Brasserie du Val de Sambre

Brasserie du Val de Sambre, also known as Brasserie de l'Abbaye d'Aulne, is a Belgian brewery located in Gozée, part of the municipality of Thuin in Hainaut, Wallonia. The brewery traces its heritage to the Cistercian Abbey of Aulne, where monks brewed beer from the Middle Ages until brewing ceased before 1850. Brewing on the abbey ruins site resumed in June 2000, using restored 18th-century stables. The brewery produces recognised abbey beers under the Abbaye d'Aulne brand, as well as Heylissem abbey beers and Blanche de Charleroi. In 2014 the brewery was acquired by a Spanish brewing group, which drove expansion including a production site in Ghent and a new unit in Thuin approved in 2017, capable of producing 20,000 hectolitres per year on a 3,000 m² site. Its beers are particularly appreciated in China, though exports were severely affected in 2020 when they represented 40% of total production. The official website domain valdesambre.be is currently listed for sale, indicating a possible change in the brand's online presence.

The brewing tradition of Brasserie du Val de Sambre is tied to the Cistercian Abbey of Aulne, where monks brewed two types of beer since the Middle Ages. In 1752 a fire destroyed the brewery, which was rebuilt in 1796. However, before 1850 the abbey's brewing activities had completely ceased. Brewing resumed on the abbey ruins site in June 2000, specifically in the restored 18th-century stables that had been renovated from 1998. The brewery is sometimes called Brasserie de l'Abbaye d'Aulne due to its initial location within part of the abbey. In 2014 the brewery was acquired by a Spanish brewing group. This acquisition spurred expansion: production was exported to a site in Ghent, and in 2017 the brewery received a favourable opinion for an extension in Thuin. The new unit allows a production of 20,000 hectolitres per year on a 3,000 m² site. The expansion since the Spanish takeover has been described as a transition 'from microbrewery to Walloon-Spanish war machine'. The brewery's recipes are inspired by those dating back to 1555 from the abbey's brews until 1850. It produces recognised abbey beers under the Abbaye d'Aulne brand (sometimes called ADA), as well as Blanche de Charleroi. It also produces beers referencing the Abbey of Heylissem, which are abbey beers but cannot bear the recognised abbey beer logo. It also brews a cherry beer called La Chérie. According to the brewer, the fundamental ingredient is water drawn from a water table 70 metres deep. The brewery's products are particularly appreciated in China, but these exports were slowed in 2020 to a critical point, as they represented 40% of the brewery's total production.

• 2020

  Exports to China slowed critically, representing 40% of total production.

• 2017

  Received favourable opinion for an extension in Thuin, enabling 20,000 hl/year production.

• 2014

  The brewery was acquired by a Spanish brewing group.

• 2000

  Brewing resumed on the abbey ruins site in June.

• 1998

  Restoration of the 18th-century stables began.

• 1850

  Brewing activities at the abbey had completely ceased.

• 1796

  The brewery was rebuilt.

• 1752

  Fire destroyed the abbey brewery.

Belgian abbey beer brewery with roots in Cistercian brewing tradition, producing recognised abbey beers and regional specialties.

• Abbaye d'Aulne

  Recognised abbey beer brand available in six varieties.

• Blanche de Charleroi

  Wheat beer at 5% ABV.

• Heylissem Blonde

  Abbey beer at 6.3% ABV.

• Heylissem Brune

  Abbey beer at 6.3% ABV.

• Heylissem Triple Blonde

  Abbey beer at 8% ABV.

• Heylissem Triple Brune

  Abbey beer at 8% ABV.

• La Chérie

  Cherry beer at 3.5% ABV.

• Sambrée

  Beer at 6.5% ABV.

1. 1Dovendi - Domain for salevaldesambre.be
2. 2Brasserie du Val de Sambre - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Brasserie de l'Abbaye d'Aulne - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org