Our American Trappist brewery, Spencer goes a different route to Santa’s glass with an amber lager. They have brewed it with honey and spices to add that festivity.
Santa’s Pint Glass – Day 8
One Less Trappist
It appears that Achel will have to switch their labeling from Trappist to Abbey in the near future as the monastic community has dwindled down to (from what I have read) just two monks.
It was probably understood when the Trappist rules were laid down that this rule could be the Achilles heel of the Trappist designation. Not only is religion taking a dip in attendance but the monks average age has been on an upward trajectory as well.
Westmalle has been brewing the beer for awhile but even they are at only 27 monks.
It will be interesting to see if any changes to the three rules are made or if they make tiers and promote the tiers equally. I would be for more truth in advertising such as monk brewed, monk supervised or profits go to monks but they are not involved, just the recipe is trademarked.
I think tradition is grand but having the beer still around is grander.
Featured Review – Spencer Trappist Ale
Now the final review of American Trappist ales from Spencer Brewery. The last review is of the Patersbier…
If given this blind, I would have said it was brewed in Belgium with maximum assurance. This is a really nice beer right from the start. Medium dark orange in color. Lovely bready and clove hit. It is not pie spicy but that yeast is setting off hints of allspice and tiny amounts of nutmeg and it is a constant flavor. This beer finished silky and smooth. I have been very impressed with the Spencer beers. I have this as the best by a slight margin over the pilsner.
Featured Review – Spencer Premium Pilsner
Now my third (of four) American Trappist ale from Spencer Brewery. This time around is…
…which I could tell as the aromas from this pilsner reached my nose that it was going to be steps above just good. Big Germanic Noble hops and grain mix flooded in. Super crisp. Big wet mouthfeel to it. Contrary but it works Mineral notes take over from there with no sweetness at all.
Featured Review – Spencer Monk’s IPA
Onto my second ever American Trappist ale from Spencer Brewery. This time the very modern 16oz canned IPA.
Orange and slightly hazy in appearance. I am getting a lot of pine notes from this IPA. Good hop to malt balance. A bit of a wine grape flavor here too. The bitterness lingers on the tongue. A tiny bit of lemon notes as well. Part of this flavor profile might be due to the fact that it was an October canned beer.
Featured Beer Review – Spencer Holiday Ale
This was my first ever sip of an American Trappist ale! Spencer Brewery made a drop of their range in Los Angeles and I was able to pick up most of their packaged beers. The Holiday Ale is like comfort food for me. A malt bonanza. And really nicely spicy as well. Pours a dark brown color. Love the pair with family and friends line on the label. Fruitcake notes here but heavier on that Belgian Tripel note. That clove hit is evident. Also a jammy plum note. Nice sparkle here.
Monk List
If you thought the world of Belgian beer was easy to peg, well, You have to look for more than just the Trappist seal. Jeff at the Beervana Blog has compiled a helpful list that I know I will check back to in 2020.
Look at the rundown, right HERE.
Orval Day…
…is coming and I suggest you buy a bottle to celebrate earlier rather than later.
Last March, I went a’lookin’ for a bottle to pop open on the appointed day and found empty shelves at my local and at two BevMo’s.
Orval is such a fun beer and one that I should have more than once a year and you should too.
Book Review – Trappist Beer Travels
There are some books that just make you thirsty and travel the next day to Belgium. Trappist Beer Travels is just such a book.
The conceit is simple. Visit each of the Official Trappist breweries, take a bunch of photographs and get the historical record of each. Oh, and try some beer.
The three authors do a great job of concisely telling the long histories behind each of the monasteries as well as giving you the info needed about visiting. The photographs really transport your there though, finishing the seduction. There are the requisite beer glass shots but also great views of the grounds and the brewing equipment.
You could say the book is a bit pedestrian. There are some personal notes included but this book isn’t about that or long-winded beer tasting notes. It isn’t a fancy windmill dunk of a book but more of a graceful layup. Half coffee table book and half reference book.
Saint Bernard
Look like # 12 is in the works. The next Trappist brewery will be overseen by the monks of Mount St Bernard Abbey in Leicestershire.
This is still way in the early stages of planning though so don’t book travel to England just yet if you are a Trappist completist.
Monasteries in Austria, the US and Italy produce Trappist approved beer currently.