Currently there are seven Trappist monastery breweries authorized to use the “Authentic Trappist Product” label by the International Trappist Association. Six are in Belgium, one is in the Netherlands. It looks like an 8th monastery is applying for authorization to brew beer under the official designation. The monastery of Engelszell Stift has filed an application and expects to be notified of the ITAs decision in 4-5 weeks.
According to Trappist-Beers.com, the Engelszell Stift monastery was “founded in 1293 and needs financial input to recover the old paintings, fresco’s and paintings” and has decided to start a small brewery to raise the necessary funds. It is located a little over 120 miles from Munich in Austria. According to Wikipedia, it’s the only one in Austria and is located in the northwest part of the country known as the Innviertel.
From what I could figure out using Google Translate, they’ve already installed the brewery and have started brewing, making two beers, one light and one dark, from 7-10% a.b.v. Much of the package production will be aimed at the U.S. market, so we should be able to find it once it’s ready.
Jay,
From what I understand, there is already an 8th Trappist brewery, Mont des Cats, in France. They sold their first beer last June. They are brewing at Chimay. As I understand it, they have one year from June to start brewing on-site to retain the Trappist designation. Perhaps, they only have a provisional Trappist designation in which case would mean that the brewery you refer to here is officially the 8th. Belgian beer writer, Christian Deglas, described their beer in an email last June: “There is only one style : amber. She is 7,8% vol. Alc. The taste during the introduction is sweet, with a light caramel orientation, followed by a little bitterness.” I tasted it at La Trappe 2 months ago and I would agree with his characterization.
Steve,
Yup, I knew about that one, and the news report I cited mentioned them as well, but so far they do not have the official designation from the ITA. There’s also another brewery in the Netherlands, Abbey Zundert, that’s trying to get it, too. Whoever’s granted it first, though, they’ll be number 8 as far as I can tell.
There is also one sprouting up here in the U.S. Supposedly they will be the first U.S. brewery with a Trappist certification.
Yeah, I’d heard about that, as well. That would be exciting.