With another Trappist brewery closing, this time Stift Engelszell in Austria, it may be that craft beer fans will see both the high and low water marks of the protected trademark associated with brewing in a monastery.
At Stift Engelszell, the last four monks made the move to another monastery. It is probably both a victim of changing tastes in not only beer but also in religion. Second sons are not forced into a career path in theology as in the ye’ olde days and even the term primogeniture isn’t used outside of the odd coronation, here or there. It is actually surprising that monasticism has lasted as long as it has.
Hopefully the Trappist organization can find a way to save these recipes and maybe revive the brands under a less stringent set of productions.