I swear, my dear American craft breweries, that one day we'll drink a bunch of your product. I promise this. However, if it's Tuesday, then it's another offering from Europe. This time, it's the quad from De Koningshoeven, better known as La Trappe, a brewery in Holland. This amber beer brings aromas of malt and some light citrus. The taste immediately brings a sweet taste of malt and yeast, with banana and caramel present. Bottle conditioned with roots dating back to 1884, this trappist ale weighs in at 10% ABV and definitely packs a punch.
But you ask: what's a trappist ale?
I'm glad you asked that question. Trappist ales come from monks who brew beer to sustain their monastery and support charitable causes. There are seven officially certified Trappist breweries, and they're serious about the designation. De Koningshoeven had their Trappist status taken away previously, and only returned back once they proved the monks were brewing the beer, not some hired hands.
To beer geeks, the Trappist label is a big deal, although there are rumors of an eighth monastery trying to gain the status. Part of the reason why it's a big deal is because these beers are among the best Belgium (and the Netherlands!) have to offer. To receive this designation, you need to put in some work. From trappist.be:
“Trappist” has to satisfy a number of strict criteria proper to this logo before it may bear this name:
- The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, either by the monks themselves or under their supervision.
- The brewery must be of secondary importance within the monastery and it should witness to the business practices proper to a monastic way of life.
- The brewery is not intended to be a profit-making venture. The income covers the living expenses of the monks and the maintenance of the buildings and grounds. Whatever remains is donated to charity for social work and to help persons in need.
- Trappist breweries are constantly monitored to assure the irreproachable quality of their beers.
These monks brew beer and help those in need? I like it.
Thing to Think About Today:
Let's see.... A beer from Holland. Must mean its time for you to think about.... Hall and Oates. Get it? Holland Oates? Yeah, that was pretty weak. Anyway.
Anyone can suggest you listen to 80's pop sensation Hall and Oates, so I'll take it one step further and suggest you listen to a duo that decided to produce an entire album of Hall and Oates covers. Yes friends, its time for you to unwind, relax, kick back, and think about The Bird and The Bee!
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