Achel Trappists

Roger Protz turns his attention to Achel brewery and the ‘famous five’ Belgian Trappist breweries

When German troops occupied the monastery of Achel during World War One they observed the conventions of military conflict. As the monastery straddles the border between Belgium and the Netherlands, the Germans seized only the Belgian side, as the Netherlands was neutral. Decency stopped there: the Germans dismantled the copper vessels from the monks’ brewery and took them back to the Fatherland to turn into armaments for the war effort.

Brewing halted at Achel until 1998 when a new brewhouse was built in a former dairy and the monks joined the “Famous Five” Belgian Trappist breweries of Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren. At first the Achel beers were brewed only for consumption in the Auberge, a tavern that dog-legs round the brewery, with a spacious flagstone patio for warm days. The monks – who are a jolly crowd with a robust sense of humour – joked that theirs was the only Trappist brewpub in the world.

While the monastery of St Benedictus is in remote countryside, it is also on popular cycling and walking routes, and visitors quickly spread the news of the Achel beers. As well as the blond and brown beers produced for the tavern, new, stronger brews are now bottled and sold on site as well as in selected shops and bars.

The decision to restart brewing at Achel (pronounced “Arkul”) underlined the problems confronting the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, better known as Trappists from the name of their first monastery at La Trappe in Normand.....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Beers of the World to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By Roger Protz

Section : Brewery Focus

Page number : 34