Trappist Ales defined
Note: Since this was written, the ITA granted La Trappe (labeled Koeningshoeven in the U.S.) the right to resume using the logo.
When it comes to beer, Trappist is an appellation rather than a style. Eight Trappist Abbeys – 6 Belgian (Orval, Chimay, Westvleteren, Rochefort, Westmalle and Achel), 1 Dutch (Tegelen) and 1 German (Mariawald) – created the “International Trappist Association” and offer their products under the joint, hexagonal logo of “Authentic Trappist Product.
This logo certifies that the product in question was produced in a Trappist Abbey under the supervision and responsibility of the Trappist religious community, and that the majority of the revenue generated by the sale of these products will be used for charitable work.
Only six breweries the world are authorized to use the “Authentic Trappist Product” label and all six are in Belgium. They are:
- St. Benedictusabdij de Acheles Kluis. You know their beers at Achel.
- Abbaye Notre Dame de Scourmont. Chimay beers.
- Abbaye Notre Dame de St. Remy. Rochefort beers. (No official website.)
- Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Orval. Orval beer.
- Abdij der Trappisten van Westmalle. Westmalle beers.
- De Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren. Westvleteren beers.
December 27th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
I recently came across a Dutch beer called Konings Hoevel that says it is a Trappist beer on the label. I had not heard of this one before. It was quite good, I thought. Do you know anything about it? Are they infringing on the Trappist labelling?
December 27th, 2005 at 4:40 pm
That would be Koninghoeven, more often known as La Trappe (but not on U.S. labels, anymore).
I am editing this post to include Koninghoeven after La Trappe - which I should have done originally (sorry for the oversight).
When Michael Jackson did his Beer Hunter televisions series, the two Trappist breweries he visisted were Chimay and La Trappe.
Some people love the La Trappe beers and some don’t think they measure up to the Belgian Trappists. They tend to be sweeter (or “less attenuated” in beer geek talk), so it depends on your preference.