History
The concept of Trappist beer is the brewing of beer to enable religious orders to generate income to allow them to maintain and self-support their monasteries. This concept originated in the La Trappe monastery in France were strict rules were imposed as the La Trappe Abbot who felt that the Cistercians were becoming too liberal. The fundamental concept of these rules were that monasteries should be self-supporting which is still maintained to this day. From the beginning of this rule monasteries in France start brewing beer and following their lead many other monasteries across Europe established brew-houses. With the spread of the Trappist Order breweries originally started to produce beer to feed the community with the concept of self-sufficiency in mind. Later these beers started to be sold to maintain the monasteries and fund charity work undertaken by the monks and nuns. Unfortunately many of the Trappist brew-house were destroyed in the French Revolution and World Wars. Fortunately a number of monasteries have kept their breweries and are active still today producing amazing beers maintaining the tradition of self-support for the monks and monasteries.
International Trappist Association (ITA)
In 1997, eight Trappist Breweries established the International Trappist Association (ITA). The ITA was established to prevent commercial breweries from using the Trappist name for profit. The eight breweries consisted of six Belgian breweries (Orval, Chimay, Westvleteren, Rochefort, Westmalle and Achel), one from the Netherlands (Koningshoeven) and one from Germany (Mariawald). The ITA also established a set of rules for all breweries wanting to use the Trappist name and logo which include:
The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery
The beer must be brewed by either the monks themselves or under their supervision.
The brewery must be of secondary importance within the monastery and it should witness to the business practices proper to a monastic way of life.
The brewery is not intended to be a profit-making venture. The income covers the living expenses of the monks and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds.
Any profits left from the beer production will be donated to charity for social work and to help persons in need.
Beer Styles
Traditionally Trappist breweries would produce three types of beers of varying strength called Enkel/Single, Dubbel/Double and Tripel/Triple. While a number of the more moderns Trappist breweries produce more varieties Dubbels and Tripels are still the most commonly know and revered with beer enthusiasts.
Dubbel/Double
First brewed at the Westmalle Abbey in 1856. The recipe has evolved since this first brew was made resulting in a brown ale of fair strength (6% to 8% ABV), dense in body, fruity flavour with a slight bitterness.
Tripel/Triple
The first brewery to produce the Tripel style is unknown but breweries have been producing this style for a long time. Again Westmallereleased the first beer names "triple" when they renamed there strong pale ale. High in strength (8% to 10% ABV), golden/pale in colour and contains more hops giving a warm fruity taste.
Trappist Beers Today
As of August 2017 the following monasteries are producing Trappist beers in accordance with the ITA:
Brouwerij der Sint-Benedictusabdij de Achelse Kluis (Achel) in Belgium
Bieres de Chimay (Chimay) in Belgium
Stift Engelszell (Engelszell) in Austria
Brouwerij Abdij Maria Toevlucht (Zundert) in the Netherlands
Brouwerij de Koningshoeven (La Trappe) in the Netherlands
Brasserie d'Orval (Orval) in Belgium
Brasserie de Rochefort (Rochefort) in Belgium
Tre Fontane (Tre Fontane) Abbey in Italy
St Joseph's Abbey (Spencer) in United States
Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle (Westmalle) in Belgium
Brouwerij Westveteren (Westvleteren) in Belgium
The eleven brewers current produce the following beers:
Achel produces;
Blond (Belgian strong golden ale, 8% ABV)
Bruin (dubbel, 8% ABV)
Extra Blond (tripel, 10% ABV)
Extra Bruin (quadrupel, 10% ABV)
Chimay produces;
Brune (dubbel, 7% ABV)
Blanche (tripel, 8% ABV)
Blue (strong ale, 9% ABV)
Dorée (patersbier, 4.8% ABV)
Engelszell produces;
Gregorius (quadrupel, 9.7% ABV)
Benno (dubbel, 7% ABV)
Nivard (Belgian pale ale, 5.5% ABV).
Zundert produces;
Zundert (tripel that bears the same name, 8% ABV)
La Trappe produces;
Blond (6.5% ABV),
Dubbel (7% ABV)
Isid'or (7.5% ABV)
Tripel (8% ABV)
Quadrupel (10% ABV)
Witte Trappist (a witbier, 5.5% ABV)
Bockbier (a bockbier, 7% ABV)
Puur (organic pale ale, 4.7% ABV)
Orval produces;
Orval (a dry hopped amber ale that bears the same name, 6.2% ABV).
Rochefort produces;
"6" (dubbel, 7.5% ABV)
"8" (Belgian strong dark ale, 9.2% ABV)
"10" (a quadrupel, 11.3% ABV)
Tre Fontane produces;
Tra Fontane (a tripel that the bears the same name, 8.5% ABV).
Spencer produces;
Trappist Ale (patersbier, 6.5%)
Holiday Ale (Belgian strong dark ale, 9%)
Trappist Imperial Stout (8.7%)
India Pale Ale (7.2%)
Westmalle produces;
Dubbel (7% ABV)
Tripel (9.5% ABV)
Westvleteren produces;
Green Cap or Blonde (5.8% ABV)
Blue Cap or "8" (dark, 8% ABV)
Yellow Cap or "12" (dark, 10.2% ABV)
Must Try Beer in this Style
Beer - Triple
Brewery - Westmalle
Web Link - HERE
One of, if not the first breweries to release beer commercially under the name of Triple and remains one of the best. Packed with sweet flavours of over-ripe fruits and a warmth punchy hit of alcohol (9.5% ABV). Lively with hop character Westmalle Triple is a must try in this style of beer.
Beer - Triple
Brewery - Chimay
Web Link - HERE
Another great example of the Triple style this time from Chimay. Slightly lower in alcohol than Westmalle but still packed with wonderful flavours. Providing a satisfying hit of alcohol (8% ABV) "white cap" gives a perfectly balanced yet flavour packed brew filled with warm and spicy notes of ripe banana.
Beer - "6"
Brewery - Rochefort
Web Link - HERE
Rochefort really nail the dubble style with "6". Warming with a mighty 7.5% ABV "6" is packed with warmth and ripe fruit flavours and just the right level of bitterness. Notes of biscuit and caramel are rounded off nicely with a toasted bitterness.
Beer - Dubbel
Brewery - La Trappe
Web Link - HERE
Another excellent dubble comes from French brewery La Trappe. Giving us classic malty and sweet caramel flavours, and coming with a warm punchy 7.0% ABV. Wonderfully flavoured with hints of caramel, honey, dates and ripe fruits. A real classic in the dubble style.
