Ter Dolen
Ter Dolen is a castle brewery in Houthalen-Helchteren, in Limburg. On the castle grounds they brew abbey beers in classic Belgian styles: blond, tripel, dark, kriek and witbier. They also make Armand, a dry-hopped, unfiltered blond with Cascade hops.
- LocationHouthalen-Helchteren, Vlaams Gewest
- TypeMicrobrewery
- Untappd 3.52 · 184k ratings
- At Hoptimaal3 in stock · 5 in total
In stock now 3
Previously at Hoptimaal 2
Sold out. If a new batch is coming, you can ask for a heads-up on the product page.
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A castle with medieval roots
Ter Dolen is in Houthalen-Helchteren, just north of Hasselt. The castle dates from the sixteenth century, but its origins lie in the Middle Ages. Among other things, it served as a summer residence for the abbots of the abbey of Sint-Truiden, and up to the fifteenth century it was destroyed and rebuilt several times.
Mieke Desplenter bought the castle in 1993 with the plan to start a brewery on the grounds. She comes from a Belgian brewing family. With her parents' support she was able to buy the property, and within a year the brewery was up and running. The interest was greater than expected, partly because the castle and grounds had long been closed to the public. The planned small terrace therefore became a large terrace.
Abbey beer instead of pilsner
Inspired by the history of the castle, Mieke chose abbey beers. Ter Dolen Blond was the first beer and for the first few months the only one. Other classic Belgian styles followed in the regular range: a tripel, a dark beer, a kriek and later a witbier.
In 2011 came a less traditional beer: Ter Dolen Armand, a dry-hopped, unfiltered blond with the American Cascade hop, which gives a distinct citrus flavour. The beer is a tribute to Mieke's father, Armand Desplenter. It was meant as a one-off tribute, but it became so popular that it got a permanent place in the range.
At the brewery itself there is a taproom with snacks and a large terrace. Tours are held at weekends and on public holidays.
Ter Dolen at Hoptimaal
At Hoptimaal you'll find Ter Dolen in 33 cl. The range runs from tripel and blond to witbier and a brown beer, with alcohol percentages between 5.1 and 9.1 percent. On Untappd, the Tripel, Blond, Donker and Wit, among others, are rated highly.
Drink the lighter beers, such as the blond and the witbier, fresh and well chilled. The tripel has more body and comes into its own when you pour it a little less cold. The same goes for the dark beers and the stronger ones: take your time and don't drink them ice cold. The range changes, so check the brand page to see what's in stock now.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Ter Dolen come from?
Ter Dolen comes from Houthalen-Helchteren, just north of Hasselt in Limburg, Belgium. The brewery is on the grounds of the castle of the same name, which Mieke Desplenter bought in 1993.
What kind of beer does Ter Dolen make?
Ter Dolen makes abbey beers in classic Belgian styles, such as blond, tripel, dark, kriek and witbier. There is also Armand, a dry-hopped, unfiltered blond with Cascade hops.
Can you visit the Ter Dolen brewery?
Yes, tours are held at weekends and on public holidays. There is also a large taproom with snacks and a terrace on the castle grounds.
