The history of the Corsendonk Brewery dates back to the early Middle Ages.From its foundation in1398 the Priory of Corsendonk comprised a rather important brewery and malt-house.This can be seen on the plate by Lucas Vosterman from 1569,which was included in Sanderus Corographia Sacra Brabantiae. One can clearly see the windmills, the granary, the malt-house next to it.The water-well haw the typical lever to raise water.From here the water runs to the brewery’s kettle via a wooden chute.
In 1784 the Austrian Emperor Josef II ordered that the monastery and the brewery had to be closed.
From 1906 onwards the brewing tradition of Old Turnhout was continued by Antonius Keersmaekers and in his brewery the famous Pater beer was brewed. It was particularly from 1982 onwards that Corsendonk beer became famous. The beer itself and the bottles were made a registered trademark. The simplicity of the design of the bottles recalls the early Middle Ages. Corsendonk beer requires two fermentations. The first fermentation takes place in the fermentations tubs of the brewery and the second takes place in the bottles themselves.When the beer is bottled, a small amount of beer yeast is added to each bottle, which can be seen on the bottom of the bottle. The filled bottles are then stored for three weeks in a warm dark room at 22 C. Now the Corsendonk can be sold while the fermentation process slowly continues before consumption. Corsendonk beer is at its after having been stored for three months in the bottle.
Corsendonk Pater is a mellow dark beer of high fermentation, matured in the bottle to become a sprightly beer with a fruity bouquet and malty aftertaste. Corsendonk Agnus is a full-bodied lager of high fermentation which is also ripened in the bottle with yeast added to obtain a sprightly beer with herby bouquet and hoppy aftertaste. Both beers have an alcohol percentage of 7.5 vol. %. Corsendonk is best kept at cellar temperature between 8 and 10 C. Both beers are supplied in 75 cl. Bottles with cork and in 33 cl. Bottles with crown cap. The dark brown slender bottles are decorated with the 15th century Corsendonk seal which is branded on every bottle. The Corsendonk logo is simply the 15th century manuscript of a monk of the Corsendonk monastery. From 1982 onwards the sale of Corsendonk beer started growing considerably. In 1983, 840.000 bottles were sold, in 1984, 1.5 million bottles, in 1985, 3 million bottles and in 1990 sales reached 9 million bottles or 20.000 hectolitres. Corsendonk is not only highly successful on the Belgian market, but also abroad. Export figures already represent 30% of the overall sales volume. The main markets are in decreasing order: the United States of America, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, France, England, Brazil, Japan, Switzerland and New Zealand.