Guest Video Review by Jeff Lyons
Well how do you like that? The world has another Trappist brewery. There are only ten in the word, you see. Most of them (six) are in Belgium, and those that are familiar with Trappist ales usually associate the term with Belgium as well as the Netherlands where two more are located. There’s one in Austria and now, last but not least, one in the United States: St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts. In 2013, St. Joseph’s Abbey began to offer Spencer Trappist Ale to the public.
As a beer geek in the nineties, I remember the excitement when the Achel Trappist brewery opened in 1998. Some of the existing Trappist breweries then, after all, were centuries old. Achel is located in Belgium, though, so how exciting is an American Trappist brewery? Another wonderful development for American craft beer.
If you don’t already know, Trappist monks follow a Catholic regimen of prayer and self-reliance following the Rule of St. Benedict. I won’t go into all the details of that rule, but I will mention the part that relates to beer: mainly, a self-sustaining community that produces its own food and drink. Hence, breweries and beer (though Trappist orders are also known for wine and food products such as cheese, as well).
Should you be considering becoming a monk (or maybe just want to know more about the monastery), you can learn about St. Joseph’s Abbey at their website. Before you get too excited, however, you should know that there are strict limits on the amount of beer the monks are allowed to consume.
Spencer Trappist Ale was first offered in 2013 and is presently only sold in Massachusetts. The beer retails at $8.99 for a 4-pack of 11.2 ounce bottles and has an alcohol content of 6.5% by volume. According to the brewery website, Spencer Trappist Ale is made with a “Spencer Malt Mix” of 2-row and 6-row malts, Munich malt, abbey cultivated yeast, and Yakima Valley hops that include Willamette and Nugget. The monastery has its own well as a water source, and the monks have planted their own field of barley and plan to use it in future brews.
Spencer Trappist Ale pours to a cloudy orange color with a moderate head of tightly packed foam and a wonderfully inviting nose of Belgian yeasty funk, vanilla, banana and clove. Taking a sip, I get the clove and banana right away followed by the funk all on top of a light, slightly chewy caramel maltiness. Plum fruitiness emerges as the beer warms, followed by a gentle herbal grassy hop aroma and soft balancing bitterness at the last.
A delightful beer, full of flavor and character yet eminently drinkable at the same time. This Trappist single ale may be hard to find, but it’s worth seeking out. Not to be missed!
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft