The Independant, over in the UK, runs a story on how the monks of Saint Sixtus feel overwhelmed by the demand for their world famous Westvleteren Abt 12 beer.
I'm a little curious as to why this is portrayed as a new thing. RateBeer.com may have recently chosen Abt 12 as the world's top brew, but Westvleteren beer has been justly famous for several decades now as appreciation for traditional brews has returned with a vengence.
Of the other Trappist breweries (which make their product a little easier for consumers to get) the most widely distributed is Chimay. Their Chimay Grand Reserve is a cousin to Abt 12, strong, aged brown ale with a complex palate of flavors. It's sold in champaign-sized bottles for $8 and up. If you are a beer afficianado, find a bottle and consider all the wonderful things that monasticism has brought to the Western World.
Here's Saint Sixtus's website.
Moderation in all things...
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm enough of a beer geek that I brew my own from time to time, including a recipe based on Chimay abbey's quite excelent strong brown ale.
But I must confess that coffee and alcohol are the two things I find very, very hard to give up for any length of time. In coffee I could be accused of excess. But of alcohol I'm on the one drink a day schedule.
I respect the stance Saint Sxtus's Abbey has taken, but I don't like it. I would LOVE to try Westvleteren Abt 12.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of these Trappist beers reserve some of the finished beer and let it bottle condition (age) for a year of more. They come in 1.5L (Magnum) & 3.0L (Jeroboam). I've had the privledge of sharing a Magnum (it was one year old) of Chimay Grande Reserve with a good buddy. Absolutely delicious! The complex palate of flavors continues to exist but the beer definitely mellows after a year.
I once read an article where three different years of the Chimay Grande Reserve Magnums were brought out for sampling (I'm envious). The bottles were 1, 2, or 3 years old, and each possesed unique characteristics. Generally, you can get a Magnum for about $30. I saw the Jeroboam for $75.
I'm thirsy.