The best beer in the world, allegedly, is made by a group of Trappist monks near a small Belgian town called Vleteren. Their dark strong ale, called Westvleteren 12, is notoriously difficult to get. It’s brewed in small batches and there is a strict limit on purchases per person.

The only way to buy it is to drive there and collect it after pre-ordering by phone – which, reportedly, can take days, weeks, months or however long you're willing to wait.

Westvleteren 12 is one of the highest- rated beers in the world. Which is no surprise, I guess, as the Trappists have been making particularly high-quality beers for a long, long time.

"Trappist" is a designation, like a trademark, and means that the beer is produced under the supervision of monks or on a monastic site. The breweries are non-commercial operations; any profits go to community projects (Abbey breweries, on the other hand, often mimic Trappist styles and branding but are commercial entities).

There are 11 Trappist breweries in the world. Six are in Belgium (Orval, Westmalle, Rochefort, Chimay, Achel, Westvleteren), two in the Netherlands (La Trappe, Zundert), and one each in Austria (Stift Engelszell), Italy (Tre Fontane) and the US (St Joseph's Abbey).

Belgian beers, including those made by the Trappists, are what I like to think of as “food beers”, generally higher in alcohol and best enjoyed with a meal.

Chimay’s Red Trappist Dubbel is a 7 per cent ale with a dark red fruity aroma and taste. It pairs well with roast chicken or pork.

Westmalle’s Tripel has an ABV of 9.5 per cent (though it doesn’t taste like it), with a solid bitterness and spicy character. Try it with a creamy cheese or seafood.

Rochefort 8 is a light-bodied dark ale at 9.2 per cent, with hints of tobacco and liquorice. Let it warm up a little after taking it out of the fridge and allow all its subtle complexity to sing.

@ITbeerista
beerista@irishtimes. com