Abbaye D'Aulne
The history of Aulne Abbey
According to legend, the repentant highwayman Landelinus founded Aulne Abbey in 637 on the wooded banks of the Sambre. The name refers to the alder trees (French: aulnes) that probably grew there in large numbers at the time. In the following centuries, the Cistercian abbey was plundered by the Normans, the French, and the Geuzen. At the same time, there were periods of prosperity with an overflowing library and magnificent buildings.
The monks brewed two types of beer, a strong one and a light one. In 1752, a fire destroyed the brewery, which was rebuilt in 1796. Around 1850, the abbey's brewing activities came to an end for good. Today, the ruins and restored buildings are the tourist attraction of Gozée, a district of the Walloon city of Thuin, just 20 minutes from Charleroi.
The return of Aulne abbey beer
Today, the sacred silence of Aulne Abbey is only interrupted by brewers. In the restored old stables from the 18th century, abbey beer has once again been flowing from the tanks since the start of this century.
The comeback of Abbaye d’Aulne beer actually dates back to 1954. Merchant François Leveau from Marchienne-au-Pont, a suburb of Charleroi, registered the brand and ownership and began brewing in Dinant. Production later moved to Bavery Brewery in Couillet, De Smedt Brewery in Opwijk (which later became Affligem Brewery), and Amis Réunis Brewery in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux in France.
More than just Abbaye d’Aulne beer
In 1998, Leveau Brewery decided to use the Cistercian ruins of Aulne Abbey to reproduce the beers according to centuries-old recipes. The restored stables turned out to be ideally suited for this. Today, Abbaye d’Aulne is one of the few breweries within the walls of a non-Trappist abbey.
The popularity of the recognized abbey beers became so great that the brewing capacity at the abbey was no longer sufficient. That is why in 2019, the modern, fully autonomous Brasserie Val de Sambre was opened on the industrial estate in Thuin-Lobbes, just 20 minutes’ drive from the abbey. Here, the 5 regular varieties and 2 seasonal beers (a Christmas beer and a summer beer) of Abbaye d’Aulne are produced according to monastic traditions, alongside organic beers, fruit beers and Sambrée, in honor of the 350th anniversary of Charleroi. Brasserie Val de Sambre has a total annual brewing capacity of 50,000 hectoliters.
