Sunday, June 12, 2011

Abbaye du Mont des Cats launches “bière trappiste”


My good friend, Trappist beer lover and journalist Danny
Van Tricht, sent me the following article which he posted
on his website about a new beer just launched by the
Trappist Abbey Mont du Cats in Northern France.

I have translated it from the Dutch into English (hopefully
with some precision and with much help from Google) to
get the word out about this new beer.


Danny attended the news conference held by the monks
last week.

All the photos shown are his: Danny Van Tricht photography.

The article:

What everyone has eagerly awaited has now become fact:

the debut of the Mont des Cats Bière Trappiste/Trappist beer.

Under a blue sky, we were on the “Mont des Cats” a small hill where the Abbey has been located since its founding in 1650. Brother Bernard Marie welcomed us. His slightly trembling hands betray that today something special is going on in the otherwise peaceful Abbaye du Ste-Marie Mont des Cats, in Northern France. Known as French Flanders, this area has a rich brewing history, and has much in common with Belgium. The Belgian border is just a few kilometers away. With justifiable pride Br. Bernard, with the new beer, sat and answered all the questions that have arisen in recent weeks!


1. Is Abbaye Mont de Cats the 8th Trappist brewery?

The answer is an unconditional no. The beer does not bear the "Authentic Trappist Product" logo, though it is still named 'bière trappiste" on labels and product statements. Note that La Trappe (Abdij Koningshoeven in the Netherlands) during the time that they had lost their Authentic Trappist Product logo, still had the name "Trappist" on their labels, under the approving eye of the ITA (International Trappist Association.) There are also a lot of monastic products made in Trappist monasteries that the name "Trappist" may be used (i.e. cookies, liqueurs, wines, etc.). It is clear that the current 7 authentic Trappist breweries will continue to be only ones.

2. Is there a brewery in the Mont des Cats?

No, there is no longer a brewery there (it closed early in the last century because the monk brewer died.) There are no plans to install a brewery, and the brothers of Mont des Cats have just their abbey and no means (money) to do so.

3. Where is the beer brewed and what is the Mont des Cats?

The amber beer is brewed in the Abbey Notre Dame de Scourmont, at its Chimay brewery. That is clearly listed on the bottle label. It is a newly developed beer of 7.6% abv. The aroma reveals the background: the smell of Chimay yeast is prominent. The first sip gives hints of caramel and ends in a very dry finish. It is well-hopped, with refermentation in the bottle, that's for sure. Philippe Henroz of Bières de Chimay stresses that the completely new beer is developed in consultation with the brothers of Mont des Cats.1500 hectoliters were brewed initially. The French monks and Chimay want to see how the market will react to this new beer. It is not intended to produce any other beers under the name Mont des Cats to sell.

4. Will Abbaye du Mont des Cats ever get the logo "Authentic Trappist Product"?

For cheese, there is no problem, though the logo has not been requested. For the beer, it is another matter ... because it must be brewed inside the walls of their own monastery to be considered for the ATP logo, and there are no plans to do so.

5. Where can I taste and / or purchase?

Initially, the beer will be on the French market. Starting next week, on Thursday, June 16, it will also be available at the monastery shop and café, Auberge Mont des Cats, located opposite the abbey. We already paired the beer with pork and game meat dishes there and the result was….delicious!



Thursday, June 9, 2011

Who wants to build a website for me?




Hello Belgian beer lovers!

Here's an offer that should be an attractive one for
a web developer that also happens to love Oude Geuze.

I've been writing this blog for over three years-since
February 8, 2008-to be exact. Judging by the demographics
of the people reading it, it has been enjoyed by beer lovers all
over Europe, North and South America, Asia, Australia and
beyond. I know that because I have Statcounter.

I'd like to take the on-line appreciation and promotion
of Belgian beer to a new level. Having visited 80% of Belgium's
breweries and over 300 of its beer cafes, I think I have the
content to do that. With 15,000 photographs and 200 hours
of audiotaped interviews from The Beer Country, I'm sure of it.

What I need is a multi-functional website where I can offer
several levels of content and also ads.

What can I offer a web developer?


How about one of the world's rarest Oude Geuzes?

(Photo, above: Yves Panneels, of the lambic cafe
In de Verzekering Tegen de Grote Dorst. He's
holding a bottle of the Oude Geuze he bottled
in December, 2008.)

Only twenty-four 75 cl bottles and 15 Magnums were bottled,
in December 2008. I have it on good authority that a certain
bar owner in New England was offered $600 for a bottle...and
turned it down. Mine is a 75 cl, bottle number 11.

I wrote about it, with many photos and which lambics were
used in the blend, here .

I would prefer to work with someone in the D.C.-Baltimore-
Philly-NYC I-95 beer corridor, but will consider all ideas/offers
of help. If I do not receive an offer that I like, then I won't trade
this beer for services. I'd love to drink it, of course.

It's been in a 55 degree fridge since June of last year, when
Yves gave me the bottle. It was in his cellar before that.

Post a message or send me an email or Facebook message to
contact me.

If I don't respond immediately its because summer is a busy time
and I've for lots going on.

Cheers,
Chuck