Leffe
{{short description|Beer brand}}
{{about|the beer brand|the Italian commune|Leffe, Lombardy}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{infobox beverage
| name = Leffe
| image = Leffe (Beer).png
| image_size = 140px
| type = Beer
| abv =
| proof =
| manufacturer = InBev Belgium
| distributor = Anheuser–Busch InBev
| origin = Belgium
| introduced = {{start date and age|1952}}
| discontinued =
| colour =
| flavour =
| variants =
| related =
| website = {{URL|http://www.leffe.com}}
}}
Leffe ({{IPAc-en|l|ɛ|f}}; {{IPA|nl|ˈlɛfə|lang}}) is a beer brand owned by InBev Belgium, the European operating arm of the global Anheuser–Busch InBev brewery giant. There are several beers in the range, and they are marketed as abbey beers. They are brewed in large quantities and are widely distributed.
History
The abbey of Leffe was founded in 1152 on the river Meuse in the province of Namur in southern Belgium. Like many monasteries across Europe, the Premonstratensian (Norbertine) canons of the {{ill|Notre-Dame de Leffe abbey|fr|Abbaye Notre-Dame de Leffe}} brewed ale, starting in 1240.{{Cite web|url=https://leffe.com/en/history|title=History | Leffe|website=Leffe.com|access-date=2016-08-27}}File:Leffe-building.jpgThe abbey has been damaged by both natural and human circumstances over the years: the Meuse river flooded the brewery in 1460, and six years later a fire damaged the abbey, but by the 17th century it prospered. The brewery was confiscated by the state in 1796, and in 1809, after making beer only in limited quantities, it was closed. The old kettles were melted down for the weapons industry during World War 1.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ga4MYyZq-RMC&pg=PA544 |page=544 |title=The Oxford Companion to Beer |editor1-first=Garrett |editor1-last=Oliver |first=Ben |last=Keene |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-19-536713-3}}
The production of beer was resumed in 1952 when Father Abbot Nys, helped by brewer Albert Lootvoet, brought a brown ale to market. The brewery was later bought by the international beer company Interbrew (now AB InBev). Leffe was then brewed in Mont-Saint-Guibert until Interbrew closed that brewery.{{cn|date=October 2023}} Now Leffe brands are brewed at the Stella Artois brewery in Leuven, as well as under licence{{snd}}and at reduced strength{{snd}}in the UK.{{cite web |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/ab-inbev-lowers-leffe-abv-to-better-suit-uk-drinkers/685357.article |title=AB InBev lowers Leffe abv to 'better suit' UK drinkers |last=Beeson |first=James |date=15 November 2023 |website=The Grocer |publisher=William Reed Ltd |access-date=26 November 2024 |quote=The alcohol by volume (abv) for Leffe had decreased from 6.6% to 6% abv...UK-brewed Leffe is now being made at AB InBev’s breweries in Lancashire and south Wales}} {{As of|2012}}, there were five top-fermented brands made under the Leffe brand. Royalties are paid to the abbey.
The Leffe museum in the town of Dinant, known as {{ill|Maison Leffe|qid=Q116698308|s=1|v=sup}}, is open to visitors.{{Cite book|last1=Verdonck|first1=Erik|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tpb8CwAAQBAJ&q=%22Maison+Leffe%22&pg=PT986|title=Het Belgisch bierboek|last2=Raedemaeker|first2=Luc De|date=2016-09-15|publisher=Lannoo Meulenhoff |location=Tielt |isbn=978-94-014-3651-9|language=nl}}{{Cite web|title=Leffe {{!}} Maison Leffe|url=https://leffe.com/en/maison-leffe|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Leffe.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.leffe.com Official website]
- [http://www.abbaye-de-leffe.be/ Notre Dame de Leffe Abbey]
{{Anheuser–Busch InBev}}