Duvel Barrel Aged Beer 75cl

Description

In 1871 it was the estate of Jan-Leonard Moortgat, descendant of a brewing family in Steenhuffel, together with his wife Maria De Block in the birthplace of the former Moortgat farm brewery. At that time, the newborn was just one of 4,000 breweries operating in Belgium at the turn of the century.

The initial period, therefore, is not exactly easy: Jan-Leonard tries, in those first pioneering years, to sell a series of top-fermented beers, such as Stavelot. With varying degrees of success. Thanks to a combination of drive, passion for beer and craftsmanship, Jan-Leonard manages to build a loyal customer base over time, not only in the Breendonk area, but even among the Brussels bourgeoisie. Testimony to this: the opening of a warehouse in Laeken. The beginning, it seems, of a success story that has 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. The tasks are well divided: Albert becomes the brewer, Victor takes care of the horse and cart delivery to Brussels.

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

The First World War brought Belgium into contact with England and especially with English Ales, which enjoyed considerable popularity in 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 just 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 get the coveted sample from a local brewery in Scotland. Cultivated yeast from the same strain is still used to this day!

The 2 brothers keep searching and experimenting until the recipe is perfect.
Reminiscent of the end of the First World War, the new beer was originally named “Victory Ale”

This innovative beer really surprises everyone. During a tasting session with village notables, shoemaker Van De Wouwer, intensely surprised by the beer's strong aromas, exclaimed: “This is a real Duvel.” A divine inspiration? From 1923 onwards, the beer was sold under this name, which was not evident in Catholic Flanders at the time.

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

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

In the 60s, the younger brother of the classic Duvel was also launched, namely the green Duvel. This beer is only fermented once and is therefore a little lighter, making it very popular in cafes close to 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 at the end of the 1960s. The innovative glass, reminiscent of a wine tasting glass, was supposed to allow, among other things, to serve a full 33cl bottle. After all, until then there were no beer glasses of this size. The glass is fully adapted for an even more complete beer experience: The convex shape makes Duvel's divine flavor and aroma stand out even more during the tasting. As the glass closes upwards, it also contributes to the retention of carbon dioxide and therefore foam.

The Moortgat family consistently invests in the brewery to ensure perfect beer quality. Partly for this reason, Duvel has gained worldwide recognition as a reference in special beers with bottle refermentation.

At the end of the nineties, the fourth generation took charge and decidedly opted for an international direction.

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