Cuvée des Trolls

Lore & Background

Cuvée des Trolls has been brewed since September 2000 by the micro-brewery Brasse-Temps, created by the Dubuisson Brewery in Louvain-la-Neuve. The beer's success was immediate in this student city, prompting the Dubuisson Brewery to launch it in Wallonia, then Brussels, and finally in the Flemish Region and abroad. In 2003, another Brasse-Temps was created in Mons, and by 2005 production reached 5000 hectolitres.

The beer is brewed from sweet must to which hops and dried orange peels are added. Fermentation occurs at 23 °C for one week. It is available filtered or unfiltered; the version brewed by Brasse-Temps is not filtered and just decanted, so it still contains some yeast. It is described as refreshing and scented, with a fuller taste and well balanced. It is best served at 3 °C and is available in bottle or keg.

Reader's Guide

Cuvée des Trolls occupies a distinct place in Belgian brewing as a lager that incorporates dried orange peels, giving it a scented and refreshing character with a fuller taste. Its production by both the main Dubuisson Brewery and the Brasse-Temps micro-breweries in Louvain-la-Neuve and Mons reflects a dual approach: the Brasse-Temps version is unfiltered and decanted, retaining yeast, while the Dubuisson version may be filtered. The beer's immediate success in the student city of Louvain-la-Neuve drove its expansion across Belgium and into international markets. By 2005, production had reached 5000 hectolitres, indicating steady growth. The beer's branding—a troll with a hop-cone hat—is directly tied to its name and visual identity. Its availability in both bottle and keg, along with a recommended serving temperature of 3 °C, underscores its positioning as a crisp, aromatic lager meant to be enjoyed cold. The beer's history is closely linked to the Brasse-Temps micro-brewery chain, which began with the Louvain-la-Neuve location in 2000 and expanded to Mons in 2003.

Did You Know?

• It is brewed from sweet must with hops and dried orange peels added.
• Production reached 5000 hectolitres in 2005.