American Trappist Beer in MA

Discussion in 'Beer News' started by dawatts, May 21, 2012.

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  1. PhilLesh

    PhilLesh Initiate (0) Jul 30, 2007 Massachusetts

    Thank God for beer !
     
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  2. JKV96

    JKV96 Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2013 Massachusetts

    Has anyone heard any updates on this yet? Would be great if did happen.
     
  3. 77black_ships

    77black_ships Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2012 Belgium

    This means that there will be 2 new trappist breweries by the end of 2013?
    Abbey of Maria Toevlucht (Zundert) & Spencer. I hope that the American one will make it to Belgium. I have been trying to try all trappist beers so far. I am still missing 4 beers (one more is going to be done soon). Achel is the hardest one to do.
     
  4. BruChef

    BruChef Pundit (963) Nov 8, 2009 New York

    Nah, Achel is the easiest one cuz it's the most delicious! Seriously though, I know what you mean. I used to have access to it any the time but it hasn't been on shelves here in Rochester in almost a year. Apparently the contract between our local distributor and the shelton bros. was up for renewal but they haven't yet come to terms.
     
  5. RochefortChris

    RochefortChris Grand Pooh-Bah (3,017) Oct 2, 2012 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    You forgot Engelszell
     
  6. 77black_ships

    77black_ships Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2012 Belgium


    Well Achel has the second smallest production of all the trappists, for a year or so they have been selling their beer in one of the Belgian supermarket chains. Their two main beers are easy to get hold of here but that obviously cuts of supplies to the USA. The thing is that they have beers only available at their bar. I am still missing the two Achel 5 beers. I am also missing Achel Extra Blond (Achelse Zomer 2004) but I think that I am never going to get that one. I still need those 3 & the new La Trappe which just came out.
     
  7. BruChef

    BruChef Pundit (963) Nov 8, 2009 New York

    Wow, you're going for the whole nine yards. I thought you meant just the typical quad/bdsa line up. Hope you're able to find them all. That'd be one hell of a tasting!
     
  8. VictorWisc

    VictorWisc Maven (1,355) Jan 2, 2013 Massachusetts

    I also heard a number of them apprenticed with local brewers--one brewer (Pretty Things) confirmed that he had at least two such apprentices over the last couple of years.
     
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  9. rgordon

    rgordon Pooh-Bah (2,677) Apr 26, 2012 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Mepkin Abbey outside of Charleston should brew Spanish Moss Abbey Ale, and Swamp Fox Quad.
     
  10. macandrewsRIP

    macandrewsRIP Devotee (375) Oct 28, 2007 Massachusetts

    Have to echo the comments of jte5029. My father worked as a sales rep back for the monastery back in the 70's, and was able to work on the grounds as well as the gatekeeper. Our family keeps in touch with a couple of brothers once a year around Xmas. I mentioned I heard about the brewery last year and yes, the monks trained under the monks of Chimay. Haven't heard of an October release but should be exciting!
     
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  11. kevpaq

    kevpaq Initiate (0) Aug 9, 2011 Maine

    I had a chance to speak to a Monk at Spencer back in March. He said they were getting the yeast from the Cistercians that make Chimay. They had developed a recipe and were basically in the process of making sure that the first batch tasted the same at the 10,000th batch. The plan was to begin brewing in July 2013 with the goal of having it on shelves in September of 2013. Supposedly, a distributor has bought everything they can sell for the first three years, but I have no idea where/when we can expect to see the product on the shelves. The Monks were hoping that since there were no transportation costs associated with getting the product to the U.S., the price would be lower. I would think the distributor could charge the same as they do for Chimay, and simply pocket the added $$. I spoke to a Monk this morning who knew claimed not to know the timeline for rolling out the product.
     
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  12. s35keith

    s35keith Initiate (0) Oct 27, 2011 Massachusetts

    I will visit!
     
  13. WD_Eisemann

    WD_Eisemann Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Any more news regarding the brewery at Spencer Abbey? I was just enjoying an English muffin with some of their excellent preserves the other morning and I wondered why no US Trappist monasteries had begun brewing beer to supplement their income. I then stumbled upon this thread, much to my excitement.
    In any case, there is still no updated information available online, so I was wondering if things were taking longer than anticipated. There is still no mention of a brewery at all on the Abby's website, but understandably, all their product information is kept quite low-key.
    Thanks for any information!
     
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  14. JDT123

    JDT123 Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2013

    Hello everyone,

    I am aspirant (a man discerning monastic vocation) at St. Joseph's Abbey and just returned from a vocational weekend at the abbey. The brewery looks fantastic and the brothers will be holding a small blessing next weekend for the brewery as well as the water source. They will be holding other very small events for their own families and members of the local community on upcoming dates as well. Beyond that, the brewery is within the cloister (of course) and therefore not open to the public in any capacity, not even lay people on retreat. Unfortunately this means no 'brewery tours' or visits, at least not normally. I don't have much information beyond that and they are rightfully keeping it within their community at the moment, not releasing much public information so I am also trying to respect that privacy. Needless to say it is going to be fantastic!

    I hope this helped a bit and I hope you all enjoy the beer once it becomes available!

    God bless, NPSSA.

    "The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me."

    - Meister Eckhart, the Sermons of Meister Echkhart.
     
  15. MA08

    MA08 Zealot (715) Nov 13, 2008 Massachusetts

  16. WD_Eisemann

    WD_Eisemann Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2013 Pennsylvania

  17. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,689) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Going by the BJCP style guidelines, it could be either a golden ale or Dubbel.
    I am really looking forward to the Abbey releasing the beers. I am a fan of those styles and to be able to get them extremely fresh will be a bonus.
     
  18. WD_Eisemann

    WD_Eisemann Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Can't wait until this is available. Hopefully it will make it to Pennsylvania at some point, but I will gladly take a road trip to MA if necessary, even if they decide to sell it only at the abbey in the manner of Westvleteren.
     
  19. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,071) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    From the rear label:

    [​IMG]


    6.5% abv (noted on neck label) in 330 ml and 750 ml bottles.

    And their website is listed but doesn't appear to be operative yet - http://spencerbrewery.com/
     
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  20. WD_Eisemann

    WD_Eisemann Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Thank you very much! Looks even more appealing as it appears to be a stronger take on a Patersbier. Glad they are doing something different than the standard dark Trappist ales. (not that there is anything wrong with them!)

    Cheers!
     
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