Trappist beer

{{Short description|Beer brewed by Trappist monks}}

'''Trappist beer''' is brewed by Trappist monks. Thirteen Trappist monasteries—six in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, and one each in Italy, England, France, and Spain— produce beer,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-48854460|title=Beer-brewing monks struggle with demand|work=BBC News|date=July 7, 2019}}</ref> but the ''Authentic Trappist Product'' label is assigned by the International Trappist Association (ITA) to just ten breweries that meet their strict criteria. {{As of|2021}}, Achel is no longer recognized as a Trappist brewery because it does not have any monks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/no-monks-no-label-achel-no-longer-official-trappist-beer|title=No Monks, No Label|date=February 13, 2021|website=Retaildetail.eu}}</ref> [[File:Trappist Beer 2015-08-15.jpg|thumb|400x400px|Beers with ''Authentic Trappist Product'' label from Trappist breweries in 2015: Achel, Chimay, Engelszell, La Trappe, Orval, Spencer, Rochefort, Tre Fontane, Westmalle, Westvleteren, and Zundert (not pictured: Mount St Bernard Abbey) |alt=]]

==History== The Catholic 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 and the Strict Observance was born.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Trappist |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica |date=13 April 2026 |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Trappists |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> Since this time, many of the rules have been relaxed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitutions of the Monks 2023 |website=Abbaye Notre-Dame de Scourmont |publisher=Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance |date=4 March 2023 |url=https://www.scourmont.be/publications/pages-de-dom-armand-veilleux/autres-pages-de-dom-armand-veilleux/3618-constitutions-of-the-monks-2023.html |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> However, a fundamental tenet that monasteries should be self-supporting is still maintained by these groups.<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitutions of the Monks 2023 |website=Abbaye Notre-Dame de Scourmont |publisher=Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance |date=4 March 2023 |url=https://www.scourmont.be/publications/pages-de-dom-armand-veilleux/autres-pages-de-dom-armand-veilleux/3618-constitutions-of-the-monks-2023.html |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>

Monastery brewhouses, from different religious orders, have existed across Europe since the Middle Ages.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Łużyniecka |first=Ewa |title=Architecture of Medieval Breweries in Cistercian Abbeys |journal=Technical Transactions |volume=116 |issue=1 |pages=23–34 |date=2019 |doi=10.4467/2353737XCT.19.003.10043 |url=https://reference-global.com/article/10.4467/2353737XCT.19.003.10043 |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> From the very beginning, beer was brewed in French Cistercian monasteries following the Strict Observance. For example, the monastery of La Trappe in Soligny already had its own brewery in 1685.<ref>{{cite book |last=Maupeou |first=Pierre de |title=La vie du très révérend Père Jean Armand Le Bouthillier de Rancé, abbé régulier et réformateur du monastère de la Trappe |year=1702 |language=fr}}</ref> Breweries were later introduced in monasteries of other countries as the Trappist order spread from France into the rest of Europe. The Trappists, like many other religious orders, originally brewed beer to feed the community, in a show of self-sufficiency. Nowadays, Trappist breweries also brew beer to fund their works and charitable causes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Criteria for obtaining the ATP label |website=International Trappist Association |url=https://www.trappist.be/en/about-ita/atp-label/ |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> Many of the Trappist monasteries and breweries were destroyed during the French Revolution and the World Wars.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Oliver |first=Garrett |title=Trappist breweries |encyclopedia=The Oxford Companion to Beer |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |isbn=9780195367133 |url=https://www.beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/Qm5QvPgkZe |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>

In 1997, eight Trappist abbeys{{spaced ndash}}six from Belgium (Orval, Chimay, Westvleteren, Rochefort, Westmalle and Achel), one from the Netherlands (Koningshoeven) and one from Germany (Mariawald){{spaced ndash}}founded the International Trappist Association (ITA) to prevent non-Trappist commercial companies from abusing the Trappist name. This private association created a logo that is assigned to goods (cheese, beer, wine, etc.) that respect precise production criteria. For the beers, these criteria were the following:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trappist.be/en/pages/trappist-beers|title=Trappist beers|publisher=The International Trappist Association|access-date=16 May 2016}}</ref> * The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, either by 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. Whatever remains is donated to charity for social work and to help persons in need.

As of January 2021, Belgium has only five Trappist beers (ATP) left since Achel lost its ATP designation due to the last monk leaving the Order. However, its beer production is still ongoing and has been taken over by Westmalle.<ref>{{cite news |title=Achelse trappist is niet langer échte trappist omdat laatste broeder abdij verliet: "Productie is niet in gevaar" |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2021/01/21/achelse-trappist-niet-langer-een-echte-trappist-maar-de-produc/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |agency=VRT News}}</ref> In 2012, Bpost honored the Trappist breweries in the country with a commemorative collection of stamps.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 February 2012|title=Belgian Post Honors Trappist Brewers on Stamps|url=https://lyke2drink.blogspot.com/2012/02/belgium-post-honors-trappist-brewers-on.html|website=Lyke2Drink.blogspot.com}}</ref> In January 2023, Achel lost its designation as a Trappist beer due to selling the abbey to a private person.

In the 20th century, the growing popularity of Trappist beers led some brewers with no connection to the order to label their beers "Trappist". After unsuccessful negotiations, monks sued one such brewer in 1962 in Ghent, Belgium.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Oliver |first=Garrett |title=Trappist breweries |encyclopedia=The Oxford Companion to Beer |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |isbn=9780195367133 |url=https://www.beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/Qm5QvPgkZe |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>

The Dutch brewery ''De Koningshoeven'' produces Trappist beers{{spaced ndash}}branded ''La Trappe''{{spaced ndash}}that are able to carry the "Authentic Trappist Product" logo.<ref>{{cite web |title=La Trappe |website=International Trappist Association |url=https://www.trappist.be/en/products/beers/la-trappe/ |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> Their use of the International Trappist Association logo was withdrawn in 1999, but was restored in October 2005 (see Brouwerij de Koningshoeven for details).<ref>{{cite book |last=Hieronymus |first=Stan |title=Brew Like a Monk: Trappist, Abbey, and Strong Belgian Ales and How to Brew Them |publisher=Brewers Publications |year=2005 |isbn=9780937381878 |pages=82–83}}</ref> A second Dutch Trappist beer, branded ''Zundert'' and produced by Abdij Maria Toevlucht, made its debut in December 2013, and has also been granted permission to use the International Trappist Association logo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zundert |website=International Trappist Association |url=https://www.trappist.be/en/products/beers/zundert/ |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>

An expansion of ITA-recognized breweries took place for the first time in 2012 when the trappist brewery of the abbey of Trappistenbrauerei Engelszell in Engelhartszell, Austria, started brewing beer at the monastery (the former production had stopped in 1929) and in the same year obtained the ''Authentic Trappist Product'' logo for their beer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trappist.be/nieuwsbrief/briefitem.cfm?BriefID=15&ArtID=32&taal=en|title=The ATP logo for "Gregorius" and "Benno"!|website=Trappist.be|date=21 November 2012}}</ref>

In December 2013, Maria Toevlucht's Abbey (Zundert, the Netherlands) and St. Joseph's Abbey (Spencer, Massachusetts, United States) were both granted the ATP recognition for their Trappist beers, followed in 2015 by Tre Fontane Abbey brewery in Rome.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alström |first=Carl |title=Spencer, the new American Trappist |website=Belgian Beer and Food Magazine |date=11 December 2013 |url=https://drinkbelgianbeer.com/news/spencer-new-american-trappist |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Protz |first=Roger |title=Italian monks' beer given Trappist approval |website=Protz on Beer |date=12 May 2015 |url=https://protzonbeer.co.uk/news/2015/05/12/italian-monks-beer-given-trappist-approval |access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref>

In June 2018, the monks of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Leicestershire became the first in the UK to brew a Trappist ale.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/monks-given-permission-build-uks-670890|title=Brewery set to be built in county – and ran by Trappist monks|last=Owen|first=Dave|date=2017-10-25|website=Leicestermercury|access-date=2018-03-05}}</ref><ref name="BBC-44581210">{{cite web |title=Monks brew UK's first Trappist beer |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-44581210 |website=BBC News |access-date=29 June 2018 |date=25 June 2018}}</ref> Called "Tynt Meadow" (7.4% ABV), after the location of the abbey, it is available to visitors and sold through public outlets.<ref name="BBC-44581210" />

On May 13, 2025, a press release <ref>[https://abdijmariatoevlucht.nl/]</ref> announced that Zundert abbey and brewery would close permanently after the summer of 2025. The monks would move to other abbeys.<ref>[https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20250521_95955778]</ref>

thumb|Orval trappist beer

==International Trappist Association recognised breweries== {{anchor|International Trappist Association}}

=== Authentic Trappist Product label === In addition to being a Trappist brewery, the monastic communities that are members of the ITA can apply for the ''Authentic Trappist Product'' (ATP) label.<ref name="ATPFAQ">{{cite web|url=https://www.trappist.be/en/faqs/|title=International Trappist Association - FAQs|website=Trappist.be |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> The following criteria are used for ATP label:<ref name="ATPCrit">{{cite web|url=https://www.trappist.be/en/about-ita/atp-label/|title=International Trappist Association - Criteria for obtaining the ATP label|website=Trappist.be |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> *All products must be made within the immediate surroundings of the abbey; *Production must be carried out under the supervision of the monks or nuns; *Profits should be intended for the needs of the monastic community, for purposes of solidarity within the Trappist Order, or for development projects and charitable works.

===List of Trappist breweries=== There are currently thirteen breweries producing Trappist beer.<ref name="BrewList">{{cite web|url=https://www.trappist.be/en/products/beers/|title=International Trappist Association - Beers|website=Trappist.be |access-date=2019-01-27}}</ref> Ten of them (with the exception of Achel, Mont des Cats, whose beer is not brewed at their monastery but at Chimay,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mont des Cats|url=https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/mont-des-cats/147563/|access-date=2020-12-23|website=RateBeer.com|language=EN}}</ref> and Cardeña from the Abbey of San Pedro de Cardeña, whose beer is currently produced off-site<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barnes|first=Christopher|date=2016-05-25|title=The Brewing Monks: A Potential 12th Trappist Brewery Begins the Process in Spain|url=http://ithinkaboutbeer.com/2016/05/25/the-brewing-monks-a-potential-12th-trappist-brewery-begins-the-process-in-spain/|access-date=2020-12-23|website=Ithinkaboutbeer.com|language=en-US}}</ref>) are allowed to display the ''Authentic Trappist Product'' logo on their beer products.<ref name="ATPCrit"/> In January 2021, "Achel" of the St. Benedict's Abbey in Hamont-Achel lost the Authentic Trappist Product label, as the brewing process was no longer supervised by monks ''on site'', but the beer remains a Trappist beer, as the Saint Benedict Abbey falls under the Westmalle Abbey and the abbot of Westmalle Abbey visits the Achelse Kluis every week and supervises the brewing and other activities in the Achelse Kluis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://achelsekluis.org/nl/trappist-achel-brouwt-verder|title = Trappist Achel Brouwt Verder|website=Achelsekluis.org}}</ref> In January 2023, the abbey was sold to a private person. From that day on, "Achel" lost the recognition as a Trappist beer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Snoekx |first=Koen |date=25 January 2023 |title=Kempense ondernemer Jan Tormans koopt Sint-Benedictusabdij: 'Einde van Trappist Achel' |publisher=Gazet van Antwerpen |access-date=2023-01-25 |url= https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20230125_91985967}}</ref> In May 2022, St. Joseph's Abbey ceased beer production.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tota|first=Matthew|date=2022-05-14|title=St. Joseph's Abbey to close Spencer Brewery|url=https://www.worcestermag.com/story/lifestyle/2022/05/14/st-josephs-abbey-close-spencer-brewery/9782190002/|access-date=2022-05-15|website=Worcester Magazine}}</ref> In May 2023, Stift Engelszell published an article about dissolution of the monastery and move all monks to other monasteries.

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+International Trappist Association recognized breweries |- ! width=400px|Brewery ! width=150|Location ! Opened ! Annual production (2004) |- | Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle || {{flag|Belgium}} || 1836 || {{convert|120000|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on|lk=on}} |- | Brouwerij Westvleteren (St Sixtus) || {{flag|Belgium}} || 1838 || {{convert|4750|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | Bières de Chimay || {{flag|Belgium}} || 1863 || {{convert|123000|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | Brouwerij de Koningshoeven (La Trappe) || {{flag|Netherlands}} || 1884 || {{convert|145000|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | Brasserie de Rochefort || {{flag|Belgium}} || 1899 || {{convert|18000|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | Brasserie d'Orval || {{flag|Belgium}} || 1931 || {{convert|71000|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | Stift Engelszell || {{flag|Austria}} || 2012 (closed 2023)|| {{convert|2000|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts Closed in 2022 || {{flag|United States}} || 2013 (closed 2022)|| {{convert|4694|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | Brouwerij Abdij Maria Toevlucht (Zundert) || {{flag|Netherlands}} || 2013 || {{convert|5000|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | Tre Fontane Abbey || {{flag|Italy}} || 2015 || {{convert|2000|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | Mount St Bernard Abbey (Tynt Meadow) || {{flag|England}} || 2018 || {{convert|2000|hL|usbeerbbl|abbr=on}} |- | Mont des Cats (not ATP) || {{flag|France}} || 1826 || N/A (not ATP) |- | Cerveza Cardeña Trappist (not ATP) || {{flag|Spain}} ||2016 || N/A (not ATP) |- | Achel Abbey Recognition as Trappist beer lost in 2023 (abbey sold to a private individual) || {{flag|Belgium}} ||1850 || N/A (not ATP) |}

{{Location map+ | North Atlantic | width = 400 | float = left | caption = International Trappist Association recognised breweries in the world | places = {{Location map~ | North Atlantic | label = | position = left | link = Belgium | lat_deg=50.533333 | lon_deg=4.5 }} {{Location map~ | North Atlantic | label = Netherlands<br>Belgium | position = left | link = Netherlands | lat_deg=52.516667 | lon_deg=5.3 }} {{Location map~ | North Atlantic | label = {{nobreak|Stift Engelszell}} | position = right | link = Engelszell Abbey | lat_deg=48.499 | lon_deg=13.734 }} {{Location map~ | North Atlantic | label = {{nobreak|Stift Engelszell}} | position = right | link = Engelszell Abbey | lat_deg=48.499 | lon_deg=13.734 }} {{Location map~ | North Atlantic | label = {{nobreak|Tre Fontane Abbey}} | position = bottom | link = Tre Fontane Abbey | lat_deg=41.834 | lon_deg=12.483 }} {{Location map~ | North Atlantic | label = St. Joseph's Abbey | position = bottom | link = St. Joseph's Abbey (Spencer, Massachusetts) | lat_deg=42.297664 | lon_deg=-72.014475 }} {{Location map~ | North Atlantic | mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png | marksize=1 | link = | lat_deg=30 | lon_deg=-25 | label = <div style="font-size:85%;">'''Netherlands&nbsp;breweries'''<br> {{nobreak|De Koningshoeven (La Trappe)}}<br> De Kievit Brewery (Zundert)<br> '''Belgium&nbsp;breweries'''<br> Brasserie de Rochefort<br> Trappist Abbey of Westmalle<br> {{nobreak|St. Sixtus Abbey of Westvleteren}}<br> Bières de Chimay<br> Brasserie d'Orval<br> De Achelse Kluis<br> </div>|position=right }} }}

{{Location map+ | Benelux | width = 240 | float = right | caption = International Trappist Association recognised breweries in the Low Countries | places = {{Location map~ | Benelux | label = <div style="font-size:95%;">Rochefort</div> | position = top | link = Rochefort Brewery | lat_deg=50.178162 | lon_deg=5.219879 }} {{Location map~ | Benelux | label = <div style="font-size:95%;">Westmalle</div> | position = left | link = Westmalle Brewery | lat_deg=51.285556 | lon_deg=4.657778 }} {{Location map~ | Benelux | label = <div style="font-size:95%;">Westvleteren</div> | position = right | link = Westvleteren Brewery | lat_deg=50.895 | lon_deg=2.721667 }} {{Location map~ | Benelux | label = <div style="font-size:95%;">Chimay</div> | position = top | link = Chimay Brewery | lat_deg=49.981944 | lon_deg=4.3375 }} {{Location map~ | Benelux | label = <div style="font-size:95%;">Orval</div> | position = top | link = Orval Brewery | lat_deg=49.639444 | lon_deg=5.348611 }} {{Location map~ | Benelux | label = <div style="font-size:95%;">Achel</div> | position = bottom | link = Achel Brewery | lat_deg=51.298778 | lon_deg=5.488572 }} {{Location map~ | Benelux | label = <div style="font-size:95%;">La Trappe</div> | position = right | link = De Koningshoeven Brewery | lat_deg=51.543934 | lon_deg=5.128675 }} {{Location map~ | Benelux | label = <div style="font-size:95%;">Zundert</div> | position = top | link = Zundert (beer) | lat_deg=51.482749 | lon_deg=4.616788 }} }}

==Abbey beer== {{main|Abbey beer}}

The designation "abbey beers" (''Bières d'Abbaye'' or ''Abdijbier'') was originally devised by Belgian breweries for any monastic or monastic-style beer not produced in an actual monastery. After the introduction of an official Trappist beer designation by the International Trappist Association in 1997, it came to mean products similar in style or presentation to monastic beers.<ref name=Best>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SHh-4M_QxEsC&q=Abbey+beers&pg=PA38|title=World's Best Beers: One Thousand Craft Brews from Cask to Glass|first=Ben|last=McFarland|page=38|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company, Inc|year=2009|isbn=978-1-4027-6694-7|access-date=2011-01-13}}</ref> In other words, an Abbey beer may be: * Produced by a non-Trappist monastery{{mdash}}e.g. non-Trappist Cistercian or Benedictine; or * produced by a commercial brewery under an arrangement with an extant monastery; or * branded with the name of a defunct or fictitious abbey by a commercial brewer; or * given a vaguely monastic branding, without specifically mentioning monastery, by a commercial brewer.

==Types of beer== Trappist beers are mostly top-fermented, including La Trappe Bockbier, and mainly bottle conditioned. Trappist breweries use various systems of nomenclature for the different beers produced which relate to their relative strength.<ref name="Lierde">Geert van Lierde et al., ''In het Spoor van de Trappisten'' {{ISBN|90-261-0704-8}}, page 25</ref>

The best known is the system where different beers are called ''Enkel/Single'', ''Dubbel/Double'', ''Tripel/Triple'' and ''Quadrupel/Quadruple''. These terms roughly describe both the amount of malt and the original gravity.<ref>{{cite book|first=Garrett|last=Oliver|title=The Oxford Companion to Beer|year=2012|isbn=978-0195367133}}</ref> They may refer to the number of crosses or other marks chalked on the casks - two for a Dubbel and three for a Tripel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000791.html|title=Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter - Down on your knees to bless monks' top ale|website=Beerhunter.com|access-date=2009-07-11}}</ref>

Colours 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. Chimay beer labels are based on the colour system (in increasing order of strength red, white and blue). Westvleteren beers are still unlabelled.

There is also a number system (6, 8 and 10, as used by Rochefort), which gives an indication of strength, but is not necessarily an exact alcohol by volume (ABV). Achel combine a strength and a colour (of the beer itself{{mdash}}blond or brown) designation.

===Enkel=== '''Enkel''', meaning "single", is a term used by the Trappist breweries to describe the basic recipe of their beers.<ref name="Lierde"/> The term is often used interchangeably with '''patersbier''' (meaning father's beer), as Enkels are a weak beer brewed originally to be consumed by the monks themselves. The name fell out of fashion with no breweries (Trappist or 'Abbey') using the term until recent years.{{when|date=April 2021}} Instead, "Blond(e)" (La Trappe, Westvleteren), "5" (Achel) or "6" (Rochefort) have been used to describe the brewery's lightest beer. Chimay introduced an Enkel (called ''Dorée'' or Gold) commercially in bottles in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/chimay-doree-speciale-du-potaupre/14228/|title=Chimay Dorée / Spéciale du Potaupré|website=Ratebeer.com|language=en|access-date=2018-03-05}}</ref> Westmalle made their Enkel (called ''Extra'') available commercially through some outlets in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://belgiuminabox.com/blog/2010/04/westmalle-extra-trappist-beer-now-available-www-belgiuminabox-com/#.Wp20AOjFLcc|title=New Product : Shop Westmalle-Extra Trappist Beer |website=Belgiuminabox.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-05}}</ref>

===Dubbel=== {{Main|Dubbel}} Dubbel is a Trappist breweries' naming convention.<ref name=Lierde /> The origin of the dubbel was a beer brewed in the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle in 1856. Westmalle Dubbel was imitated by other breweries, Trappist and commercial, Belgian and worldwide, leading to the emergence of a style. Dubbels are understood to be a fairly strong (6–8% ABV) brown ale, with understated bitterness, fairly heavy body, and a pronounced fruitiness and cereal character. Examples are: Westmalle Dubbel, Chimay Red/Premiere, Koningshoeven/La Trappe Dubbel, Achel 8 Bruin, Rochefort 6, and Tynt Meadow.

===Tripel=== {{Main|Tripel}} [[File:Westmalle Tripel in a glass.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Westmalle Tripel]]

Tripel is a naming convention traditionally used by Belgian Trappist breweries to describe the strongest beer in their range. Westmalle Tripel is considered to be the foundation of this beer style, and was developed in the 1930s. Achel 8 Blond, Westmalle Tripel, La Trappe Tripel, and Chimay White/Cinq Cents are all examples of Trappist tripels. The style has proven popular among secular breweries like St. Feuillien, Bosteels and St. Bernardus. Tripels as a style are generally beers with an alcohol content ranging from 8% to 10% ABV.

===Quadrupel=== {{Main|Quadrupel}} Quadrupel is the name Koningshoeven gave to a La Trappe ale they brew which is stronger and darker than their tripel. Rochefort 10, Westvleteren 12 and Zundert 10 are also examples of quadrupels.

==Glassware== Belgian breweries have a tradition of providing custom beer glasses: with Trappist breweries, these often take the form of "chalice" or "goblet" style glasses. The distinction between goblet and chalice is typically in the glass thickness. Goblets tend to be more delicate and thin, while the chalice is heavy and thick walled. Some chalices are etched on the bottom to nucleate a stream of bubbles for maintaining a nice head.

<gallery class="center" widths="200px" heights="200px"> File:Chimays.jpg|Chimay beers and glass File:Beerglass orval.jpg|Orval beer's "chalice" glass File:Beerglass trappiste rochefort.jpg|Rochefort beer's "goblet" glass File:Thirteen_trappist_beer_and_glasses.jpg|Thirteen Trappist beers and their glasses </gallery>

==Beer tourism== The idea of visiting Trappist monasteries to sample their beers has become more popular in recent years,{{when|date=February 2022}} partly due to promotion by enthusiasts such as the 'beer hunter' Michael Jackson. Some brewing monasteries maintain a visitors' centre where their beers can be tasted and bought (sometimes with other monastic products such as bread and cheese).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chimay.com/en/espace-chimay.html?IDC=756|title=Espace Chimay|website=Chimay.com|access-date=2014-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.orval.be/en/27/Discovery|title=Visit Orval|website=Orval.be|access-date=2014-09-26}}</ref> Visits to the monastery itself are usually not available to the general public, although visitors can overnight in some of the monasteries (like Achel) if their purpose is non-touristic. Currently, Koningshoeven (which brews La Trappe) in Netherlands offers regular tours around their bottling plant, old brewery and parts of their site, along with a beer tasting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latrappetrappist.com/en/visit-us/|title=Visit us|website=Latrappetrappist.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-05}}</ref>

==See also== {{portal|Christianity|Beer}} * Alcohol in Christianity * Christian dietary laws * Beer in Belgium * Beer in the Netherlands * Barrel-aged beer

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.trappist.be/en/ Official site of the International Trappist Association] * [https://www.ocso.org/ Official website of the Trappist Order]

{{Trappist beer}} {{Beer styles}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trappist Beer}} Category:Trappist beer Category:Beer in Belgium Category:Beer in the Netherlands Category:Beer in the United Kingdom Category:Beer in the United States Category:Beer in Austria Category:Beer in Italy Category:Beer in France Category:Beer in Spain