Belgian Abbey beers?

[mac56]

The flower of the South, the great state of Georgia, recently repealed its "weak beer" laws. This means that as soon as the distributors get their systems worked out, we'll be able to buy high-gravity (strong) "gourmet" beers here in the Peach State.

For me this means I'll be able to try Belgian Abbey beers for the first time. I consider myself a beer enthusiast and advocate, but have never tried one of these. What are the good ones? What are the ones to avoid? No doubt they'll come at premium prices as well, so I'll have to be a judicious shopper at least initially.

Any thoughts?

[Beware the Beast Man]

1. mmmmmm

I remember seeing this on the Beer Hunter on PBS. The monks brew beer as a form of penance (now that's the way to repent! :) ). Let me know how it is when you try it, I'm curious myself.

[mac56]

2. Actually, not as penance.

The monks started brewing beers at their abbeys because the water supply was so unpredictable. Also because of their vows to provide lodging and food.

Whatever the reason, I'm looking forward to them.

[Beware the Beast Man]

6. It's still a good gig

I'd brew beer over copying manuscipts any day!

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

3. I quit drinking but I have some knowledge here

Chimay is he standard and their beers are very good. They will get expensive.

I found that the best ones came from actual Abbeys (monasteries). Try these as well

ORVAL, ROCHEFORT, WESTMALLE, WESTVLETEREN, St Benedictus, ACHELSE KLUIS, KONINGSHOEVEN

these are the trappist breweries - the good stuff.

Man I could go for a root beer!

:)

[Brewman_Jax]

4. They're already available

at a couple of the package stores I drive past. I haven't had any yet. Enjoy! :beer:

[mac56]

5. Just starting to show up here in Athens.

nm

[LSatyl]

7. There are only 7 true Trappisten brewers in the world

6 in Belgium, 1 in the Netherlands:

Belgium:
Chimay
Orval
Rochefort
Westmalle
Westvleteren
St Benedictus, Achelse Kluis

Netherlands:
Koningshoeven

Apart from those "official" Trappist (all brewed on the grounds of a monastery by monks), there are a number of Abbey Beers, like Grimbergen, which are the same in all but name.

My personal favourite: Westmalle, but before you decide on one: try them all :evilgrin: