Trappist Beers: One Vice the Monks Have Not Forsaken

 

Some of the finest beers in the world are brewed by Cistercian monks.

Many modern beers call themselves "abbey" or "abbey style ales," but the original and official abbey beers are brewed in Belgium by an order of monks known as the Trappists. Trappist beers are not really a style of beer, but the six breweries currently run by Trappist monks produce incredible beers that share a common heritage, history and many similar characteristics. Notably, the Trappist beers are often considered by experts to be among the best beers in the world.

 

Six Trappist orders currently exist and brew beer including Orval, Rochefort, Chimay, Westmalle, Westvleteren and Achel. Trappist beers typically fall into the styles of beer that we would call Belgian today. Specifically, Belgian Dubbels and Tripels, though there is no strict adherence to those styles. Most of the Trappist brewers offer several styles, though Orval brews only one.

 

Chimay Premiere (known also as Red) is a great example of a Belgian Dubbel. It is rich, brown and fruity with flavors of plum and raisin. Westmalle Tripel is, perhaps, the original and leading example of the Belgian Tripel style with its light color and body, but rich hoppy character and high alcohol content. Orval sits somewhere outside the definition of either of these styles with it's unique pale brew bursting with flavor, but notable for its soft finish. Rochefort brings several styles to the table including Quadrupel (known as "10,") and a Belgian Strong Ale (known as "8").

 

The beer terms "dubbel" and "tripel" seem to have originated with the monks, who often brewed several types of beer for different customers. The beer that they kept for themselves, often known as a "single," was typically not flavorful enough to sell at market and for that reason, very few examples of a "single" exist today, while dubbels and tripels are very popular.

 

World Class Beverages is proud to offer 4 of the 6 Trappist beers in Indiana, including Chimay, Orval and Westmalle and Rochefort. Westvleteren does not distribute their beers outside of Belgium, but Achel is occasionally available in Indiana.

 

How did monks come to brew beer?

Through the centuries, the monks were required to provide for themselves in all areas of life and their mission was to provide for the poorest of peoples in the areas in which they lived. In order to provide food for themselves and the poor, the monks became adept at agriculture and expert bread and cheese makers as well as brewers (beer was a very common provision in centuries past when the water supply was often unreliable and unhealthy). Since the monks carry out their work with the same concern for perfection that they strive for in their life of prayer and study, brewing has become a true art over the course of time in the abbeys.

 

Trappist monks are an order of monks in the Cistercian line, which is descended from the Benedictine monks. The popular image of monks who swear a vow of silence to God is based on vows of silence that the Cistercian monks might take.  The order itself was originally established at La Trappe, in Normandy (France) from which the order takes its name, but since the time of Napoleon, the six recognized Trappist breweries have resided in Belgium and the Netherlands.

 

There is only one Orval draft line in the world and it is located at the Orval brewery/abbey in Orval, Belgium. Orval also makes a lower alcohol beer called Petite Orval which is available to locals around Orval for consumption during the day or when a lower alcohol beer is preferred. Orval means “Valley of Gold.”

 

Chimay’s first beer was Chimay Red (Premiere in the larger bottle). In  larger bottles, Blue is called Grand Reserve and White is called Cing Cents. Chimay also brews Doree only for consumption by the monks and some locals. Doree is similar to Premiere.

 

Westmalle Tripel is the original Tripel and is the model for other Tripels that followed it. Westmalle brews a Dubbel, Tripel and Pale. The Pale is only available at the brewery.

 

Rochefort is the oldest current Trappist brewer and has been operating since 1595. Rochefort is also one of the smallest volume producers of the Trappist brewers. About 15 monks reside at the Rochefort abbey/brewery which is closed to the public.