Trappist beer

Authentic trappist product logo Trappist logo

A Trappist beer is a beer brewed by or under control of Trappist monks. Of the world's 171 Trappist monasteries (as of April 2005), seven produce beer (six in Belgium and one in The Netherlands). These seven breweries are authorized to label their beers with the Authentic Trappist Product logo that indicates a compliance to various rules edicted by the International Trappist Association (see details below).

History

The Trappist order originates in the Cistercian monastery of La Trappe, France. Various Cistercian congregations existed for many years, and by 1664 the Abbott of La Trappe felt that the Cistercians were becoming too liberal. He introduced strict new rules in the abbey (including only permitting water to be drunk) and the Strict Observance was born. Since this time, many of the rules have been relaxed. In the 19th century, beer was brewed in French monasteries following the strict observance and was later introduced in Belgian monasteries. The Trappists, like many other religious people, brewed beer to fund their work, and monastery brewhouses existed all over Europe. Many of them were destroyed during the French Revolution and the World Wars. Among these monastic breweries, the Trappists were certainly the most active brewers: there were at least six Trappist breweries in France, six in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, one in Germany, one in Austria, and possibly other countries. The growing popularity of Trappist beers drew some unscrupulous brewers with no connection to the order to label their beers as "Trappist". After unsuccessful trials, monks finally sued one such brewer in 1962 in Ghent, Belgium.

The International Trappist Association

Chimay is one of Belgium's famous Trappist beers

In 1997, eight Trappist abbeys - six from Belgium (Orval, Chimay, Westvleteren, Rochefort, Westmalle and Achel), one from The Netherlands (Koningshoeven) and one from Germany (Mariawald) - founded the International Trappist Association (ITA) to prevent non-Trappist commercial companies from abusing the Trappist name. This private association created a logo (see the picture) that is assigned to goods (cheese, beer, wine, etc.) that respect precise production criteria. For the beers, these criteria are the following:

The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist abbey, by or under control of Trappist monks.
The brewery, the choices of brewing, and the commercial orientations must obviously depend on the monastic community.
The economic purpose of the brewery must be directed toward assistance and not toward financial profit.

This association has a legal standing, and its logo gives to the consumer some information and guarantees about the produce.

There are currently seven breweries that are allowed to have their products wear the Authentic Trappist Product logo:

The Dutch brewery De Koningshoeven produces the only Dutch Trappist beer that is able to carry the "Authentic Trappist Product" logo. However, between 1999 and October 2005 their use of the logo was withdrawn. See Brouwerij de Koningshoeven for details.

Types of beer

Trappist beers are almost always top fermented, ie. ale-type, usually distributed in bottles, and usually bottle conditioned. Trappist breweries use various systems of nomenclature of the different beers produced, which relate mainly to the relative strength of the beer in the range. Colours or numbers can be used used to indicate the different types, dating back to the days when bottles were unlabelled and had to be identified by the capsule or bottle-top alone. The number system gives an indication of strength, but is not an exact alcohol by volume.

Beers are or were also designated "single", "double", "triple". (Enkel, Dubbel, Tripel in Dutch). Dubbel, a dark brown ale with some sweetness of (6%-8% ABV) and Tripel, a dark blonde, rich and sweet ale (8%-10% ABV) are recognised by some as distinct styles. ^[1]. In some cases the range is extended with a very strong (10%-11.5%) dark ale, which may be classed as a barley wine.

Some Trappist beers are fairly unique. Orval sells one beer, a dry-hopped, 6.2% amber ale somewhat resembling an India Pale Ale. Achel brews two blonde and brown beers at each of two strengths, 5% and 8%. La Trappe brews wheat beer and bock in addition to the usual range (They formerly brewed a pilsener, which is a rare departure from ale-brewing for a Trappist brewery)^[2].

Notes

^ Good Beer Guide to Holland and Belgium, Tim Webb
^ 'Note, however, that at one time, the Monastery did produce its own Pilsener beers that were described as being Trappist beers on their labels, such as "Abdij Pilsener Extra"...' White Beer Travels

References

External links

[1] Good Beer Guide to Holland and Belgium, Tim Webb

[2] 'Note, however, that at one time, the Monastery did produce its own Pilsener beers that were described as being Trappist beers on their labels, such as "Abdij Pilsener Extra"...' White Beer Travels

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