Green's Dubbel Dark Ale 4Pk

Green's Dubbel Dark Ale 4Pk is a gluten-free Belgian-style dubbel brewed at 7.0% ABV, sold as a four-pack of 330ml bottles. Recognized as the world's first dubbel made entirely without barley, it earned a 92-point rating from The Beer Connoisseur, judged under BJCP Category 31A (Alternative Grain Beer).

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.0%  |  Origin: Lochristi, Belgium  |  Style: Belgian Dubbel (Gluten-Free)  |  Brewery: De Proefbrouwerij (contract brewed for Green's, UK)

Production & Heritage

Green's Dubbel Dark Ale is contract brewed at De Proefbrouwerij, a respected Belgian brewery in Lochristi known for its work with specialty and experimental recipes. Unlike many gluten-free beers that start with barley and use enzymes to strip out gluten proteins, Green's builds its grain bill from the ground up using millet, buckwheat (soba), brown rice, and sorghum — making the beer naturally gluten-free rather than gluten-removed. This approach distinguishes it from the vast majority of gluten-free ales on the market and marks it as the first dubbel-style beer ever produced without barley.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Brown sugar and dried cherry lead, followed by a traditional Belgian yeast bouquet and subtle earthy undertones. A faint spiciness emerges as the glass warms.

Taste: The entry is mildly sweet, with layers of plum, fig, and brown sugar unfolding across the mid-palate. Toasted malt character and earthy grain notes from the buckwheat and millet add complexity, while the beer finishes drier than expected given the sweetness on entry — a sign of thorough attenuation.

Finish: Medium in length with a clean, spicy close and lingering hints of dried fruit. The moderate carbonation lifts the finish and keeps the 7.0% ABV from feeling heavy.

How to Drink Green's Dubbel

Serve at cellar temperature (50–55°F) in a wide-bowled goblet or tulip glass to release the Belgian yeast aromatics. This dubbel works well on its own as a sipping beer given its layered complexity. For food-forward occasions, try it alongside a Belgian-style Carbonnade (beef stew braised in dark ale), where the brown sugar and dried fruit character echoes the dish's caramelized onions. It also pairs naturally with a cheese board featuring aged Gouda, whose butterscotch notes complement the toffee in the beer. A Shandy variation using tart cherry juice and a half-pour of the Dubbel makes a surprisingly refreshing warm-weather option that preserves the dark fruit profile.

Best For

• Anyone following a strict gluten-free diet who misses traditional Belgian abbey-style ales
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity
• Hosting a Belgian beer tasting with an inclusive lineup that accommodates dietary restrictions
• Pairing with fall and winter comfort foods like stews, roasted meats, and aged cheeses

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Green's Dubbel taste like? Green's Dubbel delivers dark fruit flavors — plum and fig — layered with brown sugar, toffee, and earthy grain notes, finishing spicy and clean with moderate sweetness.

How does Green's Dubbel compare to Estrella Damm Daura? Estrella Damm Daura is a lighter lager-style beer made from barley with gluten removed enzymatically, while Green's Dubbel is a richer, higher-ABV abbey-style ale brewed entirely from gluten-free grains. The two occupy very different style categories, with Green's offering significantly more body, complexity, and dark fruit character.

Is Green's Dubbel good for sipping neat? Yes — at 7.0% ABV with layered tasting notes and Belgian yeast complexity, it rewards slow, contemplative drinking from a proper goblet at cellar temperature.

Where is Green's Dubbel made? Green's Dubbel Dark Ale is brewed at De Proefbrouwerij in Lochristi, a town in the East Flanders province of Belgium, under contract for Green's, a UK-based gluten-free beer brand.

What foods pair well with Green's Dubbel? Aged Gouda and Gruyère complement its toffee and brown sugar notes. Braised short ribs or beef Carbonnade mirror its dark fruit character. Roasted root vegetables bring out the earthy grain flavors. Dark chocolate truffles or a fig tart make strong dessert pairings.

What sizes does Green's Dubbel come in? Green's Dubbel Dark Ale is commonly available in a four-pack of 330ml (11.2 oz) bottles.

Is Green's Dubbel worth the price? Green's Dubbel positions as a premium specialty beer within the gluten-free segment, and its pricing reflects both the Belgian contract brewing and the use of four distinct alternative grains. For drinkers who require a naturally gluten-free product, it represents one of the very few options in a traditional Belgian dubbel style.

Why Green's Dubbel?

No other brewery has successfully replicated a Belgian dubbel using an entirely barley-free grain bill of millet, buckwheat, brown rice, and sorghum. That distinction alone earned Green's Dubbel a 92-point score from The Beer Connoisseur — a rating that speaks to genuine quality, not just novelty. The decision to brew at De Proefbrouwerij, a facility with deep experience in experimental Belgian styles, ensures the yeast character and fermentation profile hold up against conventional dubbels. For anyone navigating celiac disease or gluten intolerance, this is not a compromise beer — it is a legitimate entry in the Belgian abbey tradition.