Originally posted by UWM
No, it's brewed by Trappist monks in Belgium
If you want good 'Sconny beer check out stuff by New Glarus.
Yes and no.
While it is true that Chimay do currently hold Trappist status they are in real danger of losing it. The brewing process may be largely overseen by the monks, but it is understood that much of it is conducted by an outside brewing staff. Production is also split between the Abbey brewery and a large, modern plant located elsewhere. Not just that, but the brewing ingredients over the years have been changed to offer greater economy. Whole hops have been replaced with an inferior hop extract and up to a third of the malt has been replaced with sugar and wheat starch. Above all the ideal of making just enough money to live as monks has been lost in favour of a full out commercial money making operation.
The other Trappist breweries such as Westvleteren, Orval, Rochefort, Achelse Kluis and even the large Westmalle have remained traditional producers. Many of the secular abbey breweries are also making products more traditional that Chimay. Chimay is easy to get and a good introduction into Belgian beers though.
I also would agree that New Glarus are a great producer of beer.
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Feb-02-2005 03:11
pheonix
tranceaddict in training
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Windsor, Ontario
quote:
Yes and no.
Very insightful
Feb-02-2005 03:30
Boomer187
Spicy Hotdog
Registered: Aug 2001
Location: USA
quote:
Originally posted by mezzir
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