Trappist beer is brewed by Trappist monks, members of the Cistercian order. Trappist is a licensed term, and currently only six breweries in the world may legally produce Trappist beers. All six of them are Belgian. To use the name and the "Authentic Trappist Product" logo, the rules of the International Trappist Association must be observed:

• The product must be made within the walls of a Trappist abbey.
• The product must be made by or under the supervision of the monastery community.
• The largest part of the profit must be spent on social work.

La Trappe used to be one of the legally allowed Trappist beers, but since they signed a commercial deal with Bavaria Brewery in 1997 to produce the beer for them, they are no longer allowed to use the name and the "Authentic Trappist Product" logo.

The six breweries that are allowed to call their beer "Trappist"

• Bières de Chimay
• Brasserie d'Orval
• Brasserie de Rochefort
• Brouwerij Westmalle
• Westvleteren
• Brouwerij der Sint-Benedictusabdij de Achelse

External link

• Offical Trappisten site