Catholic Beer

The Independant, over in the UK, runs a story on how the monks of Saint Sixtus feel overwhelmed by the demand for their world famous Westvleteren Abt 12 beer.

I'm a little curious as to why this is portrayed as a new thing. RateBeer.com may have recently chosen Abt 12 as the world's top brew, but Westvleteren beer has been justly famous for several decades now as appreciation for traditional brews has returned with a vengence.

Of the other Trappist breweries (which make their product a little easier for consumers to get) the most widely distributed is Chimay. Their Chimay Grand Reserve is a cousin to Abt 12, strong, aged brown ale with a complex palate of flavors. It's sold in champaign-sized bottles for $8 and up. If you are a beer afficianado, find a bottle and consider all the wonderful things that monasticism has brought to the Western World.

Here's Saint Sixtus's website.