Grimbergen (beer)

Lore & Background

The name Grimbergen derives from the Norbertine abbey founded by Saint Norbert of Xanten in 1128 in the Belgian town of Grimbergen. Monks first brewed beer there, becoming known for offering hospitality and their home-brewed beer to visitors. The recipe was reputedly handed down over centuries. When French invaders closed the monastery at the end of the 18th century, brewing stopped. After the abbey was re-established, brewing was not resumed, and the monks ordered beer from local breweries.

In 1958, Brouwerij Maes contacted the monks with a proposal to commercialize a dark beer under the brand name Grimbergen. Until 1978, Grimbergen Dubbel and Tripel were brewed in Waarloos, then production moved to Brasserie Union in Jumet until its closure in 2007, after which it moved to Brouwerij van Alken in Alken. The brand is now brewed by two companies: Alken-Maes (taken over by Heineken in 2008) brews for the Belgian market, while Carlsberg Group owns the brand and brews it at Kronenbourg Brewery in France for markets outside Belgium. In the Netherlands, Grolsch markets Grimbergen brewed by Alken-Maes. Bottle declarations show 330 ml bottles made by Carlsberg's Polish brewery and the green Belgian Pale Ale (75cl) brewed at Carlsberg Italia. In 2019, the abbey announced it would start producing its own beer again, increasing the number of producers to three.

The label has always featured a mythological phoenix. In late 2010, the label was renovated, bringing the phoenix to the forefront. The top reads 'Phoenix' and below 'Ardet nec consumitur' (burned but not destroyed), the abbey's slogan referring to the Burning Bush and the abbey's repeated destruction by fire and rebuilding.

Reader's Guide

Grimbergen's significance lies in its status as a commercially produced abbey beer with deep historical roots. The brand bridges monastic tradition and modern industrial brewing, with production spread across multiple countries under different ownership. The phoenix label and slogan 'Ardet nec consumitur' encapsulate the abbey's resilience through centuries of destruction and rebuilding. The beer's varieties differ between Belgium and France, with French offerings like La Blonde, La Rouge, La Ambrée, La Blanche, and La Réserve unknown in the country of origin. The 2019 announcement that the abbey would resume its own brewing added a third producer, complicating an already fragmented production landscape. Grimbergen remains a recognizable name in abbey-style beers, with its history of fire, rebuilding, and commercial licensing reflecting broader trends in the beer industry.

Did You Know?

• The abbey was founded in 1128 by Saint Norbert of Xanten.
• The slogan 'Ardet nec consumitur' means 'burned but not destroyed'.
• Grimbergen is brewed in Belgium, France, Poland, and Italy.