St. Bernardus x Weihenstephan Kombine Helles 11.2 oz bottle

Helles Lager (Unfiltered)

Kombine 2025 (ABV 6%) is a groundbreaking collaboration between the iconic Belgian brewery St. Bernardus and the world’s oldest brewery, Weihenstephan. This unfiltered, full-bodied blond lager marks a series of firsts for St. Bernardus: it’s their debut bottom-fermented beer, and the first not to undergo bottle fermentation. Brewed in strict accordance with the German Reinheitsgebot, this lager unites Belgian innovation with centuries-old German purity laws.

Crafted with Weihenstephan’s proprietary yeast and a curated blend of hops from both breweries, Kombine 2025 presents a subtle hoppy aroma with a soft, rounded malt body. Its hazy golden appearance stands in contrast to the traditional crystal-clear Helles style, creating a playful oxymoron that nods to both tradition and experimentation.

The label artwork, designed by Belgian illustrator Xavier Truant, features St. Bernardus alongside Saint Korbinian, founder of Weihenstephan—continuing the visual narrative introduced with their previous collaboration, Braupakt.

Food Pairings:
Bratwurst with sauerkraut, mild Alpine cheeses, herb-roasted chicken

Brewery Information:

The St. Bernardus Brewery was founded in 1946 by Evarist Deconinck. When the Trappist monks of the St. Sixtus Monastery in Westvleteren, Belgium decided that brewing and promotional efforts had become a serious distraction from religious and contemplative activities, they granted Deconinck a license to brew and distribute Trappistine beers based on the monastery's recipe.

That arrangement continued for decades, but in 1992, when it was decreed that only beers brewed within the walls of a monastery under direct control of the monks could be called Trappist beers, St. Bernardus launched its own brand of abbey beers to huge success.

Today, the brewery distributes award winning ales to more than two dozen countries including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia and Japan.

Perched atop the Weihenstephan Hill in Bavaria, Germany, Weihenstephan Brewery holds the distinguished title of the world’s oldest still-operating brewery, with roots tracing back nearly a thousand years to the founding of the Weihenstephan Monastery. Today, it stands at the heart of a unique fusion of tradition and innovation, surrounded by the Weihenstephan Science Center of the Technical University of Munich. This setting allows the brewery to seamlessly blend centuries-old brewing heritage with cutting-edge scientific research, ensuring each beer is crafted with both historical reverence and modern precision.

Despite dramatic changes in the world around it, Weihenstephan has remained steadfast in its commitment to quality and authenticity. While modern brewing technology plays a role in enhancing consistency and efficiency, the brewery remains true to the fundamental principles of brewing that have guided it since the Middle Ages. This deep respect for history, combined with an ongoing pursuit of excellence, continues to shape Weihenstephan’s diverse range of beers—each one a living testament to the legacy of monastic craftsmanship and the enduring spirit of German brewing tradition.