie du l'Abbeye du Val-Dieu

A big, tasty quadrupel from the Val-Dieu abbey brewery