Europe’s top monastic breweries

For some of us, drinking beer is akin to a religious experience, so sampling a Trappist beer and visiting a monastic brewery is a match made in heaven. Brewed exclusively by Trappist monks in their monasteries, these breweries were born out of the desire for the community to be self-sufficient and selling beer helped move towards this.

Europe is the epicentre for these world-conquering breweries, and we’ve selected a few of the best.

Westvleteren Brewery in Vleteren, Belgium

There’s a reason the monks at Westvleteren Brewery in Belgium are so secretive – they produce what’s dubbed by many as the best beer in the world. Housed in the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus, the brewery was opened in the late 1830s, but didn’t begin selling the beer until about a century later. 26 monks live here, five of them are in charge of brewing the beer, while another five bottle it. This happens on an incredibly micro-scale (they brew the least amount of beer of any Trappist brewery), producing just enough beer to sustain the abbey, which means coming into possession of one of their three types of beers is a tricky process.

Take one sip of the iconic yellow-capped Westvleteren 12, and you’ll be swept up into its smooth, maltiness, laced with nut, cherry and wood tones. There’s also the Westvleteren Blonde 6, for blonde ale fans, and the fruity, amber Westvleteren 8 for anyone looking for a wonderful crowd-pleaser. Due to demand, you’ll need to call the brewery in advance if you’d like to pick up a crate, or simply head to their onsite shop. Sleep off the drinks at Guesthouse Recour, in nearby Poperinge.

De Koningshoeven Brewery in Berkel-Enschot, The Netherlands

The Netherlands has two trappist breweries, with De Koningshoeven Brewery being the larger and more well-known producer. The Abbey was established back in 1881, but it wasn’t until 1928 that their first ale, the ‘La Trappe Blond’, was introduced. Though the brewery has collaborated with other manufacturers and breweries over the years, the beer is always brewed by the monks.

Their most notable beer is La Trappe Quadrupel – a dark, heavy ale, with hints of clove, vanilla and raisins. It is also the first beer of its kind, using four times the amount of malt in production than standard Trappist ales. Luckily there are lighter options including the Witte Trappist (a light, wheat beer) and the La Trappe Bockbier, a smoky seasonal ale that will leave a lingering taste of roasted coffee in your mouth. The brewery has a tasting room, so sample them all before retreating to Bij Jans B&B.

Engelszell Abbey in Engelhartszell, Austria

With a soaring 76-metre-high tower, Engelszell Abbey is worth visiting for its looks as well as its beer. A glorious example of Rococo style, pale walls curve up to frescoed ceilings and ornate cornices, all beautifully interwoven in Baroque glamour. The Abbey now serves as a monastery which subsists off the beers and liqueurs it brews, so journey into the wooded hills of Upper Austria for nature, and a bit of self-nurturing. All their beers are named after the monks who lived here – the Benno beer is a spicy, autumnal number while Gregorius is a dark, malty and chocolate ale.

For visitors that are less partial to beer, the monastery also produces its own range of liqueurs, inspired by the Swiss pharmacist who invested in the monastery when the monks moved in (again) in 1925. Try one of the herbal spirits or a juniper liqueur at the Abbey’s shop, or take some back with you to Romantikhaus Hufschmiede.

Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Whitwick, United Kingdom

Accredited by the International Trappist Association, Mount Saint Bernard Abbey is the UK’s only Trappist brewery and can be found deep within the Leicestershire countryside. Once a dairy farm, these days the monastery is far more than just milk, having recently launched their very first English Trappist Ale – Tynt Meadow.

Taking its name from the meadow in which the monks settled, Tynt Meadow is a dark ale that combines hits of chocolate, liquorice and bitter orange marmalade flavours, balanced with subtle pepper and fig tones. Find yourself a sunny spot in the surrounding fields and take a hearty swig or two of this beer, a fitting setting for a true original. Then, after a few more swigs, The Barn Courtyard is mercifully close by.

Tre Fontane Abbey in Rome, Italy

The fresh scent of eucalyptus trees will be the first thing you notice at the Tre Fontane Abbey (or Abbey of Three Fountains) in Rome. Linger a little longer, however, and you’ll find it’s not just the air that has a fragrant, minty scent. This Cistercian monastery has its own brewery, with the eucalyptus-infused Tre Fontane Tripel being the sole beer.

Its name derives from the Abbey, which legend suggests came about when Saint Paul was decapitated and for each time his head bounced on the ground, a fountain popped up. While the beer doesn’t quite manage the supernatural, it’s one way to send your head spinning in a good way. A drink that feels light but has abundant body, the eucalyptus gives it a refreshing and slightly sweet aftertaste. Enjoy one of these in a Roman summer on your way back to G55 Design Hotel.