A Trappist beer is a beer brewed by or under control of Trappist monks. Of the world's 171 Trappist monasteries (as of April 2005), seven produce beer (six in Belgium and one in The Netherlands). These seven breweries are authorized to label their beers with the Authentic Trappist Product logo that indicates a compliance to various rules edicted by the International Trappist Association (see details below).

History

The Trappist order originates in the Cistercian monastery of La Trappe, France. Various Cistercian congregations existed for many years, and by 1664 the Abbott of La Trappe felt that the Cistercians were becoming too liberal. He introduced strict new rules in the abbey (including only permitting water to be drunk) and the Strict Observance was born. Since this time, many of the rules have been relaxed. In the 19th century, beer was brewed in French monasteries following the strict observance and was later introduced in Belgian monasteries. The Trappists, like many other religious people, brewed beer to fund their work, and monastery brewhouses existed all over Europe. Many of them were destroyed during the French Revolution and the World Wars. Among these monastic breweries, the Trappists were certainly the most active brewers: there were at least six Trappist breweries in France, six in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, one in Germany, one in Austria, and possibly other countries. The growing popularity of Trappist beers drew some unscrupulous brewers with no connection to the order to label their beers as "Trappist". After unsuccessful trials, monks finally sued one such brewer in 1962 in Ghent, Belgium.

The International Trappist Association

In 1997, eight Trappist abbeys - six from Belgium (Orval, Chimay, Westvleteren, Rochefort, Westmalle and Achel), one from The Netherlands (Koningshoeven) and one from Germany (Mariawald) - founded the International Trappist Association (ITA) to prevent non-Trappist commercial companies from abusing the Trappist name. This private association, created a logo that is assigned to goods (cheese, beer, wine, etc.) that respect precise production criteria. For the beers, these criteria are the following:

• The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist abbey, by or under control of Trappist monks.
• The brewery, the choices of brewing, and the commercial orientations must obviously depend on the monastic community.
• The economic purpose of the brewery must be directed toward assistance and not toward financial profit.

This association has a legal standing, and its logo gives to the consumer some information and guarantees about the produce.

There are currently seven breweries that are allowed to have their products wear the Authentic Trappist Product logo:

• Bières de Chimay
• Brasserie d'Orval
• Brasserie de Rochefort
• Brouwerij Westmalle
• Westvleteren
• Brouwerij de Achelse Kluis
• Brouwerij De Koningshoeven (La Trappe)