
Is St Bernardus Abt 12 a good beer?
Notes: St. Bernardus Abt 12 is widely regarded as one of the best beers in the world. It is therefore no surprise that it is our brewery’s flagship beer, ranked at the very top of the St. Bernardus beer hierarchy. It is brewed in the classic quadrupel style and adheres to the original 1946 recipe. Colour.
What is Watou St Bernardus?
Since 1992 the beers brewed in Watou have been sold under the brand name St. Bernardus. The St. Bernardus range is considered a close match in recipe and style to the St. Sixtus beers, which can be hard to obtain outside the area. Seven beers are sold under the St. Bernardus label:
What is St Bernardus?
St. Bernardus is a brewery in Watou, Belgium. In the late 19th century anti-clericalism in France forced the Catsberg Abbey Community to move to the village of Watou in West Flanders, Belgium. The Refuge Notre Dame de St. Bernard was established, originally producing cheese to finance abbey activities.
Do Trappists brew their own beer?
In 1945, the Trappist monastery St. Sixtus decided it would stop the sale of its beer and an agreement was reached whereby the monks would brew only beer for their own consumption but sell it to the public at the gates of the monastery and to a few taverns connected to the monastery.

Is St Bernardus Abt 12 a Trappist beer?
Brewery Sint Bernardus Brewery St. Bernardus was founded in 1946 with one purpose: to brew and commercialise the beers of the Trappist monks of Westvleteren. After the Second World War, the monks did not want to commercialise their beers anymore, and were looking for somebody who would do that for them.
Which beers are Trappist?
THE TRAPPIST BEERS AND BREWERIESRochefort from Abbaye Notre-Dame de St. ... Westmalle brewed by Abdij der Trappisten Westmalle.Achel brewed by St Benedictus-Abdij.La Trappe, brewed by Abdij Onze Lieve Vrouw van Koningshoeven.Zundert, brewed by Zundert Maria Toevlucht Abbey.Spencer, brewed by Saint Joseph's Abbey – Spencer.
What defines a Trappist brewery?
A Trappist beer is only given this name if it satisfies a number of strict criteria: The beer is brewed within the walls of a Trappist abbey, by the monks themselves or under their supervision. The brewery must be controlled by the monastery and have a business culture compatible with the monastic project.
What's the difference between abbey and Trappist?
Trappist beers are abbey beers that are still brewed by Trappist monks, while abbey beers are beers that were once brewed by monks, but are now being brewed by secular breweries, on the monastic estate or in reference to the abbey.
Is Stella Artois a Trappist beer?
Stella Artois (/ɑːrˈtwɑː/ ar-TWAH) is a pilsner beer, first brewed in 1926 by Brouwerij Artois in Leuven, Belgium.
What is the strongest Trappist beer?
Of the Trappist beers I have reviewed, Rochefort 10 Trappist Beer is the strongest, with an ABV of 11.3%.
Do Trappist monks believe in Jesus?
We believe with certainty that Jesus draws great graces from our cooperation and uses these graces for the conversion of perishing souls and the good of the Kingdom.
Can Trappist monks drink beer?
Generally, the Trappists eat what they can grow themselves and drink what they can collect on their own … or brew themselves. Monks of different orders have brewed beer for their own consumption since the Middle Ages, choosing hearty ales that help tide them over during fasts.
Are Trappist monks allowed to drink?
In fact, Trappist monks even have a certification process for their beer. Authentic Trappist beers are brewed and sold mainly in European monasteries – the only North American monastery actively brewing and selling beer is in Spencer, Mass.
Is a Trappist a Catholic?
The Trappists, officially known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Latin: Ordo Cisterciensis Strictioris Observantiae, abbreviated as OCSO) and originally named the Order of Reformed Cistercians of Our Lady of La Trappe, are a Catholic religious order of cloistered monastics that branched off from ...
What denomination are Trappist monks?
Trappist, formally member of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.) , member of the reformed branch of Roman Catholic Cistercians founded by Armand-Jean Le Bouthillier de Rancé in France in 1664.
What country are Trappist beers brewed today?
There are seven Trappist breweries—six in Belgium and one in the Netherlands—that brew beer for commercial sale. They are Westmalle, Westvleteren, Chimay, Koningshoeven, Rochefort, Orval, and Achel.
How many Trappist beers are there?
Seven beers can legally use the name Trappist and apply the special logo to the bottles. They include Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle, and Westvleteren, all located in Belgium, and located in the Netherlands is La Trappe.
Is Leffe a Trappist beer?
In 1952 (Leffe, 2021) Father Abbot Nys and brewer Albert Lootvoet, along with his brewery (Lootvoet brewery), entered a partnership and revived the old brewing traditions of the abbey (Leffe, 2021). Since then, Leffe is no longer considered a Trappist Beer.
What beer do monks drink?
The monks certainly did enjoy the fruits of their labor. They drank up to four liters of ale per day per person and even relied on beer for nutrition during fasting.
Is Trappist a lager or an ale?
Trappist beers are ales brewed by Trappist monks, a monastic Roman Catholic order that originated in La Trappe, France in the 17th century as an offshoot of the strict Cistercian order.
What monastery brews beer?
In 1945, the Trappist monaster y St. Sixtus decided it would stop the sale of its beer and an agreement was reached whereby the monks would brew only beer for their own consumption but sell it to the public at the gates of the monastery and to a few taverns connected to the monastery. They gave a license to the cheese factory, and Brewery St. Bernard was founded. The brew master from Westvleteren, Mathieu Szafranski (from Polish origin) became a partner in the brewery and brought along the recipes, the know-how and the St. Sixtus yeast strain. Deconinck brewed and sold the Trappist beers under license before a new contract was agreed in 1962. In 1992, the agreement came to an end because the Trappist monasteries decided that Trappist beer could only be brewed inside the walls of a monastery. Since 1992 the beers brewed in Watou have been sold under the brand name St. Bernardus.
Why did the Trappist beer agreement end?
In 1992, the agreement came to an end because the Trappist monasteries decided that Trappist beer could only be brewed inside the walls of a monastery. Since 1992 the beers brewed in Watou have been sold under the brand name St. Bernardus.
What is the beer called that matures in a cave?
Previously sold under the St. Bernardus label: Grottenbier - Belgian Dark Ale (6.5% ABV); . Its name means 'cave beer', because the beer matures in a cave for two months. Sold from 2001 until 2014, now sold under the name "Grotten Santé" by Brewery Kazematten.
Who is the brewer of Trappist beer?
The brew master from Westvleteren, Mathieu Szafranski (from Polish origin) became a partner in the brewery and brought along the recipes, the know-how and the St. Sixtus yeast strain. Deconinck brewed and sold the Trappist beers under license before a new contract was agreed in 1962.
Where did the Catsberg Abbey move to?
In the late 19th century anti-clericalism in France forced the Catsberg Abbey Community to move to the village of Watou in West Flanders, Belgium. The Refuge Notre Dame de St. Bernard was established, originally producing cheese to finance abbey activities.
What is the difference between Westvleteren XII and Abt 12?
The biggest difference is that the Westvleteren XII carbonation is lower and much smoother compared to the sharper carbonation of the St. Bernardus Abt 12. While both beers are bottle conditioned, there’s a good chance that differing amounts ...
What is St Bernadus' beer?
St Bernadus also runs the Brewery Kazematten brewpub in the town of Ypres, which brews Wipers Times 14 (Belgian blonde ale), Wipers Times 16 (Belgian dubbel) and Grotten Sante (Belgian brown ale). The Tripel and Abt 12 are both readily available in the United States. The monks of Saint-Sixtus still brew their original version ...
Why do monks brew Trappist beer?
Since 1838, the monks at Saint-Sixtus Abbey have been brewing Trappist ales in the Belgian tradition in order to support their monastic way of life. But following World War II, the monks decided to commercialize their beer and scale back production at the abbey and find a place to brew on a larger scale than the monastery would allow.
What was the name of the brewery that Deconinck sold the beer under?
In 1962, both parties agreed to sign another contract, allowing Deconinck to brew and sell the beer under the Brewery St. Bernard name.
Do monks still brew Westvleteren XII?
The monks of Saint-Sixtus still brew their original version of the Westvleteren XII (along with a dubbel and a blonde). Outside of visiting their café across the street or getting through on the abbey’s beer phone (which is nearly impossible), you aren’t able to purchase their beer, though some stores in Belgium illegally sell it at a high markup. On rare occasions, the monks will sell the beer internationally to raise additional funds to help sustain the abbey. Unlike the Abt 12, the Westvleteren XII is very difficult to find outside of Belgium.
Where is Westvleteren XII brewed?
Most beer aficionados know of Westvleteren XII, the Holy Grail of beers, brewed by the monks of the Saint-Sixtus Abbey in the southern countryside of Vleteren, Belgium. But few know the muddled history of this storied beer and its connection to St. Bernardus.
What is the taste of a Belgian quad?
Taste is amazing. Follows the nose in the fruity, malty, balanced yet kind of sweet goodness. This is a very malt forward and very traditional Belgian style quad and it gives its personality through the taste. Very awesome. Small, hardly noticeable alcohol and nice sweet earthy tones with lots of zappy malt breadyness.
What does a toasted malt taste like?
Taste of toasted malts, lemon, caramel, mildly sweet, mildly bitter, just a hint of the abv. Complex yet very drinkable: contemplation drink.
What color is a pour?
Pours a dark reddish brown. If you pour hard you get a runaway fluffy head. A careful slow pour works better.
What temperature should I serve a Rochefort 10?
Well carbonated and good mouthfeel. Overall very enjoyable, but personally I tried it for the first time right after a Rochefort 10 and found it lacking by comparison. Make sure it comes up to temperature before serving. I would recommend as high as 55 to 60 degrees, as the flavor profile comes out much more profoundly after it warms.
What does a dark brown beer taste like?
Pours a dark brown with decent clarity and a large head. Inoffensive smell with hints of spice and malt. Very low carbonation. Tastes spicy and dark chocolatey.
What is Abt 12?
Overall: Abt 12 is an extreme beer, perhaps best meant to be split with a friend after a complex dinner and sipped and enjoyed slowly.
What does the scent of a sourdough bread smell like?
It has a signature scent of Belgian yeast, dark fruits and a hint of wine.
