One More Trappist?

I saw this on the fabulous Brookston Beer Bulletin site. Jay Brooks writes,“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.”

I wonder how the whole application process is for this designation? Are there check-ups from inspectors? A letter grade like restaurants in California? And most importantly will this open the floodgates to more?

The Beer Allowance – January

One of my gifts from Christmas 2011 was an “extra” beer allowance of $20 a month. And I have promised to chronicle what I have bought and then I will come back and add tasting notes when (if), I drink them. Some might go into my expanding beer cellar.

So this month I got two beers with my twenty. With a little to roll over into February!

Pretty Things has been sending more and more beer out to the west coast. At first, all I could find was the Jack D’Or saison but now we have Hedgerow Bitter, Field Mouse Farewell and last night I had the Our Finest Regards barleywine. All distinctively Pretty in character. And so when I saw the Sylvan Stout at Whole Foods, I decided to spend on that. But what would the second beer be?

I decided that I wanted to try a Belgian ale. So I went to the middle Rochefort that was available and grabbed the 8. I usually do not buy these beers because they are pricy for the size and I can get a variety of quality Belgians on tap at Lucky Baldwin’s here in L.A. if the mood strikes. But now, maybe, I will pick up 6 and 10 and the Bruin as well over the next few months.

Stupid politicians

Ugh! Politicians make me want to scream.

Mississippi (home of the fabulous Lazy Magnolia Brewery) is losing the ABV restriction battle it seems. Check out this ARTICLE for the info.

All the politicians have to do is raise the limitation. And it isn’t even a big ask. from 5 to 8%. Mississippi would still be excluding alot of beer (if that is their goal). But more breweries might open if the cap was at 8% and Lazy Magnolia would be able to brew and (gee whiz) sell more beer too!

So check out the website for Raise Your Pints and support from wherever you are.