The Beer Option Continues: Grimbergen’s Norbertines Revive Medieval Brewing

Recently I reflected on the “End of the Beer Option” after the Trappists of Spencer Massachusets decided to close their brewery. Since then, the Guardian has also reflected on the decline of Trappist brewing in Belgium: “Last orders? Belgium’s Trappist beers under threat as vocations run dry.” Belgium has already lost one Trappist Beer, Achel, and seems poised to lose others. Monastic brewing can only be as strong as the monastic life.

This does not mean that monastic brewing is doomed. Even in the United States we have seen its resurrection this last decade with Mt. Angel Abbey, New Subiaco, and Christ in the Desert (for a time) begin commercial operations, in addition to the failed venture at Spencer, while other monasteries began smaller brewing operations, such as Clear Creek.

In addition, even with the decline of Catholic life in Belgium, I’m happy to point to a more hopeful story there: the Norbertines of Grimbergen Abbey (founded by St. Norbert himself). The canons there are living up the abbey’s motto, symbolized by the phoenix: Ardet nec consumitur – burned but not destroyed. Not only has the foundation proved its resiliency through many fires and calamities, but its medieval tradition of brewing has been resurrected.

Beginning in 1958, the monks had licensed commercial breweries to brew under their name, a Belgian tradition called “abbey brewing.” Currently Alken-Maes (within Belgium) and Carlsberg (foreign market) brew a line of Grimbergen beer. The monks were inspired to begin brewing again with the abbey when they rediscovered a medieval recipe within their archives. They now have a microbrewery operating on their grounds producing three beers (although I don’t believe they are using that medieval recipe).

This is why I love monastic brewing. Here is a description from the Grimbergen beer website:

A very special rebirth: Brewing returns to the Abbey for the first time in more than 200 years

Marking the next chapter to a truly beautiful story of continuous rebirth and renewal, the new Grimbergen Abbey Brewery allows the Fathers of Grimbergen to continue the legacy of generations of Fathers before.

Father Karel Stautemas, Provisor at the Abbey and Abbey Brewer, said: “The new microbrewery is a place to reignite past traditions, just like our symbol, the Phoenix. We always have the strength to rise again, but to add fresh thinking too. We want to combine our experience, nearly nine centuries of it, with innovation in pursuit of the most delicious and unique new brews.”

A state-of-the-art innovation hub

Located at the heart of the Grimbergen Abbey, the new Grimbergen Abbey Brewery combines the best of brewing traditions from the ancient books of the abbey’s library with new and innovative techniques to craft unique, limited-edition batches of exceptional premium beers.

Celebrating the opening, three exciting new brews have been released – Grimbergen Magnum Opus Brut Beer, Grimbergen Ignis Quadruple and Grimbergen Astrum Pale Ale.

https://www.grimbergen.com/the-new-grimbergen-abbey-brewery

I was able to order the three from a site in Belgium and can attest that they are truly excellent. I’m generally not a fan of pale ales, although I found theirs to be extraordinarily flavorful and smooth. The magnum opus and quad both tip their hats to the Belgian Trappist tradition and yet do not come across simply as imitations. I found them to be unique both in flavor and texture, continuing the tradition of monastic brewing while making its own contribution to it.

The Beer Option continues.