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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

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:

• Bières de Chimay
• Brasserie d'Orval
• Brasserie de Rochefort
• Brouwerij Westmalle
• Westvleteren
• Brouwerij de Achelse Kluis
• Brouwerij De Koningshoeven (La Trappe)

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

The typical Trappist range consists of one or more of:

• A relatively weak beer, sometimes called Enkel, which is often brewed for internal consumption only.
• Dubbel, a fairly strong dark beer
• Tripel, now generally understood as a strong golden ale, although older examples may be dark.
• A very strong beer (in the same range as barley wine) which is sometimes called a Quadrupel.

Since Trappist beer is not a style, the monastic brewers each do their own version of the different types. The Westmalle tripel is amber coloured, while the Rochefort tripel is dark, for example. Orval sells one beer in an almost unique style, a light amber, well-hopped 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. Some Trappist breweries use colours or numbers 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.

References

• All about Trappist beer
• Official site of the International Trappist Association
• The reference on the net talking about Trappist Beer
• Explanation from the monks of La Trappe in regard with the Trappist logo and Trappist beer dispute - in Dutch
• Press Release (in English) regarding the La Trappe dispute
• Official website of the Trappist Order
• Collectors:
• Beer glasses Trappists: http://www.trappistmania.net (in French)

External link

• Trappists beers glasses collection
• Vader Abts Trappist Biersite

1. White beer travels
2. Oxford Bottled Beer Database

• Beer and breweries in Belgium
• Beer and breweries in the Netherlands
• Trappist beer