GRIMBERGEN — A light, fruity blond beer crafted by a 45-year-old site coordinator from East Flanders has been selected as the winner of Grimbergen Abbey’s prestigious home brewing competition.
Bjorn Sorel, from the village of Overmere, claimed the top prize on Tuesday at the historic abbey, marking a remarkable achievement just three years after he began brewing.
Sorel’s creation—a “fresh-fruity” blond ale—was declared the Grimbergen Cuvée 2025 following a final tasting event held inside the abbey church.
The event marked the conclusion of the second edition of the competition, which was launched by the abbey to celebrate and engage with Belgium’s rich home-brewing tradition.
“I still can’t believe it. It’s somewhat surreal,” Sorel said after the announcement. “To brew something in my kitchen and have it chosen by such a distinguished panel, in such a place—it’s a dream come true.”
This year’s challenge called for a blond beer with an alcohol content between 3.5% and 5.5%, specifically designed to complement a traditional Belgian stew.
A professional jury, which included Grimbergen Abbey sub-prior and procurator Karel Stautemas, reviewed 77 entries from across the country before selecting Sorel and two other finalists.
The finalists were then invited to the Grimbergen Abbey Brewery, located on the outskirts of Brussels, to fine-tune their recipes under the guidance of the abbey’s head brewer. The final taste test, which combined expert judging and public voting, gave Sorel’s beer the edge.
The winning beer, now dubbed Grimbergen Cuvée 2025, will not be just a symbolic honour. The abbey, in collaboration with Alken-Maes—the brewery responsible for Grimbergen’s production and distribution in Belgium—announced plans to release the beer to the public at the end of August.
Initially, the beer will be available in limited quantities through two major Belgian retailers and approximately 100 hospitality venues across the country. It is expected to be a seasonal highlight for Grimbergen fans and food enthusiasts alike.
Grimbergen Abbey’s return to brewing in 2021 came after a two-century hiatus. The monks established a microbrewery within the abbey complex, reviving a centuries-old tradition that had ceased in the late 18th century.
The microbrewery has an annual capacity of around 10,000 hectolitres and focuses on small-batch and specialty brews.
Larger-scale production of Grimbergen’s core varieties, such as Blond, Dubbel, and Tripel, continues in Alken by Alken-Maes. For international markets, the beers are brewed under license by Carlsberg in Denmark.
Sub-prior Karel Stautemas, himself a qualified brewer, said the competition aims to blend monastic tradition with contemporary creativity. “We believe in sharing the joy of brewing. This initiative brings the community closer to our heritage while inspiring a new generation of brewers,” he said.
With his beer now set to reach consumers nationwide, Sorel joins a unique lineage of brewers connected to one of Belgium’s most storied abbeys—proof that even a kitchen hobby can turn into a legacy.
