Belgian Dubbel
Description
A deep reddish-copper, moderately strong, malty, complex Trappist ale with rich malty flavors, dark or dried fruit esters, and light phenolics.
Aroma
Rich, complex malty aroma with dark dried fruits (raisin, plum, fig), chocolate, and caramel. Moderate fruity esters from Belgian yeast. Low to moderate spicy phenols. Low hop aroma. Warming alcohol.
Appearance
Deep amber to copper, 10-17 SRM. Clear. Off-white to ivory head with good retention.
Flavor
Rich malt flavor with dark fruit, raisin, plum, chocolate, and caramel. Moderate fruity esters. Light spicy phenols. Low hop bitterness. Moderately dry finish. Complex and deeply satisfying.
Mouthfeel
Medium body with moderate to high carbonation. Smooth with warming alcohol. Round and creamy from malt complexity.
History
A Trappist ale tradition dating to medieval monastic brewing, formalized in Belgian abbeys in the 20th century. The name 'dubbel' (double) refers to a historical strength designation. Westmalle Dubbel (in its current form since the 1920s) is considered the archetype. Chimay Red is another defining example.
Commercial Examples
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Belgian Dubbel beer?
- Belgian Dubbel (BJCP 26B) — a strong, malty Trappist ale with dark fruit and spice. Style guide and specs.
- What is the ABV of Belgian Dubbel?
- Belgian Dubbel has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 6.0-7.6%.
- How bitter is Belgian Dubbel beer?
- Belgian Dubbel measures 15-25 IBU (International Bitterness Units).
- What are some examples of Belgian Dubbel beers?
- Westmalle Dubbel, Chimay Red, St. Bernardus Pater 6, Rochefort 6, Corsendonk Pater
Embed on your site — BeerFYI
Add the widget to any webpage using a script tag.
<div data-beerfyi="style" data-slug="belgian-dubbel"></div>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/beerfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>Embed using a standard iframe — works in any CMS.
<iframe src="https://beerfyi.com/iframe/style/belgian-dubbel/" width="100%" height="480" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" title="BeerFYI style widget"></iframe>Paste the URL into WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-aware editor.
https://beerfyi.com/styles/belgian-dubbel/Add a badge linking back to BeerFYI.
<a href="https://beerfyi.com/styles/belgian-dubbel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
<img src="https://beerfyi.com/badge/site.svg" alt="BeerFYI" height="20">
</a>
Use the BeerFYI WordPress plugin shortcode.
[drinkfyi-style site="beerfyi" slug="belgian-dubbel"]Use as a native HTML custom element in modern browsers.
<beerfyi-style slug="belgian-dubbel" theme="light"></beerfyi-style>
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/beerfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>