Brouwerij de Achelse Kluis
Encyclopedia
Achel brewery or Brouwerij der Sint-Benedictusabdij de Achelse Kluis is a Belgian
Trappist
brewery
, and the smallest of the seven currently approved Trappist breweries. It is located in the Abbey of Saint Benedict
in the Belgian municipality of Achel. It brews five trappist beer
s.
, and various farming activities began. The first beer to be brewed on the site was the Patersvaatje in 1852, and 19 years later in 1871, the site became a Trappist monastery, with beer brewing a regular activity.
In 1914 during World War I, the monks left the abbey due to German occupation. The Germans dismantled the brewery in 1917 to salvage the approximately 700 kg of copper. In 1998 the monk
s decided to begin brewing again. Monks from the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle and Rochefort Abbey
assisted in the building of the new brewery.
In 2001, the brewery released the Achel 8° beers.
Like all other Trappist breweries, the beers are sold in order to support the monastery and charities.
The Blonde 5° and Brune 5° are only available on tap at the abbey whilst, except from the Achel Extra Blonde, the others are marketed worldwide. The Achel Extra Blonde is only sold in the abbey.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Trappist
TRAPPIST
TRAPPIST is Belgian robotic telescope in Chile which came online in 2010, and is an acronym for TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope, so named in homage to Trappist beer produced in the Belgian region. Situated high in the Chilean mountains at La Silla Observatory, it is actually...
brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
, and the smallest of the seven currently approved Trappist breweries. It is located in the Abbey of Saint Benedict
Achel Abbey
The Trappist Abbey of Achel or Saint Benedictus-Abbey or also Achelse Kluis , which belongs to the Cistercians of Strict Observance, is located in Achel in the Campine region of the province of Limburg . The abbey is famous for its spiritual life and its brewery, which is one of few Trappist beer...
in the Belgian municipality of Achel. It brews five trappist beer
Trappist beer
A Trappist beer is a beer brewed by or under control of Trappist monks. There are a total of 174 Trappist monasteries worldwide ; only seven produce Trappist beer and are authorized to label their beers with the Authentic Trappist Product logo that indicates a compliance to the various rules of...
s.
History
The history of the brewery goes back to 1648, when Dutch monks built a chapel in Achel. The chapel became an abbey in 1686, but was destroyed during the period of the French Revolution. In 1844, the ruins were rebuilt by monks from WestmalleWestmalle
Westmalle is a village which is located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The village itself is part of the municipality of Malle.-Tourism:...
, and various farming activities began. The first beer to be brewed on the site was the Patersvaatje in 1852, and 19 years later in 1871, the site became a Trappist monastery, with beer brewing a regular activity.
In 1914 during World War I, the monks left the abbey due to German occupation. The Germans dismantled the brewery in 1917 to salvage the approximately 700 kg of copper. In 1998 the monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s decided to begin brewing again. Monks from the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle and Rochefort Abbey
Rochefort Abbey
The Trappist Abbey of Rochefort or Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, which belongs to the Cistercians of Strict Observance, is located in Rochefort in the province of Namur . The abbey is famous for its spiritual life and its brewery, which is one of few Trappist beer breweries in the world...
assisted in the building of the new brewery.
In 2001, the brewery released the Achel 8° beers.
Like all other Trappist breweries, the beers are sold in order to support the monastery and charities.
Beers
- Achel Blonde 5°, 5% ABVAlcohol by volumeAlcohol by volume is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in an alcoholic beverage .The ABV standard is used worldwide....
- Achel Brune 5°, 5% ABV
- Achel Blonde 8°, 8% ABV
- Achel Brune 8°, 8% ABV
- Achel Extra, 9.5% ABV Brune (75cl only)
- Achel Extra, 9.5% ABV Blonde (75cl only)
The Blonde 5° and Brune 5° are only available on tap at the abbey whilst, except from the Achel Extra Blonde, the others are marketed worldwide. The Achel Extra Blonde is only sold in the abbey.