Trappist Dubbel
Brouwerij Westmalle


- From:
- Brouwerij Westmalle
- Belgium
- Style:
- Belgian Dubbel
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #3,993 - Avg:
- 4.18 | pDev: 10.05%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1,362
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 05, 2026
- Added:
- Nov 25, 2000
- Wants:
- 255
- Gots:
- 632
Westmalle Dubbel (7%) is a dark red-brown beer with a rich, complex taste thanks to re-fermentation in the bottle. You pick up touches of caramel, malt and fruity esters reminiscent of ripe banana. The beer pearls beneath a covering of dense, cream-coloured froth. A lovely lace pattern forms on the inside of the glass once emptied. The long, dry finish of this balanced, mild Trappist beer will stay with you.
Trappist or Dubbel?
In 1865 the monks of Westmalle started brewing a dark Trappist beer in addition to their table beer. They adjusted the recipe in 1926, doubling the amounts of raw ingredients to produce a new, stronger beer. Dubbel is a logical name for this doubled beer, though it is more often simply called ‘Trappist’. To this day, the 1926 recipe is the basis for Westmalle Dubbel.
Westmalle Dubbel: bottle and tap
We are all familiar with Westmalle Dubbel in 33 cl bottles. But around 150 carefully selected Belgian cafés and restaurants serve this beer on tap from barrels containing 20, 30 and 50 litres. In the barrel, this living beer evolves differently to emerge with a slightly sweeter taste.
Westmalle Dubbel can also be purchased in 75 cl bottles. The beer matures in a different way in a larger bottle to produce a noticeably milder finish.
Trappist or Dubbel?
In 1865 the monks of Westmalle started brewing a dark Trappist beer in addition to their table beer. They adjusted the recipe in 1926, doubling the amounts of raw ingredients to produce a new, stronger beer. Dubbel is a logical name for this doubled beer, though it is more often simply called ‘Trappist’. To this day, the 1926 recipe is the basis for Westmalle Dubbel.
Westmalle Dubbel: bottle and tap
We are all familiar with Westmalle Dubbel in 33 cl bottles. But around 150 carefully selected Belgian cafés and restaurants serve this beer on tap from barrels containing 20, 30 and 50 litres. In the barrel, this living beer evolves differently to emerge with a slightly sweeter taste.
Westmalle Dubbel can also be purchased in 75 cl bottles. The beer matures in a different way in a larger bottle to produce a noticeably milder finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SLeffler27:
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York
4.32/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.32/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
SRM 17 (dark copper) and clear until yeast enters the Westmalle chalice. A thin beige head is short lived, leaving fine lace in its wake while some yeast is left in suspension.
Rich with sweet malt and dark fruits. Raisin, fig, plum, and cherry notes are elevated by candy sugar. Warmth brings out a light perfume.
Delicate flavors follow the nose. Sweet and bitter flavors oscillate with bitter winning out in a long, modest finish. The notes of subtle, caramelized sugar accentuate the complexity of flavors.
This beer is lush with a satin texture and medium body. Alcohol is as expected, as is the fine, high level of carbonation. It tends to dry out in the finish.
This is a good contemplative beer when one has time after a long, frenetic few days. While excellent on its own, it stands up nicely to a smoked Gouda.
Jul 19, 2015Rich with sweet malt and dark fruits. Raisin, fig, plum, and cherry notes are elevated by candy sugar. Warmth brings out a light perfume.
Delicate flavors follow the nose. Sweet and bitter flavors oscillate with bitter winning out in a long, modest finish. The notes of subtle, caramelized sugar accentuate the complexity of flavors.
This beer is lush with a satin texture and medium body. Alcohol is as expected, as is the fine, high level of carbonation. It tends to dry out in the finish.
This is a good contemplative beer when one has time after a long, frenetic few days. While excellent on its own, it stands up nicely to a smoked Gouda.
More User Ratings:
Rated by CoasterRider from Washington
4.45/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
The description of this beer says it all. Really good Dubbel and like all German beers are very good. BOD 5-28-2024 BB 5-28-2026
Apr 20, 2026Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.92/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Copenhagen 28/5 2015. 33 cl bottle from Gunnar Madsen Vinhandel, Østerbrogade, Kbh. Ø. Simple brown label with Westmalle's red logo and the name of beer and brewery in white letters.
Pours clear dark brown with a big off-white head. Stable. Head subsides to thin lacing after a couple of minutes. Stretching to cover the surface of the beer. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is of dark malts, dark fruit and alcohol. Sweet caramel and toffee. Hint of brown sugar. Yeasty scent of humid cellar. Plum and raisins.
Medium strong carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft yet tingling texture.
Flavor is tinged with alcohol and bitterness. Some subdued sweetness for balance. A bit of burnt bread in the aftertaste.
Fine dark Belgian specimen with more rough edges than many of its industrial cousins.
Mar 20, 2026Pours clear dark brown with a big off-white head. Stable. Head subsides to thin lacing after a couple of minutes. Stretching to cover the surface of the beer. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is of dark malts, dark fruit and alcohol. Sweet caramel and toffee. Hint of brown sugar. Yeasty scent of humid cellar. Plum and raisins.
Medium strong carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, soft yet tingling texture.
Flavor is tinged with alcohol and bitterness. Some subdued sweetness for balance. A bit of burnt bread in the aftertaste.
Fine dark Belgian specimen with more rough edges than many of its industrial cousins.
Reviewed by cttreehousefan from Connecticut
4.65/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.65/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Poured from a 11.2 oz bottle with a packaging date of Feb 19 2025, best by Feb 19 2027. Poured into a Chimay goblet.
Dark brown liquid, above is a pillowy tan head, one inch in the glass with another half inch rising above the rim. Amazing sheets of lacing left on the glass.
Aromas of dark bread, figs, raisins, plums, some malt sweetness.
Flavors of dark bread similar to marble rye, toffee and spiced candy, dark fruits, some mild hop bitterness is there in the finish to dry the palate.
Medium body, with a bit of slickness. The flavors remain on the palate well past the finish.
This is, hands-down, my favorite Dubbel ale. A delicious spiced sweet bread in the glass.
Mar 19, 2026Dark brown liquid, above is a pillowy tan head, one inch in the glass with another half inch rising above the rim. Amazing sheets of lacing left on the glass.
Aromas of dark bread, figs, raisins, plums, some malt sweetness.
Flavors of dark bread similar to marble rye, toffee and spiced candy, dark fruits, some mild hop bitterness is there in the finish to dry the palate.
Medium body, with a bit of slickness. The flavors remain on the palate well past the finish.
This is, hands-down, my favorite Dubbel ale. A delicious spiced sweet bread in the glass.
Reviewed by Some_Beer_Sometimes from California
4.66/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.66/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
From the foam alone I taste the true king. Rich, velvety caramel, molasses, and cassis. Subtle rose and general floral notes. No watery nonsense. Sweet Concord grape and dark berries. Brown bread and subtle cinnamon. Creamy. It’s mostly dark fruit, flowers, and cream. It’s luxurious and fantastic. The true king, Westmalle.
Feb 02, 2026Rated by jtaylor629 from Canada (AB)
4.57/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.57/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Delicious beer! I understand why Belgian beers are considered premier.
Jan 19, 2026Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio
4.13/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into a goblet from a 11.2 ounce bottle well within its date range.
Look: Opaque brown with a massive tan head that required multiple pourings to empty the bottle. Pretty good head retention, and sufficient lacing.
Nose: Both fresh and dried stone fruit, a bit of alcohol, and a hint of floral.
Taste: The attack follows the nose at first, and is then well supported by underlying malt. The finish has just a hint of bitterness until the aftertaste, when it strengthens a bit more.
Mouthfeel: Medium thick — just a little too highly carbonated for my taste.
Overall: Of course, an excellent dubbel. The level of carbonation, however, seems to unfortunately cover over some of the flavor, which — if it were permitted to come through more — would be simply exceptional. It is a very good pairing with the grilled tuna we're having for dinner.
Jan 18, 2026Look: Opaque brown with a massive tan head that required multiple pourings to empty the bottle. Pretty good head retention, and sufficient lacing.
Nose: Both fresh and dried stone fruit, a bit of alcohol, and a hint of floral.
Taste: The attack follows the nose at first, and is then well supported by underlying malt. The finish has just a hint of bitterness until the aftertaste, when it strengthens a bit more.
Mouthfeel: Medium thick — just a little too highly carbonated for my taste.
Overall: Of course, an excellent dubbel. The level of carbonation, however, seems to unfortunately cover over some of the flavor, which — if it were permitted to come through more — would be simply exceptional. It is a very good pairing with the grilled tuna we're having for dinner.
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)
4.3/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
330 cc bottle. Bottled May 7/24, best before May 7/26.
Pours a moderately dark brown with some red undertones; finger of tight bubbly tan head, moderate lacing.
Aroma of roasty and slightly bready caramel malt, dark fruits - dates, raisins, plums with just a hint of banana.
Sweet caramel malt on the palate - dark fruits with plummy notes, raisin, some brown sugar and just a little herbal bitterness.
Medium leaning to full mouthfeel, creamy with moderate carbonation and a lingering caramelly, fruity ester note.
Jan 02, 2026Pours a moderately dark brown with some red undertones; finger of tight bubbly tan head, moderate lacing.
Aroma of roasty and slightly bready caramel malt, dark fruits - dates, raisins, plums with just a hint of banana.
Sweet caramel malt on the palate - dark fruits with plummy notes, raisin, some brown sugar and just a little herbal bitterness.
Medium leaning to full mouthfeel, creamy with moderate carbonation and a lingering caramelly, fruity ester note.
Reviewed by Spankyrightus from Maryland
3.93/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A bottle poured into a snifter.
The color is opaque Mahogany. A decent head initially, but leaves no lacing.
Dark copper brown caramelized malt, hints of the Belgian yeast fruitiness, that come through in soft banana hints, cordial cherry and raisin notes. Faint tea and cocoa flavors, mild bitterness.
An enjoyable Belgian that’s not overly boozy.
Dec 13, 2025The color is opaque Mahogany. A decent head initially, but leaves no lacing.
Dark copper brown caramelized malt, hints of the Belgian yeast fruitiness, that come through in soft banana hints, cordial cherry and raisin notes. Faint tea and cocoa flavors, mild bitterness.
An enjoyable Belgian that’s not overly boozy.
Rated by jrmills20 from Minnesota
3.75/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A very good dubbel. Slightly sweet, with distinct caramel and banana. Mouthfeel a bit thin, but a solid tasting beer.
Nov 11, 2025Rated by JMB_NYC from New York
5/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Deus ex Machina, the a special Belgian beer that’s double the pleasure.
Oct 25, 2025
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