How many trappist breweries are there

The Rochefort beers include a Dubble called 6; a Triple known for its sharp taste of hops and spice called the 8; and the 10, a dark brown, malty Quadrupiel that weights in at Because the monastery is small, the monks and beer makers are able to control production precisely, given the brewery a reputation for exceptional quality. Also found in Belgium, Achel prides itself on a production process that takes two months from start to finish. The monks focus on giving each brew the time needed to fully-mature and believe these bottle-fermented beers peak at the two month point.

This scarcity of production — as well as exceptional quality and taste — may explain why Westveletern XII, along with Westveletern XIII and Blonde, are some of the most highly-coveted beers on the planet.

Located in French Flanders, Mont des Cats opened its brewery in but stopped production in and was completely destroyed by air raids in The Koningshoeven Brewery in the Netherlands has been brewing La Trappe ales since and creates one of the widest varieties of Trappist beers — with nine different brews crafted behind the monastery walls. One of two Trappist breweries in the Netherlands, Zundert tested many recipes before settling on the single beer it brews: the complicated Zundert Trappist.

The newest of the 11 Trappist breweries, Tre Fontane is located in Italy and has been a member of the International Trappist Association since The beer began as a passion project for one of the resident monks and soon inspired the monastery to take up the Trappist tradition of brewing.

Today, Trappist ales have a worldwide following, in large part due to the exceptional quality — but also because production of the beers is extremely limited. To become approved as a Trappist brewery, a monastery must show that brewing beer takes second place to religious pursuits and beer is brewed specifically to support the monastery and its needs. Since monasteries are not allowed to make a profit, monks only make as much beer as they need to support themselves, their facilities, and community needs.

Similarities in flavor among Westmalle, Westvleteren, and Achel are a result of the fact that all three use the same yeast culture. Westvleteren is located northwest of Ypres, 10 km from the French border, and produces three beers: Blond 5. They are only available in bottles sold in wooden crates at the abbey gate.

Their beers are transferred by tank truck to Baileux, 8 km away, for bottling. They are all available in bottles and in kegs.

Rochefort is located south of Liege, 30 km from the French border, and produces three beers: 6 is 7. Orval is located less than 1 km from the French border, south of Florenville, and produces two beers: Orval 6.

Trappist brewers are a subset of that subset: breweries who produce beer in line with the requirements of the International Trappist Association ITA — a commercial organisation set up to protect the name of abbey beers at a time when beers were springing up in the name of religious abbeys, but had never seen the sight of a sandalled foot or a well-maintained tonsure.

The ITA has a strict set of requirements without which a beer may not call itself a Trappist: the beer must be brewed within the confines of the monastery, and under the direct authority of the monks themselves; production must be limited to what is required for the upkeep of the abbey, the sustenance of the monks and the pastoral work they carry out. Thanks to those restrictions, there are only 14 authentic Trappist beers in the world, each bearing the Authentic Trappist Product label.

Since this week, however, it is also the one with no monks. And that is in breach of the condition that a Trappist beer may only be produced in a living, working religious community. For years now the beer itself has been brewed not by the monks of Achel, but by their brothers from the abbey of Westmalle in Antwerp province. But we are no longer allowed to use the logo, because there is no longer a living community present in Achel. And for those partial to a glass of Achel, no reason for concern.

Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren The Westvleteren brewery has made quite the name for itself with its widely beloved beer and limited production. It all started with a charming origin story: as the abbey was being built in , the construction workers each had the right to two beers a day according to their contract, so the monks started brewing these themselves in order to save some money.

Almost two centuries later, Westvleteren 12 one of four beers produced at the monastery has been declared the best beer in the world multiple times over. Though you can occasionally find them in stores or bars, this is technically against the wishes of the monks as they will only sell to private individuals.

All in all, drinking a Westvleteren has become quite the event in itself. Benedictus, Trappist monks are always responsible for their own livelihoods and live a life not only dedicated to prayer, but to work as well.