Brouwerij Leffe - Ab Inbev

Leffe beers, inseparable from the Abbey of Leffe

The Abbey of Leffe originated as a priory of the Abbey of Floreffe, near the Church of Our Lady of Leffe. The priory soon attracted so many novices that in 1200 it received the status of an abbey. From 1240 onward, beer was brewed within its walls. The boiling temperature killed the microbes responsible for many European epidemics, making beer safer to drink than water. Travellers and pilgrims who passed through the Abbey of Leffe took full advantage of this.

In 1466, the troops of Charles the Bold of Burgundy plundered and destroyed the city of Dinant and the Abbey of Leffe. The abbey was rebuilt, but the ownership rights to the brewery were leased out. The abbot of Leffe, however, remained the primary authority over the brewing activities.

The Liège Revolution and the French annexation brought the closure and partial demolition of the abbey at the end of the 18^th century. During the 19^th century, the building served various purposes, including as a glassworks, paper mill and flax workshop. The brewery passed into the hands of Joseph Georges and Alexandre Fissiaux, who ceased operations in 1809.

The rebirth of Leffe beers

At the beginning of the 20^th century, several French Norbertine monks arrived in Dinant. They rebuilt the church and the abbey. After the First World War, part of the community returned to France. When a fire partially destroyed the Abbey of Tongerlo in 1929, the monks from the Campine region sought refuge in Dinant—some temporarily, others permanently.

In 1952, the abbot at the time, Cyriel Nijs, signed an agreement with brewer Albert Lootvoet from Overijse. From then on, Lootvoet produced abbey beer under the name Leffe. Barely two years later, the Artois Brewery of Leuven became the main shareholder of Lootvoet. In 1988, Artois merged with Piedboeuf Brewery to form Interbrew, the predecessor of today’s global brewing group AB InBev.

From 1977 to 1997, the Grade Brewery in Mont-Saint-Guibert produced the Leffe beers. Production then moved further north to the Stella Artois brewery in Leuven. Today, almost 800 years after the first brew, the extensive range of Leffe beers is still produced, now by AB InBev.

The complete range of Leffe beers

Under the Leffe name, seven beers are marketed: two world-renowned abbey beers, two alcohol-free variants, two seasonal beers and one tripel.

• Leffe Blond is a refined blond beer with fruity and spicy aromas, a gentle bitterness and notes of vanilla and clove. With its full flavour and elegant balance, it is an ideal tasting beer that pairs perfectly with abbey cheese, scallops or crème brûlée.
• Leffe Brune is a brown beer with roasted aromas, a lightly caramelised taste and a subtle bitterness. Its rich, creamy character makes it an excellent companion for a wide variety of dishes, from abbey cheese to grilled red meat or rabbit.
• Leffe Tripel is a powerful blond abbey beer with secondary fermentation in the bottle, characterised by a rich, spicy flavour and vibrant aromas of coriander and orange. Thanks to its pronounced character, this tripel pairs beautifully with cheeses, white meats, grilled dishes and buttery desserts.
• Leffe Zomer is a flavourful and refreshing blond beer with fruity aromas, gentle bitterness and a light spicy touch. Its balanced character and fresh finish make it a perfect thirst-quencher on warm days.
• Leffe Winter is a warm and characterful winter beer with spicy aromas and a rich caramel taste, rounded off with a hint of citrus. Ideal for cold days and perfectly suited to hearty dishes such as duck, stew or a rich chocolate dessert.
• Leffe Blond 0.0% is an alcohol-free abbey beer with fruity and spicy aromas, a soft malt base and subtle notes of vanilla and clove. Its refined character and harmonious taste make it a versatile pairing at the table.
• Leffe Brune 0.0% offers the same rich flavour experience as the original abbey beer, with a dark-brown colour and a soft, caramelised character—just without alcohol. With its roasted aromas and creamy finish, it pairs wonderfully with savoury dishes such as grilled meat, rabbit or spiced vegetables.

Other popular Leffe beers include the fruit beer Leffe Ruby, the extra-hopped Leffe Rituel 9, and the Belgian strong ale Leffe Prestige 1240.

Buy Leffe beers in our webshop

In the wide assortment of more than 1,600 Belgian beers available at Belgian Beer Heaven, the Leffe abbey beers naturally have a special place. Let yourself be enchanted by meticulously selected ingredients and heavenly flavours. Choose your beer above, order easily online and enjoy these benefits:

• ✔ Free collection or fast delivery
• ✔ Order before noon, shipped the next working day
• ✔ Compact and sturdy packaging with insurance against glass breakage

Not sure which one to choose, or looking for a great gift? Then go for a Heavenly Selection beer box with only Leffe beers, a Discover Leffe selection or the Heavenly Wooden Gift Box. In our webshop, you will also find the matching beer glasses. Even a 6-litre keg of Leffe Blond is available.