Trappist beer

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). Only 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 originated in the Cistercian monastery of La Trappe, France. Various Cistercian congregations existed for many years, and by 1664 the Abbot of La Trappe felt that the Cistercians were becoming too liberal. He introduced strict new rules in the abbey (including permitting only water to be drunk) and the Strict Observance was born. Since this time, many of the rules have been relaxed. However, a fundamental tenant, that monasteries should be self-supporting, is still maintained by these groups.

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
* Brouwerij Westvleteren
* Brouwerij de Achelse Kluis
* Brouwerij de Koningshoeven

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

With the recent exception of Koningshoeven's Bockbier, Trappist beers are all ales, that is, top fermented, distributed in bottles, and mainly 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 (e.g., "single", "double", "triple". (Enkel, Dubbel, Tripel in Dutch). Colours or numbers can be 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.

Notes

References

* [http://www.trappistbeer.net All about Trappist beer]
* [http://www.trappist.be/index.cfm?taal=en Official site of the International Trappist Association]

* [http://www.de-verzamelaar.nl/BIEREN/TRAPPIST/SCHAAPSKOOIJ/la_trappenl.htm Explanation from the monks of La Trappe in regard with the Trappist logo and Trappist beer dispute] - in Dutch
* [http://www.whitebeertravels.co.uk/atp.html Press Release (in English) regarding the La Trappe dispute]
* [http://www.ocso.org/net/drcty_m.htm Official website of the Trappist Order]
* [http://www.trappistmania.net Trappist breweriana] (in French)

External links

* [http://www.sonverre.be Trappists beers glasses collection]
* [http://www.trappistbier.be The reference on the net talking about Trappist Beer (Vader Abts Trappist Biersite)]