Belgian Beer
Encyclopedia

Belgian Beer Encyclopedia

Understanding Belgian Trappist beers

Trappist is not a beer style. Explore the connection with abbeys, differences between ranges and profiles of Belgian Trappist beers.

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An origin, not a colour

Trappist beer can be pale or dark, light or strong. The term refers to a monastic community and production conditions, not one recipe. The International Trappist Association oversees the Authentic Trappist Product label: production within or near the abbey, under the community’s supervision, with revenue supporting its needs and social causes.

Trappist and abbey beer are different concepts

A beer named after an abbey is not automatically Trappist. Check the brewery and the specific product against official sources. A producer’s status can change; an old label or a familiar name is not sufficient evidence.

How to compare the beers

Start with the strength, colour and aromatic profile in each entry. Dubbel and Tripel offer useful pointers, but not every Trappist beer belongs to those categories. Orval, for example, has a different profile from Rochefort’s dark beers: compare aromas and brewing methods instead of looking for one universal Trappist taste.

Explore the ranges

To get to know a brewery, compare its beers: alcohol content, flavour profile, glassware and serving advice. To explore a style in more detail, continue with the tripel guide. The selection below brings together the Trappist beers featured in the encyclopedia.

Beers to explore

Sources

Belgian beer guides

Understanding Belgian Trappist beersTrappist is not a beer style. Explore the connection with abbeys, differences between ranges and profiles of Belgian Trappist beers.Lambic, gueuze and kriek: understanding the differencesFrom lambic to gueuze and fruit beer: fermentation, blending, sweetness and practical ways to compare the catalogue’s examples.Belgian tripels: comparing Westmalle, Chimay and KarmelietUnderstand Belgian tripels, compare three examples and choose by brewing method, aroma and packaging format.Breweries and regions: discover Belgium through its beersBrowse the catalogue by province and understand the difference between a brewery, a brand, an abbey and a production site.

The breweries

Chimay: understanding the range and Scourmont breweryDorée, Jaune, Triple, Rouge, Bleue, Verte and barrel-fermented Grande Réserve: explore the seven Chimay beers in the catalogue.Chouffe: Achouffe brewery and its different beersFrom Chouffe Blonde to IPA, dark ales, fruit beers and 0.0% versions: explore the eleven Chouffe entries in the catalogue.Lupulus: discovering the Gouvy brewery and its rangeBlonde, Organicus, Hopera, fruit beers and 0.0% versions: understand the fifteen Lupulus entries in the encyclopedia.
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