Belgium will lose one of its Trappist beers
@BELGAIMAGE
Jan Tormans, owner of the Tormans group, has signed a purchase agreement concerning the abbey. The entrepreneur reportedly intends to expand the brewery, but since no monks will be involved in the brewing process anymore, the beer can no longer be called Trappist. The taste, however, should not change. Three years ago, the last monks left the “Achelse Kluis” (name given to the Abbey of Saint Benedict) for the Abbey of Westmalle (province of Antwerp). As brewing activities were continued under the supervision of Westmalle Abbey, Achel’s beer was able to continue to be known as Trappist. However, the label “Authentic Trappist Product” disappeared from the label and was replaced by the coat of arms of the monastery, because no more monks lived in the abbey. In addition to the brewery itself, there is also a tavern area and a shop located in the Saint-Benoît abbey. There are also some ex-drug addicts who are cared for there by the religious community of Brazilian origin “Fazenda da Esperança”.
More than 5 Trappist beers in Belgium
In the spring of 2021, investments had been made to increase the capacity of the brewery to 5,000 hectoliters per year. St. Benedict Abbey has been listed for sale for some time by Westmalle Abbey. Some of the buildings need to be restored. Jan Tormans wants to focus primarily on brewing. However, according to the conditions of sale, he will also have to ensure the proper maintenance of the buildings as well as the surrounding nature. With the sale of “Achelse Kluis”, there will only be five “Trappist” beers left in Belgium: in Westmalle (province of Antwerp), Westvleteren (West Flanders), Chimay (Hainaut), Orval (province of Luxembourg ) and Rochefort (province of Namur).