A forgotten Belgian lager has been introduced to Scotland ahead of its worldwide release.

Heverlee beer, which is recreated using ingredients and techniques from hundreds of years ago, made its Scottish debut in Glasgow on Thursday and is now available in almost 50 pubs in the city.

The beer, which is only ever brewed in Belgium, was redeveloped following research at Belgium's largest abbey by Joris Brams, a brewer born in Leuven.

Brams learned how to make the beer after being granted access to the Abbey of the order of Premontre in Belgium, where the beer was originally brewed. The Abbey was established in 1129. However, it was forced to close its production as brewing became commercial and part of the Abbey was demonised, causing the recipe to be forgotten.

Working with the monks and a local brewer, Brams used descriptions of the ancient beer to create Heverlee, which uses barley, hops and a much slower, more traditional brewing process.

Brams said: "This has been a very personal project of mine and one that I feel tremendously passionate about. For many years, I wanted to create a beer that reflected the reasons why Belgium became world-famous for beer, using a traditional approach and techniques. It was a happy accident that I've been able to do so in a place I've known all my life.

"In Medieval Europe, these monks really forged the way with beer but then their knowledge and craft was almost wiped out as brewing became commercial. The more I read, the more I discovered how talented, how important the monks were, particularly from this Abbey. I knew I'd found something special.

"Heverlee is an original rediscovered, driven by a desire to see quality Belgian beer re-emerge and I'm very proud of the finished result."  

The Abbey has been big news in Belgium over recent months, having secured a 45 million euro investment to refurbishment the site and bring it back to its former glory.

There are now plans to extend Heverlee to other European and world territories over the coming months.

Brams added: "Although I live and work in Belgium, I know Scotland well. It's a country I've got a great deal of affection for and have spent much of my brewing career in. But I always wondered when I was there, why can't I get a good, genuine Belgian pint? It's received a great reaction so far and it's been selling well, so we're excited about what lies ahead for Heverlee."