Seeking Lost Trappist Recipes

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

Over time the current order of Trappist Monasteries were greater in number. The six Belgian and singular Dutch Trappist breweries used to be accompanied by 11 additional brewing Monasteries:

• Tegelen (Netherlands)
• Banja Luka (Bosnia)
• Mariawald (Germany)
• Engelszell (Austria)
• Chambarand (France)
• Melleray (France)
• Mont des Cats (France)
• Oelenberg (France)
• Notre Dame du Gard (France)
• Notre Dame du Port Du Salut (France)
• Sept Fons (France)

Most of these additional eleven Trappist monasteries once brewed beer, (some brewed both lagers and ales), but for various reasons ceased to produce their unique recipes. If you have knowledge of a recipe from any of them that can be authenticated or know one of the brothers in a monastery that would be willing to share their historical recipes we are sponsoring a Renaissance to trial and revive these beers from history. The reward will be, well, a better world with more unique beer...

 

[Ramitt]

such a shame they are lost. Good luck acquiring them.

 

[dummkauf]

Have you tried writing a letter to any of the monasteries? I'm assuming some of them probably still exist even if they are no longer brewing beer. I would be surprised if they didn't have some sort of a library of historical documents from the monastery which might contain recipes. You may need to find somone fluent in their particular language to help write the letter(do NOT rely on Google translator, or other online translators), but you never know what you might turn up.

 

[jamesnsw]

Here's a site with some info, and with the addition of a possible Trappist brewery in Rwanda.

Other trappist breweries

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

Have you tried writing a letter to any of the monasteries? I'm assuming some of them probably still exist even if they are no longer brewing beer. I would be surprised if they didn't have some sort of a library of historical documents from the monastery which might contain recipes. You may need to find somone fluent in their particular language to help write the letter(do NOT rely on Google translator, or other online translators), but you never know what you might turn up.

Yes, kauf, we are putting together a form letter in French now for some of them. Our hope is that we will get at least 3-4 recipes this year but this is only hoping. Thanks for the comment...we agree!

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

Here's a site with some info, and with the addition of a possible Trappist brewery in Rwanda.

Other trappist breweries

Great work James. We did not know of the one in Algeria and we will try and dig up information on the lost Monastery in Rwanda. We will share the rewards of our research as they come in. Thank you!

 

[TomRep]

This is just cool! Good luck in your search and thanks for sharing any info you find out!
Tom

 

[MrManifesto]

good luck on your quest, i'd be very interested in what you turn up!

 

[RJS]

I could help in two ways...

1. im a monk, i can send in the letter. from a monk to a monk.

2. we have a french monk, he can spellcheck

 

[lowtones84]

Do you have no interest in some of the Belgian trappist brews, or do you already have recipes for some of them? If you do have an interest in the Belgian brews, the book Brew Like a Monk has some nice information.

 

[Joppo]

There is Mont des cats beer but it's made by Chimay.
Mont des Cats

 

[HerbieHowells]

I could help in two ways...

1. im a monk, i can send in the letter. from a monk to a monk.

2. we have a french monk, he can spellcheck

When I was a child, I used to tell people that I wanted to grow up to be Bishop of Hawaii.

A few years ago, I spotted an old church on the dry side of Maui, and started telling people that I was going to become a hermit at that church.

But it takes me until I get married to find out that there are monks brewing beer in Hawaii? I am confident that I didn't miss my calling. But to the extent that that little kid still exists in me, he is going to be living vicariously through you.

 

[RJS]

very nice. we make mead and wine too.

yup, heres what 55 gallons of honey looks like. and brewing with it!

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

The Vatican may have an office that presides over the records and may be able to furnish some of that.

 

[Gear101]

I would be very interested in any information that you could get from Tegelen (Netherlands), this is where my family is from.

 

[calebawilson]

RJS are you the monk that was interviewed on beer smith podcast?

 

[RJS]

I was on basic brewing radio with James spencer

 

[calebawilson]

Oh that's it sorry listen to so many homebrew podcast get them mixed up sometimes. But any ways that was a great interview.

 

[DeNomad]

Great pics RJS. Look forward to that podcast... I'm working my way through the 2008 episodes now.

 

[Mermaid]

This sounds like an awesome project. I would definitely be curious to see if it's able to bear any recipes (or at least some cool history).

 

[Gear101]

I have some family in Holland and I am trying to see if any of them could help with this project, just waiting for them to get back to me.

 

[ArcaneXor]

Mariawald brewed until the 1950s and was called Klosterbräu Mariawald. These days, they are more known for their pea soup and liqueurs. I have no idea what the beer was like.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

I could help in two ways...

1. im a monk, i can send in the letter. from a monk to a monk.

2. we have a french monk, he can spellcheck

RJS,

Thank you. We would benefit greatly from your skills and from the skills of your French brother. Please feel free to email us at our admin email address at: admin (at) candisyrup (dot) com so that we may exchange our ideas and mutual goals in this effort.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

Do you have no interest in some of the Belgian trappist brews, or do you already have recipes for some of them? If you do have an interest in the Belgian brews, the book Brew Like a Monk has some nice information.

lowtones, yes, very good question. We very much do love most all of the Belgian ales. We have many of these recipes, (many Trappist and some Abbey), well-tested and available on our ale/lager recipe area: RECIPES -                   Candi Syrup, Inc. (Tex, we are not advertising here). Our current Trappist recipes are those that led us to find that there were others yet undiscovered.

All discoveries will be openly and freely available with many open brew community projects to follow (hopefully here on this board). Our findings will also be shared back with the Monasteries who provided the initial recipe. It is our hope and purpose to make this project an open discovery for the benefit of all.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

I have some family in Holland and I am trying to see if any of them could help with this project, just waiting for them to get back to me.

Gear,

That would be great especially if they could find some information on the ale(s) brewed at Tegelen Monastery. Thanks!

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

Mariawald brewed until the 1950s and was called Klosterbräu Mariawald. These days, they are more known for their pea soup and liqueurs. I have no idea what the beer was like.

Arcane,

Thank you. I see that Mariawald brewed this successfully for some time. As far as we can tell the Abbey is now just outside of Heimbach. Is there anyone who is fluent in German, (must be fluent), enough so that you could translate our open request letter? I can only imagine the remarkable combination of A German version of a Trappist ale.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

This sounds like an awesome project. I would definitely be curious to see if it's able to bear any recipes (or at least some cool history).

We agree! I suspect we will get a few recipes at least and hopefully an open brewing project or two to produce them. I think the yeast cultures will be the most difficult to match. We may make a formal request of Chris White or one of his team for assistance.

 

[dale1038]

Arcane,

Thank you. I see that Mariawald brewed this successfully for some time. As far as we can tell the Abbey is now just outside of Heimbach. Is there anyone who is fluent in German, (must be fluent), enough so that you could translate our open request letter? I can only imagine the remarkable combination of A German version of a Trappist ale.

I'm pretty sure Kai can translate German. He was translating some German brewing texts a while back. I bet he would be interested in this.

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

The Vatican may have an office that presides over the records and may be able to furnish some of that.

We will look into this. Thank you!

 

[CSI - CandiSyrup]

I'm pretty sure Kai can translate German. He was translating some German brewing texts a while back. I bet he would be interested in this.

Dale, can you let Kai know we are in need of a German translator?