Trappist beer production in Belgium faces uncertainties due to fewer people choosing a life of monastic contemplation.
Westmalle is now one of only five Trappist breweries in Belgium and is part of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance.
More:
- Westmalle is an international brand that produces 40m bottles of beer annually and has been brewing for nearly 190 years.
- The International Trappist Association (ITA) mandates that beer, cheese, or other goods can bear the "authentic Trappist product" label only if made inside an abbey under the supervision of monks or nuns, with all profits destined for the upkeep of the religious community, the wider Trappist order, and charities.
- Their ethos, rather than taste, determines Trappist beers; they can be anything from pilsners to strong beers.
- There is a decline in Trappist monasteries in Europe, with a few exceptions.
Westmalle has secular staff overseeing the day-to-day operations, while the monks remain in charge of the brewery.
