In 1871, it was the estate of Jan-Leonard Moortgat, a descendant of a brewing family in Steenhuffel, along with his wife Maria De Block, in the cradle of the old Moortgat agricultural brewery. At that time, the newly established brewery was just one of 4,000 breweries operating in Belgium at the turn of the century.

The initial period, therefore, was not exactly easy: in those early pioneering years, Jan-Leonard tried to sell a range of top-fermented beers, such as Stavelot. With varying degrees of success. Thanks to a combination of motivation, passion for beer, and craftsmanship, Jan-Leonard managed to build a loyal customer base over time, not only in the Breendonk area but even among the Brussels bourgeoisie. Evidence of this: the opening of a warehouse in Laeken. The beginning, it seems, of a success story that has now lasted more than one hundred and forty years...

Business is now thriving, and Jan-Leonard's two sons, Albert and Victor, also join the company. Tasks are neatly divided: Albert becomes the brewer, while Victor handles deliveries by horse and cart to Brussels.

World War I brought Belgium into contact with England and especially with English Ales, which enjoyed considerable popularity during that period.

World War I brought Belgium into contact with England and especially with English Ales, which enjoyed considerable popularity during that period.

Albert is inspired by the success story of English Ales and decides to create a special beer based on the English model.

Albert only wants to work with the best ingredients to create this beer.

Albert travels to Scotland in search of the ideal yeast strain, where he initially encounters much opposition from local brewers. Only after a veritable odyssey through England does he finally obtain the coveted sample from a local brewery in Scotland. Yeast cultivated from the same lineage is still used today!

The two brothers continue searching and experimenting until the recipe is perfect.
Commemorating the end of the First World War, the new beer was originally named "Victory Ale".

This innovative beer truly surprised everyone. During a tasting session with the village notables, the shoemaker Van De Wouwer, intensely surprised by the beer's strong aromas, exclaimed: "This is a true Duvel." A divine inspiration? From 1923 onwards, the beer was marketed under this name, which was not common in Catholic Flanders at the time.

Everything about this beer is different. And that sparks interest, including internationally.

Not only is production growing, but Duvel's international status is also increasing; the Netherlands will be the first country to fall in love with this special beer.

In the 1960s, the younger sibling of the classic Duvel was also launched, namely the green Duvel. This beer is fermented only once and is therefore a little lighter, making it very popular in cafes near the brewery.

The third generation of Moortgat (Bert & Marcel Moortgat and the two brothers Leon & Emile Moortgat) is convinced that a unique beer also deserves a unique glass.

The Duvel glass was, therefore, the first tulip-shaped tasting glass in the late 1960s. This innovative glass, reminiscent of a wine tasting glass, was designed to allow, among other things, the serving of a full 33cl bottle. After all, beer glasses of that size didn't exist until then. The glass is perfectly suited for an even more complete beer experience: its convex shape makes the divine flavor and aroma of Duvel stand out even more during tasting. Because the glass closes upwards, it also contributes to the retention of carbon dioxide and, therefore, of the foam.

The Moortgat family consistently invests in the brewery to ensure the perfect quality of the beer. In part, this is why Duvel has gained worldwide recognition as a benchmark for specialty beers with bottle refermentation.

In the late nineties, the fourth generation takes the helm and decisively opts for an international course.

Duvel production began in 1923 with just a few cases. Today, literally countless beer lovers around the world (in over 60 countries) enjoy Duvel. The beer is still brewed with deep respect for the original recipe and maturation periods.