belgian trappist beer tour

• A Tour Of Belgiums Monastic...

A Tour Of Belgium’s Monastic Trappist Breweries

Of the eleven recognized breweries run by Trappist monks in the world, six of them are dotted across Belgium . Surrounded by tranquil, green scenery and with brewskies that have been named the best in world many times over, these monasteries form an essential part of Belgian beer culture. A large part of their profits even go to charity – we’ll drink to that!

St. sixtus abbey in westvleteren.

The Westvleteren brewery has made quite the name for itself with its widely beloved beer and limited production. It all started with a charming origin story: as the abbey was being built in 1831, the construction workers each had the right to two beers a day according to their contract, so the monks started brewing these themselves in order to save some money. Almost two centuries later, Westvleteren 12 (one of four beers produced at the monastery) has been declared the best beer in the world multiple times over. Given the skyrocketing demand, the small scale of the monks’ brewing operation and the fact that you have to drive up to the monastery itself to get a crate or two, it’s not easy to get a hold of one of these bad boys. Though you can occasionally find them in stores or bars, this is technically against the wishes of the monks as they will only sell to private individuals. All in all, drinking a Westvleteren has become quite the event in itself.

Adhering to the rules of St. Benedictus, Trappist monks are always responsible for their own livelihoods and live a life not only dedicated to prayer, but to work as well. It’s no wonder then that so many of them have developed a taste for brewing beers, besides producing other artisanal products like cheese or bread. Another incentive might be the fact that the monks themselves are allowed to drink these beers during lunch or dinner, and in the case of Westmalle this has been true since 1836. The Westmalle Tripel – the most famous of their three beers – has gone from being sold at the gates of the monastery to being another frequent contender for the title of best beer in the world. Like at most of the monastic breweries, there is no chance of witnessing the process, since the quiet life of the monks has to be respected. However you can still drink their acclaimed Tripel at the café across from the abbey, as well as watch a documentary on how it’s made.

St. Benedictus Abbey in Achel

The only place where you can actually see brothers running around the shining, copper brewing kettles, Achel is one of the more visitor-friendly monasteries. Add to that the glowing green landscapes and its proximity to the Great War battlefields of Ypres and you have a spiritual place that’s buzzing with hikers and bikers over the weekend. That same World War was unfortunately also responsible for a halt in the abbey’s brewing efforts that had been going since 1844. The brewery was only rebuilt in 1998, making Achel the newest Trappist beer in the bunch and one that’s still working on gaining more fans.

Abbey of Our Lady of Scourmont in Chimay

Unlike its Westvleteren sister, the Scourmont Abbey has embraced a larger production of its beers. Still on the abbey domain and under strict supervision by the monks (a requirement to carry the rare ‘Trappist’ label), all of the beer is made exclusively with water from the two wells on the Scourmont grounds. Chimay beers were the very first ones to be honored with the Trappist label and they’ve recently launched La Chimay Dorée ( Chimay Gold ) to the public. A surprising choice, since this originally was the abbey’s patersbier , a light ale (4,8 % in this case) that usually stays within the monastery’s walls, only to be consumed by its monks.

Abbey of Our Lady of Saint-Rémy in Rochefort

A tranquil atmosphere permeates the monastery of Rochefort, where the rather secluded monks only see tourists if they come to visit the church, since there is no café or community center present on the grounds. To taste the Rochefort beers – strong and with a spice that’s normally reserved for barley wine – close to where they were brewed, you’ll have to pay a visit to one of the town’s bars instead.

Abbey of Our Lady in Orval

Orval’s current brewery was established in 1931 with the goal of financing the reconstruction of the old abbey, and boy did that work according to plan. Now an imposing monastery with a yellow hue, Orval is also the most international of Belgian Trappist beers owing to its work with laymen. The input of German master brewer Pappenheimer and the English influences the Belgian John Vanhuele brought back with him are to be thanked for Orval’s current taste, which is based on hops and yeasts rather than malts.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Places to Stay

How to spend a weekend in han-sur-lesse, belgium.

What's On

A new exhibition in brussels explores disability through new technology and historic artifacts.

See & Do

10 free things to do in antwerp, belgium.

How to Celebrate the Legacy of Peter Paul Rubens in Antwerp

The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Belgium

Why Are People Stealing Bees in Belgium and the Netherlands?

Restaurants

The 10 best restaurants in brussels.

Discover the Best Belgian Photography in Antwerp this Summer

Ostend is Converting an Abandoned Hangar into a 'Mega Brothel'

Guides & Tips

11 beautiful words to make you fall in love with the flemish language.

10 Awesome Free Things to Do in Brussels

The Flemish Masters Every Art Lover Should Know

Culture trip spring sale, save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips limited spots..

• Post ID: 757296
• Sponsored? No
• View Payload

Subscribe here

Coming soon, subscribe here to be the first to know when we launch this, hop on this 3-day trappist tour to have the ultimate belgian beer experience in belgium.

Discover the history of the iconic Trappist beer in this 3-day itinerary.

If there’s something Belgium is famous for, that’s beer. 

This small country has approximately 304 active breweries, and we want to take you beer lovers on a tour for you to discover some of them. 

The main character of our itinerary will be the Trappist. Specifically, beer brewed by Trappists, also known as Cistercians monks. The Trappists originally brewed beer in order to be self-sufficient and feed their community. Nowadays, most Trappist breweries also fund charitable causes with revenues from beer sales. In most abbeys, the monks are no longer involved in the daily activities of the brewery, as it has become a modern business. 

However there’s still a very strict, specific set of criteria that the beer has to respect to be considered a Trappist. It must still be brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery, and at least under the monks’ supervision.Since the rules are so strict, there are only 14 Trappist breweries in the world, and at least five of them are in Belgium (Achel used to be a Trappist brewery but since 2021 the monks have retired, so it lost its Trappist status). 

Yes, that’s how important beer is in Belgian culture! With more than 800 different varieties, the country has more diversity in beer styles than any other beer-producing region. That’s why, even if Trappist beer is the star of our tour, we can’t leave the side characters out: let us guide you to some lesser-known spots and discover stunning abbeys and historical buildings in the regions of Flanders and Wallonia.

Buckle up and get ready to discover the history of traditional beer knowledge passed through families and breweries for centuries.

Day 1: Westmalle Brewery, De Koninck brewery

We’ll definitely get off to a good start with the Westmalle Brewery. Located in the small Westmalle village, not far from Antwerp, this brewery and abbey date back to the early 18th century. Using barley malt, sugar, and yeast from the abbey's own culture, the monks have been brewing beer for over 180 years. But the special thing about Westmalle is that this was the very first Tripel beer in the world. The monks were the first to create it in the 1930s. 

The monks live a very private, secluded life, so the brewery is not open to visitors. However, you can take a 45-minute walk around the abbey and take a glimpse of the history of this special place. And after a long walk, shop or have a lovely meal at the Trappist Café nearby: the products made by the Trappistines might not be as famous as the beer, but your taste buds will thank you for trying the locally produced Westmalle cheese. There’s a wide choice: creamy, semi-hard two-month-old cheese with a buttery, mild taste, the stronger yet balanced six-month-old cheese, or the zesty, salty twelve-month-old cheese for those who prefer a more complex flavour.

The next place you definitely shouldn’t miss out on is De Koninck Brewery. Even if it’s not a Trappist abbey, this Antwerp-based brewery is worth a visit, trust us. Get ready for an immersive, audiovisual interactive tour in the world of beer-making. Driving through town in a vintage delivery van and exploring the brewery hall with your very own Bolleke glass are just a couple of the things you’ll get to experience. And since this is the last activity for the day, you can even combine the tour with a “meet the crafts” fun, and educational beer tasting to dive into the world of beer. You can also choose to pair the beer with some delicious food. Unfortunately, that’s only possible for groups of ten or more during the week, but you can have a tour with smaller groups if you go on Sundays. Don’t forget to make a reservation on the official website if you want to do that.

Day 2:  Duvel Moortgat brewery, Aulne abbey

The next brewery on our tour is Duvel Moortgat: this family-owned brewery was founded in 1871 by Jan-Leonard Moortgat, who descended from a family of brewers from Steenhuffel. 

Ever since then, the Moortgats have been brewing their famous golden ale and many more varieties of beer. 

Have a guided visit and discover more about the brewing process of the renowned devil beer. The visit includes two drinks and a small gift. You can also stop in the Café Depot Duvel nearby, but since it’s a long way to get to the next brewery, we recommend stopping in the shop to buy a couple of bottles to bring home or gadgets like glasses or bottle openers. 

For the next brewery, we’re heading to Wallonia, the French-speaking region in the south of the country, to go for a change of setting. Although beer is what we’re here for, you can’t skip a visit to the Aulne abbey . Not far from the city of Charleroi, the ruins of the abbey are nestled in the stunning nature of the quiet Vallée de la Paix (Valley of Peace) by the Sambre river .

The abbey has a fascinating history: the legend says that Saint Landelin, a repenting thief, founded it and named it Aulne after the trees of the area. French revolutionaries under Napoleon burnt the abbey down in 1794, but you can still walk its ruins, and marvel at the stunning view of this Walloon Heritage site. After the walk, it’s time to go back to your beer journey and delight your palate in the Brasserie de l’Abbaye d’Aulne , where the Aulne beer is brewed following the traditional brewing arts of the Cistercian monks.

Where to Stay in Thuin:

Budget - Auberge de l'Abbaye

Mid-range - Au vert chez Cécile

Luxury - Ferme du Pont de Bois - Le Fenil

Day 3:  Brasserie d’Orval, Brasserie d’Achouffe

The last  Trappist for our final  day: the historical Orval Trappist Brewery had to be a part of our itinerary. As you know by now, Trappist beer must be brewed by Cistercian monks… so you guessed it! There’s an Abbey to visit. There’s plenty to do and see here: the stunning 18th-century ruins, where nature and history meet in a perfect combination, the medicinal herb garden,  where you can admire lots of plants used by the monks for centuries for medicinal purposes a history museum, where the neoclassical buildings will transport visitors back to the past. The brewery is only open to visitors on special Open Door days. Alternatively, if you’re a big group, you can book a visit on the official website .

Don’t forget to drink a glass of beer along with immersing yourself in the history: this Trappist is made in the traditional Belgian way by re-fermenting in the bottle. But hold your horses! There’s still one brewery to visit, so don’t drink too much because there’s still a long way (and a lot more tasting) to do. Alternatively, you can taste and buy the locally made cheese at the nearby fromagerie.

Visiting this last brewery will feel like entering a fairytale. Created in the 1970s by brothers-in-law Pierre Gobron and Chris Bauweraerts in the Vallée des Fées (the Valley of the Fairies), the Brewery La Chouffe expanded its business throughout the years and gained success. That’s when the brothers-in-law decided to create a gnome character for every beer they made! Yes, cute little gnomes that you’ll find on the logos of each different Chouffe beer glass along the tour.

There’s a selection of 8 Belgian craft beers to choose from: from Blond beer to IPA, from dark to cherry flavour, there’s something for every palate. You’ll get a chance to taste 4 of them in their Auberge des Lutins (Gnome’s Inn), after the guided brewery tour. You can book a tour on the official website or join a last-minute tour on Sundays.

Where to Stay in Houffalize:

Budget - B&B La Source Houffalize

Mid-range - Hotel des Postes

Luxury - Maison-indi

Map of Belgium's Trappist beer experience

Want to see all the stops and destinations planned out? Check out a map of the itinerary here:

Let our AI assistant help plan your trip

Create a personalized plan and share it with your friends

Continue reading

Never run out of things to do! Sign up to our newsletter today, what are you waiting for?

The first slow travel guide

Antwerp - Belgium

Supported by ‍

Recent Stories

Cantillon zwanze day 2024 – april 20, 2024, cantillon zwanze day 2023 is postponed. zwanze day 2024 will be april 20, 2024, open beer days at 3 fonteinen, chocolate festival of belize – may 19-20, 2023, 5 helpful tips for visiting oktoberfest in munich, germany.

Visiting Belgium’s Trappist Breweries

Last week, Erin wrote a piece for an exciting new section on Expedia called  Expedia TRIP , wherein she shared her experience visiting one of Belgium’s Trappist breweries, the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy Trappist monastery in Belgium, for those travelers like us who explore for the love of food, wine, and beer . This is the monastery that brews one of the best beers in the world, the Rochefort Trappist beer.

Erin’s piece inspired me to finally put together a post discussing the six different Trappist monasteries in Belgium that produce the world-famous Trappist beers.  So far, I have visited five of the six Trappist monasteries / breweries in Belgium. And I plan to complete my Belgium Trappist beer tour with a visit the sixth monastery (Orval) sometime this summer. (Note: We finally visited Orval in September, 2017, following the 2017 Cantillon Zwanze Day at Moeder Lambic in Brussels)

Belgium’s Trappist Breweries

The six Trappist breweries in Belgium are:

• St. Benedictus-Abbey ( Achelse Kluis ) in Achel, Belgium – Achel Beer
• Abbaye Notre-Dame de Scourmont in Chimay, Belgium – Chimay Beer
• Abbaye d’Orval in Villers-devant-Orval, Belgium – Orval Beer
• Abbaye Notre-Dame de Saint-Remy in Rochefort, Belgium – Rochefort Beer
• Sint-Sixtusabdij in Westvleteren, Belgium – Westvleteren Beer
• Abdij van de Trappisten van Westmalle in Westmalle, Belgium – Westmalle Beer

As seen from the Belgian Trappist breweries map, the six breweries are evenly split between the French-speaking Wallonia and the Dutch/Flemish-speaking Flanders regions of Belgium. Achel, Westmalle, and Westvleteren are from Flanders, while Chimay, Orval, and Rochefort are in Wallonia.

The only one of the five monasteries / breweries I visited where you can actually visit the brewery itself was Achel, which is also the closest to where I live in Eindhoven, making it for me the best Trappist brewery to visit in Belgium.

Rochefort was the only other monastery where I was actually able to visit into the actual monastery, but that was a very special open-house event where the monastery was raising funds for renovations, which may require to buy items from sites like Concrete Polishing Perth . On my previous visits to the abbey, I was not able to get any further than the front gate of the monastery.

At Chimay, Westmalle, and Westvleteren, a visit is actually a visit to a cafe / visitor’s center located in close proximity to the monastery and brewery. Both Westmalle and Westvleteren have cafes located just across the street from the monastery. Chimay’s Espace Chimay, or Chimay Experience, is 250-meters away from the abbey. Achel also has a cafe within the walls of Achelse Kluis. There was no cafe or visitor’s center of any sort at Rochefort, but we found a great cafe in town, La Gourmandaise.

One of my favorite aspects of visiting the cafes at the monasteries is that you can try the normal beers of the brewery, and occasionally, you can also experience special beers not produced for commercial distribution. The cafes also usually offer other products produced at the abbey, such as the monks’ cheese and pate.

Plus, there’s something special about trying these great beers straight from the source.   The beer is fresher and straight from the brewery.  You get to build that special connection that you can only experience by visiting the grounds where the beer is born.

Authentic Trappist Products

Those new to the Trappist name might wonder what it actually means and why should you care? Products that appear with the official Trappist label mean they “measure up to the quality and traditional standards rooted in the monastic life of a real Trappist community.”

Belgium Beer Road Trip

If you’re looking to plan a Belgian Monastery beer tour road trip, pick up a Belgium beer route map. You can find these in many of the beer stores. As you’re traveling between the monasteries, there are a number of other great breweries you can stop at as well.

Have you visited any of the other Trappist breweries outside of Belgium? If you didn’t know, the total count of Trappist breweries is now up to 11 thanks to a new one in Italy, which was just granted status only last year. 

This post is in partnership with Expedia’s new TRIP launch, but as always, thoughts and opinions are our own. 

• Brett Domue

By day, Brett is an Enterprise Business Architect for a large Dutch corporation, but he spends the majority of his free time scouting out craft beer, food and wine around the globe. In the past 10 years, he’s primarily lived in the Netherlands, with a few years in Taiwan in between. Brett is the co-founder of Our Tasty Travels. Despite maintaining a full-time job outside the travel blogging industry, he’s managed to travel to over 70 countries and is preparing to pursue his Cicerone certification.

You May Also Like

• February 24, 2024

• December 27, 2023

• August 1, 2023

• Erin De Santiago
• March 12, 2023

• July 4, 2022

WirtshausWiesn 2020: Munich’s Answer to Oktoberfest During a Pandemic

• December 6, 2020

Belgian Lambic Beer: Cantillon and 3 Fonteinen after COVID-19

• July 6, 2020

Ukrainian Beer: Where to Drink Craft Beer in Lviv, Ukraine

• January 13, 2020

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Follow along with Our Tasty Travels via our Newsletter!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Your Trappist beer experience

Our beer tour

We are proud to present the first circuit of discovery and tasting of the best Trappist beers in the world. Every day of our Belgian beer tour will allow you to discover Belgium's most grandiose abbeys, age-old breweries and most mythical tasting places - while spending your nights in carefully selected top-class hotels and enjoying fine gourmet dishes throughout the whole Tour. You will also be invited to learn more about traditional brewing and to create your own unique beer. And because your comfort is one of our top-priority, every mile will be travelled aboard high-end vehicles that ensure safety and serenity for you and your friends or family. In other words, everything in our circuit has been cherry-picked so that our epicurean Belgian beer tour remains an unforgettable experience.

Our all-inclusive epicurean beer Tour spreads over 9 days from Sunday to next week on Monday and includes a professional driver at your disposal during your whole trip. Whether you choose the Private or Shared plan, we guarantee a high-level of comfort and refinement throughout the whole Tour as every step of our circuit has been carefully selected so that your epicurean Belgian beer Tour remains an unforgettable experience.

Enjoy your nine-days Trappist beer experience with your own friends or family.

• From 2 to 18 guests
• 9 days of refined road trip
• Professional driver in suit at your disposal
• Pickup at Brussels Airport (other airport / station upon request)
• High-end Mercedes E Class or V Class vehicles
• Vehicle insurance, fuel and taxes
• Guided tour of 7 breweries & abbeys
• 11 booked tastings in mythical tasting places
• 8 comfortable nights in cherry-picked establishments
• All breakfasts at selected hotels
• Three evening gourmet dinners at selected hotels
• 6 cities to discover on your own in the evening
• A full day of crafting your own beer
• Drop off at the airport (or other of your choice)
• Tour begins on Sunday and ends a week from Monday
• All-year long
• Choose your dates and tour at your best convenience
• Book your Tour at least 8 weeks in advance
• Optional bonuses available

Share your nine-days refined road trip with other enthusiasts coming from all around the world.

• Available dates in 2022: April 3rd, June 5th, or August 7th
• Available dates in 2023: April 2nd, June 4th, or August 6th
• Always takes place on the first week of the month
• Book your Tour at least 12 weeks in advance

Imbeerium presents

Your trappist beer experience.

Our nine-days tour goes through Belgium and further, allowing you to visit a selection of our most beautiful abbeys and most renowned breweries while spending nights in carefully selected best-in-class hotels and Bed & Breakfasts. You'll have the chance to discover amazing and vibrant cities, wander in old, full of history streets, enjoy splendid gourmet dishes and of course, taste the best Trappist beers in the world.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

TravelAwaits

Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

Trappist Beer In Belgium: Everything You Need To Know

Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock

• Activities and Interests
• Destinations
• Food and Drink
• History and Culture
• Religious Sites
• Types of Travel

If you’re planning a trip to Belgium, you won’t want to miss out on a chance to visit a Trappist Monastery to grab a beer. That’s right: A monastery might be one of the best places to visit in Belgium if you love beer. Many Belgian Trappist monasteries are a short drive from other countries such as France, Germany, or Luxembourg, making them a great addition to a trip to those countries, too.

All Trappist monasteries produce a limited amount of commercial products to help sustain their operations. While most locations produce preserves, cheese, or bread, some monasteries produce beer. In total, there are 14 registered Trappist monasteries that produce beer commercially. Twelve of those breweries are certified to use the "Authentic Trappist Product" symbol , and half of those breweries are in Belgium, making it an excellent destination for beer enthusiasts. This is, of course, in addition to the other fabulous breweries in the country.

Beer enthusiasts can’t get enough Trappist beer. Several things make Trappist beers so special. If you like trying new beers, but are on the fence about adding a monastery trip to your travel itinerary, here are a few things to consider.

Trappist Beers Are Rare

Since Trappist monasteries don’t create products on a for-profit basis, their overall production runs are low and will stay low. Despite this, you can still find some Trappist beers in craft beer shops around the United States. However, there are some monasteries that don’t distribute to the U.S. at all.

To put things in perspective, 10,000 barrels of the highly elusive double IPA Heady Topper are brewed annually. Look at one of the most highly regarded Trappist breweries, Westvleteren, for comparison; they only brew 4,750 barrels. Unlike standard commercial breweries, which will increase production to meet higher demand and increase profits, Trappist breweries won’t because they only brew to support the monastery.

ciwo1 / Shutterstock

Trappist Beer Has A Rich History

Europe has a rich history in brewing and is home to the oldest operating breweries in the world. Four of the Trappist monasteries in Belgium were founded before 1900, and some predate 1850. Experiencing the history behind the beer is as exciting as getting your hands on a rare bottle.

Trappist Beer Comes In 4 Distinct Styles

Experiencing what 150 years of brewing mastery tastes like can be a palate-opening experience. Trappist style ales are unlike any other beverage on the planet. Trappist monasteries don’t produce seasonal beers or release new recipes every few years. Instead, they’ve honed just a few recipes to absolute perfection. This dedication, coupled with private yeast strains, makes Trappist beers completely unique. If you’re looking to broaden your understanding of beer and brewing while on your trip to Belgium, work a Trappist monastery visit into your itinerary and get to know the four distinct styles of beer they brew.

The names may sound complicated, but their translations are simple, and each has a unique flavor that is not to be missed.

Also called table beer or patersbier , the Enkel is most frequently consumed by the monks taking up residence at the monastery. These are the lightest and most straightforward of the beers produced at Trappist monasteries. Expect a wonderful balance of light, fruity flavors, bright yeast notes, and a crisp malt note.

These medium-strength ales are not too strong, not too weak, and jam-packed with a rich malty flavor. This style and those following it on this list are more readily available than the Enkel. Dubbels will have more body and darker color than their lower strength counterpart. Standard strength Dubbels fall between 6 and 8% ABV.

As you can imagine, Tripel is stronger than Dubbel. However, instead of following suit and being darker than the previous style, Tripels tend to be lighter in color and body than Dubbels. They’re dryer and have a stronger ABV, between 8 and 10%.

Quadrupel Or Quad

This style is both stronger and darker than the Tripel. It’s more like a Dubbel that’s been cranked up to 11. In terms of strength, Quadrupel will fall somewhere between 9 and 14% ABV. Quads have a heavy body with bold, ripe stonefruit flavors and pronounced bready malt notes.

Abbey Style Beer Isn’t Necessarily True Trappist Beer

Thanks to crafty marketing moves within the beer industry, finding Trappist beer isn’t as easy as buying beer inspired by these age-old styles. There are countless breweries that produce Belgian-style ales called Enkels, Dubbels, Tripels, and Quads. Others go a step further and throw the term Abbey Style on their labels. To ensure you’re getting the true Trappist product, look for the “Authentic Trappist Product” insignia on the bottle. Alternatively, you can pay attention to the brewery itself and cross-reference it against a list of registered Trappist breweries .

Schedule a trip to a Trappist monastery on your next European adventure to have access to the freshest, most authentic Trappist ales in the world. Visiting one usually gets you access to their beers with limited to no distribution.

There Are 6 Trappist Monasteries In Belgium Where You Can Try Trappist Beer

Like any long-distance trip, careful planning will be needed to visit a Trappist monastery. With the growing popularity of Trappist ales, the monasteries have grown accustomed to frequent visits. Here is a quick overview of the six Belgian Trappist monasteries, the beers they offer, and information you should know as you plan your visit.

Westmalle produces a Dubbel and a Tripel. With careful hunting, you’ll be able to find a bottle of these in craft beer bottle shops in the U.S. However, the monastery also produces a single, which is very limited and may or may not be available when you visit. Brewery tours aren’t provided, however, you can reserve a time to watch a special video about the brewery and walk some of its grounds. Complete your visit with a trip to Cafe Trappisten , which is half a mile down the road from the abbey. The cafe was originally placed on the abbey grounds across from the grocer, but eventually needed to relocate. There, you can enjoy fresh Westmalle beers right from Westmalle Abbey itself.

Westmalle is a 40-minute drive East of Antwerp.

ivanpigozzo / Shutterstock

Westvleteren/St. Sixtus

This Monastery is the producer of one of the world’s highest-rated beers, Westvleteren 12 (or Westy 12). Their beers come in unassuming bottles with no labels. The caps are the only way to distinguish the styles. Before you hop in the car and drive an hour southwest of Bruges, though, know that the buying process for Westvletern beers is very restrictive. The first thing you’ll need to do is register for their online sales platform . Once beer is available for purchase, you can buy your allowance online and pick it up at the abbey visitor center. Planning is key as the process usually takes at least three months.

This monastery produces a staggering 105,000 barrels of beer annually. Their bottles are available fairly readily throughout the U.S., so if you’re on the hunt for rarer Trappist ales, you may want to visit other monasteries instead. However, if you’re already a big fan of Chimay, contact the monastery to discuss visits or hostel stays. Chimay is located a little over two hours south of Brussels or two hours northwest of Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

You may have seen some Rochefort bottles at your local bottle shop. They have a brown label with large lettering. Their styles are indicated by a number in a small colored circle. Rochefort Monastery is not open to the public, however, it’s conveniently located in the town of Rochefort, which has terrific dining, sightseeing, and shopping opportunities. Many of the bars in town serve Rochefort’s coveted ales.

tatif55 / Shutterstock

This is another Trappist beer with healthy distribution in the U.S. However, if you’re a fan of the beer or want to take in some incredible architectural history, this is the place to go. They are much more welcoming to the public than some of the other monasteries. Orval Abbey offers self-guided and guided tours. These last between 20 minutes and two hours respectively. The gift shop offers plenty of souvenir-buying options as well as an opportunity to get your hands on their world-class ale. It’s located at the southern tip of Belgium and is closer to Luxembourg and Reims, France, than it is to other major Belgian cities.

The sixth of six Belgian Trappist breweries is Sint-Benedictus Abbey , or Achelse Kluis for short. There are no brewery tours, but the tavern at the abbey is open to the public. It has a large viewing area where you can watch the brewers at work, and they offer limited release beers only available at the tavern, making it an attractive option for those looking for new beer experiences. The monastery is located in Achel, which is roughly equidistant from Antwerp, Belgium, and Dusseldorf, Germany.

Working in a stop at a Trappist brewery is easy thanks to the fact that they’re scattered throughout the country. If you’re staying in one of Belgium’s major cities, or planning a trip to France, Luxembourg, or Germany, a Trappist brewery is not too far away. Be sure to take advantage of your opportunity to visit these incredible locations.

David Doucette is a graphic designer and writer who has a passion for the outdoors and experiencing new things. David spent some time working in the travel industry as a designer before moving to the consumer packaged goods field. He enjoys hiking, fishing, and homebrewing.

• Nederlands (NL)
• Français (FR)
• English (EN)

Shopping basket

Trappist westvleteren.

On this website you will find information about our beers and about the webshop where you can purchase Trappist Westvleteren.

If you want more information about the life of our community, take a look at the website of the Abbey.

We brew to live. We do not live to brew.

In May 1839 the abbey received a brewer’s licence signed by king Leopold I. Most likely a first test brew was produced the same month.

The Brewing Process

Our beer is brewed with the utmost care using natural ingredients

Three types of beer are produced in the Saint-Sixtus Abbey

The beer sales are only intended to private consumers. The webshop is only accessible to them.

The reason why we only want to sell to private consumers is that we want to give everyone as much as possible a fair chance to buy our beers at the correct price.

Authentic 
Trappist Product

The " Trappist beer " trademark is legally protected and may only be used if the production of the beer takes place within the monastery walls under the supervision of the monks. The proceeds are intended for the livelihood of the monks and for the maintenance of the monastery. The remainder is spent on development projects and works of charity.

Only six Belgian beers can use the name Trappist: Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren.

About the Abbey

The Westvleteren abbey is a Cistercian abbey, commonly called "Trappist abbey".

The monks devote their lives to prayer, reading and labour. They live together as brothers according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. Like everyone else, they want to provide for their own livelihood and share it with those who need it. They receive guests who want to live with them for a while.

Your session has expired

Podge’s Belgian Beer Tours

Read more about Podge’s Tours

Podge’s Next Belgian Beer Tour

Toer de geuze & lambicland revisited tour, thursday 02 may - monday 06 may 2024.

T his is our classic Tour taking in the biennial Toer de Geuze and based in the luxury Hotel Keizershof in Aalst, the perfect base for exploring LambicLand - the name coined by Podge for the area which produces Lambic beers, and the name of our book published 20 years ago. Come and join Siobhan for a Tour round her favourite beers, the incomparable lambic beers of Belgium. Read more .

Podge’s Belgian Beer Tours 2024 & 2025

Beer on the waterfront tour.

Wednesday 26 June - Sunday 30 June 2024

Beer & Battlefields

Wednesday 04 September - Sunday 08 September 2024

Christmas in Leuven

Tuesday 24 December - Saturday 28 December 2024

The Great Flemish Ardennes Beer Tour

Wednesday 19 March - Sunday 23 March 2025

Fill out my online form . var m1qxa9a81qrkzae; (function(d, t) { var s = d.createElement(t), options = { 'userName':'podgebeer', 'formHash':'m1qxa9a81qrkzae', 'autoResize':true, 'height':'546', 'async':true, 'host':'wufoo.com', 'header':'show', 'ssl':true }; s.src = ('https:' == d.location.protocol ?'https://':'http://') + 'secure.wufoo.com/scripts/embed/form.js'; s.onload = s.onreadystatechange = function() { var rs = this.readyState; if (rs) if (rs != 'complete') if (rs != 'loaded') return; try { m1qxa9a81qrkzae = new WufooForm(); m1qxa9a81qrkzae.initialize(options); m1qxa9a81qrkzae.display(); } catch (e) { } }; var scr = d.getElementsByTagName(t)[0], par = scr.parentNode; par.insertBefore(s, scr); })(document, 'script');

‘Never got the chance to say thanks. So thanks! for a great trip. Thoroughly enjoyed it’. Bob Hamilton

What makes for a great Belgian beer tour?

First: your host should have an encyclopaedic knowledge of Belgian beer and years of first-hand experience of the most atmospheric Belgian beer cafés and bars, brewery taps and restaurants in which to sample the very best of Belgian beer.

Secondly, to travel in style and relax in comfort, safe in the knowledge that your tour will run seamlessly, and that your accommodation will be comfortable and situated close to your tour’s points-of-interest.

Thirdly, you’ll want to learn about the history of the places you visit on your tour, and hear from the horse’s mouth the stories from the makers of the most interesting Belgian beers in the world.

So who checks all those boxes? Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Podge’s Belgian Beer Tours . Chris ‘Podge’ Pollard knows more about Belgian beer than anyone on the planet. Book a Belgian Beer Tour today!

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Podge’s Belgian Beer Tours Driving People to Drink Since 1994

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

Moscow Metro Tour

• Page active

Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

Write your review