Belgian beer is hard to beat, and the best of it comes from the Trappist breweries, marked [T] below. Trappist beer has to be brewed inside a monastery, by or under the supervision of the monks, with the profits going to the community and charity. Only a small number of breweries in the world qualify, six of them in Belgium, so the label is a reliable sign of quality.
These are our 11 favourite Belgian beers, with the strength, the style, what to eat with each one and how easy it is to find. If you are new to Belgian beer, start with the Westmalle Dubbel, the Chimay Blue or the Brugse Zot. If you want something you cannot get anywhere else, head to Bruges for the Tripel de Garre.
Our favourite Belgian beers at a glance
| Beer | Style | ABV | Trappist | Best for | Ease of finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tripel de Garre | Tripel | 11.5% | No | A Bruges-only treat | Only at Staminee de Garre |
| Rochefort 10 | Quadrupel | 11.3% | Yes | Dark fruit and chocolate | Specialist shops |
| Westvleteren 12 | Quadrupel | 10.2% | Yes | The rare one | Hard |
| Augustijn Blond | Belgian pale ale | 8% | No | Mild cheese | Fairly easy |
| St. Bernardus Abt 12 | Quadrupel | 10% | No | Beef and strong cheese | Fairly easy |
| Brugse Zot Blond | Belgian blond | 6% | No | A light first Belgian beer | Easy |
| Westmalle Dubbel | Dubbel | 7% | Yes | Your first Trappist | Easy |
| Chimay Blue | Strong dark ale | 9% | Yes | Red meat and chocolate | Easy |
| Orval | Belgian pale ale | 6.2% | Yes | Dry, hoppy drinkers | Easy |
| Ciney Blonde | Strong pale ale | 7% | No | Pub sessions | Moderate |
| Chouffe Dobbelen IPA | IPA tripel | 9% | No | IPA fans | Easy |
Belgian beer styles in 30 seconds
- Blond: golden, fruity and usually 6 to 7%. The easiest place to start.
- Dubbel: dark red-brown, with caramel and dried fruit, around 7%.
- Tripel: pale but strong, 8 to 10% or more, with a dry, spicy finish.
- Quadrupel: dark, rich and 10% or more. Drink it slowly, like a glass of port.
Tripel de Garre
Best for a Bruges-only treat
Tripel, 11.5%, Brouwerij Van Steenberge
This is our favourite beer. Tripel de Garre is brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge and it is outstanding: blond, very foamy and, despite the 11.5% alcohol, light enough that people who do not usually drink strong beer love it.
The catch is that you can only get it in one place in the world, a small pub in Bruges called Staminee de Garre. The building is old, the decoration modest and traditional, and the entrance is a tiny hallway between the shops on a small street that joins the two main squares, so keep an eye out for it. The beer comes with a free little cheese platter, which is an excellent match.
Rochefort Trappistes 10 [T]
Best for dark fruit and chocolate
Quadrupel, 11.3%, Trappist Abbey of Rochefort
Our second favourite. A very strong, complex dark beer with raisins, dried fruit, liqueur sweetness, a little alcoholic spice and hints of red wine and malt. It is a regular contender in best-beer-in-the-world lists.
It can stand in for a red wine at the dinner table. Fruit and chocolate are the best matches. At 11.3% it is one to share or sip slowly.
Westvleteren 12 (XII) [T]
Best for the beer you cannot just pick up
Quadrupel, 10.2%, Brouwerij Westvleteren
Another regular contender for the world’s best beer. It has no label (only coloured caps) and is brewed in small batches, which makes it hard to find, especially outside Belgium. The abbey sells it directly under its own rules, so check the abbey’s website for how to order before you go.
It is creamy and smooth, with dark fruit, raisins, caramel sweetness, warming alcohol, tobacco and leather, and a dry finish.
Augustijn Blond
Best for mild cheese
Belgian pale ale, 8%, Brouwerij Van Steenberge
We first tried this one in Staminee de Garre. It is a rich, creamy blond with a full body, aromas of vanilla and apple and a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Pair it with a mild cheese such as Gouda or Comté.
St. Bernardus Abt 12
Best for beef and strong cheese
Quadrupel, 10%, Brouwerij St. Bernardus
A rich, complex dark beer with a very intense flavour. It is not a Trappist beer, but it is easier to find than the Trappist quadrupels above, which makes it the practical choice if you want to try the style at home.
It goes well with meat dishes, especially beef, and with strong cheese such as Roquefort.
Brugse Zot Blond
Best for a light first Belgian beer
Belgian blond, 6%, Brouwerij de Halve Maan
A golden blond with a thick foam head and a fruity, slightly spicy aroma. It has the classic Belgian flavour, with a touch of bitterness and hints of citrus, and it is lighter than the other blonds on this list. The brewery recommends it with fish and shellfish, beef, or desserts with red fruit. It is widely available on draught across Europe.
De Halve Maan is the only brewery in Bruges, and it solved the problem of beer lorries in the medieval centre by building an underground pipeline to its bottling plant outside the old town. The Guardian covered the idea before it opened in 2016.
Westmalle Trappist Dubbel [T]
Best for your first Trappist
Dubbel, 7%, Brouwerij Westmalle
A dark red-brown beer with a rich, complex taste and touches of caramel and banana, topped with a soft, cream-coloured foam. It is probably the lightest of the Trappist beers.
It is also one of the easiest to find. In the UK it has been sold in supermarkets such as Tesco, so it is the obvious place to start with Trappist beer.
Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue) [T]
Best for red meat and chocolate
Strong dark ale, 9%, Trappist Abbey of Chimay
Chimay is probably the most popular Trappist brand. Each beer has its own label colour and the blue one is our favourite: a dark ale with a powerful aroma and a complex flavour.
It is a good match for red meat and chocolate. There is also a barrel-aged version, which is worth trying if you see it.
Orval [T]
Best for dry, hoppy drinkers
Belgian pale ale, 6.2%, Brasserie d’Orval
A light but full-flavoured Trappist pale ale. It is complex, with fruit and herb aromas, hints of citrus and a dry aftertaste.
The Orval community brews this one beer and nothing else, and it shows. It pairs well with walnuts, mild cheese and Iberico ham.
Ciney Blonde
Best for pub sessions
Belgian strong pale ale, 7%, Demarche Brewery
A great blond, lighter than most on this list, with sweet malt flavours and hints of banana and pear. It is well balanced and hoppy.
We tried it on our first trip to Bruges and have liked it ever since, on draught at Cafe On The Rocks. It is a peculiar, original pub that used to be a strip club, and you can still see the old decoration, including the dancing poles and lots of mirrors. It is mostly locals and has a friendly atmosphere. Opening hours change, so check before you go, and see our best pubs in Bruges for more.
Chouffe Dobbelen IPA
Best for IPA fans
IPA tripel, 9%, Brasserie d’Achouffe / Moortgat
A blond that has become popular around Belgium and France, and it is easy to find in the UK. It is a little stronger than the other blonds on the list, with apricot and grapefruit flavours, a floral hoppy aroma and a dry, bitter finish.
If you normally drink IPA, this is the Belgian beer to start with.
Where to buy Belgian beer
In the UK you can buy a Trappist beer pack online. Another good website is Beer Hawk. For a wider choice, Beer Of Belgium is a specialist shop in Belgium that delivers worldwide. Some of the beers above, such as Westvleteren 12 and Tripel de Garre, are hard or impossible to buy online, so try them in Belgium.
Some of these links are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
Visiting Belgium for the beer
If you are planning a trip, we recommend Bruges. Our list of the best pubs in Bruges covers Staminee de Garre and the other places we liked.
Belgian beer FAQ
What is the strongest Belgian beer on this list?
Tripel de Garre at 11.5%, followed by Rochefort 10 at 11.3% and Westvleteren 12 at 10.2%.
What makes a beer Trappist?
It must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, by or under the supervision of the monks, and the profits must go to the community and charity. Orval, Chimay, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren are among the Belgian ones.
What is the best Belgian beer for beginners?
Brugse Zot Blond is the lightest and easiest option. Westmalle Dubbel is a good first Trappist, and Chimay Blue is a step up in strength and flavour.
Where can you drink Tripel de Garre?
Only at Staminee de Garre in Bruges, as far as we know. It comes with a small cheese platter.
Is Westvleteren 12 really the best beer in the world?
It regularly tops best-beer lists, but it is also rare, which adds to its reputation. We rate Tripel de Garre and Rochefort 10 just as highly.
What food goes with Belgian beer?
Blonds suit mild cheese and fish. Dubbels and quadrupels suit beef, strong cheese, fruit and chocolate. Orval is good with walnuts and Iberico ham.