Spencer Abbey Trappist Ale!

[heckler73]

They actually do jams and jellies under the Trappist brand, but I gather that isn't making as much money as it used to.
Part of the requirements for getting the Trappist label, as I understand it, is that it is not to be a for-profit endeavor. All the money must go either to the abbey, for upkeep, repairs and so on, things that they can't make or grow on their own, with any extra for charities.

I was wondering what Trappist actually meant.

from google:

Trap·pist ˈtrapist/

adjective
1. relating to a branch of the Cistercian order of monks founded in 1664 and noted for an austere rule that includes remaining silent for much of the time.

noun
2. a member of the Trappist order.

and from the article

Brother Keeley calls the initial production "a drastic under-use of this facility."

hmmm.... marketing 101?

 

[day_trippr]

One must learn to walk before one runs. The Abbey has something like 10-15 times the capacity of this first production - and it seems likely they won't lack for buyers as they ramp up.

99 Bottles reviewed a variety of Trappist brews in the Globe Magazine today. The Spencer Abbey offering came out looking very good indeed.

I had been planning to pick up a four-pack at the earliest opportunity, and I'm fortunate to live in a town with a package store that has a fairly comprehensive inventory of exotics (all of the available Trappist brews are carried here, for instance) and they had a dedicated display of the Spencer brew sitting at the check-out counters. Perfect!

It's weird, but I find myself sporting a parochial sentiment about this endeavor, and couldn't be happier about it. I am very hopeful that this works out for the Abbey - and we mere mortals

Tomorrow the Spousal Unit and I will crack one of these open and see for ourselves what the monks have produced...and likely crack a second...

Cheers!

 

[Calichusetts]

As my friend put it...its the best trappist all in all the Americas. I just wish it was slightly higher in ABV so I could age a few. I probably will age a 4-pack anyway but 6.5% isn't really conducive to improving over a couple of years

 

[kaz4121]

Anyone know if Yankee or Julios has this yet?

Yankee DID. Not sure if they still have it now

 

[tgmartin000]

I'd like to get my hands on some. If anyone wants to trade for some Colorado beers let me know. Funkwerks, Crooked Stave, too many small breweries to mention.

 

[Calichusetts]

Had it like an hour ago...malt profile is all bread. Dominated by esters/phenols. Clove and banana hit you off the bat and stick with it throughout. Spicy with a balanced finish and a tiny residual sweetness. Scored it a 3.75/5. I think that might be on the low side and some will rate it much higher. Well done and a solid showing from Murica. The hype/scarcity might leave people disappointed though

 

[psubrewer]

i picked up a couple 4 packs and i have to say this beer exceeded my expectations but i'm really not surprised...they had a lot of help and oversight from harpoon and the monks at chimay. also, i doubt the other trappist breweries would let them release junk and tarnish the brand.

interested to see if/when/how they are gonna utilize their 40k barrel capacity. Maybe a dubbel or quad?

i would favorably compare this beer to Duvel. Similar hop profile, carbonation, dryness. Balanced clove/banana.

I'm culturing yeast from bottle dregs for a brew next weekend!

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

One must learn to walk before one runs. The Abbey has something like 10-15 times the capacity of this first production

This batch is just the yeast starter for their quadrupel.

I can dream, can't I?

 

[tagz]

Any info on what yeast they use?

 

[day_trippr]

Work has been so insane I forgot about my own thread!

The wife and I totally enjoyed the first bottle of this brew, it really was tasty - and very different from anything I brew, for sure. I don't have much experience with the style as I rarely buy beer and restaurants almost never carry anything Trappist around these parts, but we enjoyed it such that I may have to do some research to see what a comparable recipe requires.

And every time I go down to the brewery I see the other three...and they're calling to me I'm trying to avoid their stare, but one of those bottles will not make it to the weekend...

Cheers!

 

[SharonaZamboni]

Any info on what yeast they use?

Local newspaper article says it's "the family" yeast that their brother monks have been using forever.

 

[orangehero]

Even $10 for 4 11.2 oz bottles is expesive for an "Enkel". There's nothing inherently frou-frou premium about Trappist beers that justifies over double the price of comparable beers.

I'm not sure the abbey is setting the price though. If anything they should be pushing for a more reasonable price, as I understand the monks in Europe have refused to raise prices on their beers despite increasing demand. I don't know the price of Trappist beers in Europe, but it's definitely less than $20 a 4-pack.

The price on Ommegang has creeped a lot lately too.

 

[Eugenio]

I had one the other day, very good beer but tasted a bit "young". Im sure this will be a fantastic brewery.

 

[Megaseth]

Any chance someone could ship me a pack? I really want to try this beer. I work at a brewery in Houston, TX. I'd be willing to send some hard to find outside of TX brews or pay for them to be shipped to me. Either way.

 

[mhochman]

Current issue of BYO (May/June, 2014) has a nice article on this brewery/beer and includes the recipe, provided directly from the monks. Since I live out of state, I will have to brew it to taste it.

Very interesting to read about the history of the beer and how it fits in to the other Trappist breweries, particularly the involvement of the other Trappists in its creation.

 

[TimFarAway]

Was out in Bean-town to watch SWMBO run the marathon and popped into a little pub "Tavern at the End of the World". Wasn't too hopeful, but they had it! It tasted like a milder Westmalle Tripple. I really enjoyed it. Back in Texas now, so no hope of seeing another any time soon.

 

[squarebeard]

Just got back from a visit to central MA, and yes, I had to buy myself a four pack of Spencer (at Julio's of course). Yes, I agree that the price is quite high, but this is a wicked good beer. Now back in Europe with three bottles left I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Julio's.

There is something a little magical about this newborn Trappist - I guess I could dream of European distribution someday...

Just for comparison here in Europe (Denmark) 4 x 12 oz. Rochefort 10 about $24.00 or 4 x 12 oz. Orval about $18.00. So for me the price was not an issue.

 

[Weezy]

Andechs abbey near Munich has been making wonderful beers at reasonable prices for centuries longer.

That place is a freakin tourist trap at this point. The Lord's work? Not so much.

 

[day_trippr]

Seems harsh. Kloster Andechs really is a great place to have a hearty dinner and marvel at the whole scene as it unfolds.

It's like performance art - with liters of beer! What's not to love?

Cheers!

Oh - wait. There's that "Lord's Work" thing...Well, the "Lord's Work" doesn't happen for free these days...

 

[orangehero]

Distributed in CT now. It's pretty alright, not very exciting, and no way is it worth $4 per 11.2 oz bottle. I probably would pass even at $10 a sixer, plenty of better options.

Orval costs less and in my opinion it's world class and inimitable. And it comes in a sweet bottle that's heavy as a brick.

They need a brewmaster with some creativity and a truly unique product. Similar to what happened at Orval actually. An American Trappist beer should be something special, world renowned, not a decent imitation of what the Belgians excel at.