Paix Dieu is brewed only one night a month. It’s a Cistercian tradition that Caulier has brought back to life—with surprising results.
Every month, when the moon is full, the lights at the Caulier brewery stay on all night. In Péruwelz, this time is used to brew Paix Dieu, an abbey beer whose aromas of malt and hops waft from the brew as it is being prepared.
This ritual is not a marketing gimmick. It has its roots in a very real practice. The Abbaye de la Paix Dieu, a former Cistercian abbey founded in Amay in the 13th century, has entrusted the brewing of its beer to the Caulier Brewery. Since the lunar calendar played an important role in monastic life at the time, the beer is brewed only once a month, on full moon nights.
But beyond the symbolism, Roger Caulier sees a real impact on the product. According to him, the advantage of brewing during the full moon is that fermentation is better, which gives the beverage a different taste. A claim that may make chemists smile, but one based on empirical observations the brewery has accumulated over the years.
The result of this unique monthly brewing? A vintage-style beer, with labels that change every month, served in a distinctive beveled glass evoking the phases of the moon. Each bottle is, in a way, a limited edition.
Blending Cistercian heritage with contemporary expertise, La Paix Dieu has found in the moon much more than just a marketing gimmick—it has become a brewing philosophy in its own right.
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