I cannot say I am an expert in trappist beers, but I am connoisseur enough to have made a pilgrimage to Westvleteren. Let me say this book is extremely well researched and a good companion for the beer enthusiast.

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This book will not disappoint the monk beer lovers. This is a travel around the behind the scenes of the Trappist breweries. The pictures, history and reviews of the breweries are well documented.

Such an enjoyable book for a travel & beer nerd like me. The authors visited the trappist (i.e. monk-brewed) breweries and wrote all about the trip! It would be a dream trip and it was really fun to armchair travel it - maybe I'll even be able to take it with me when I do my own trip to at least one of them someday. Also a bonus for me was that it was written by 3 fellow beer-loving-ladies. The beer industry is still quite male-dominated, so this is great to see!

This book begins with a history of the Trappist monks, and what makes them unique. Following is a visit to each of the Trappist breweries, complete with historical and contemporary photographs, interviews with the brewers, histories of the abbeys, and reviews of the beers they produce. A lovely inclusion is more information about food, lodging, and things to do in the area.

The authors do a very good job of describing what Trappist Beer is and what it means to the Monasteries. Each chapter is devoted to a single Monastery and includes practical advice on visiting and wonderful photographs and history for armchair travelers. The writing is good but the photographs are outstanding. Enjoy.

Books about beer and brewing can be a retelling of what a beer lover already knew apart from the history and the ales on offer. This book it a revelation.
Due to it's subject matter; it is packed with church history and monastic life as well as the time to review what only 11 breweries can boast, the production of trappist ales.
The detail and writing is first class, the photographs will appeal to church historians and beer lovers alike in a unique collection of stories how an order of monks beyond prayer saw work as an important element of their faith. Providing shelter and accommodation, santuary and respite from the world. Feeding travellers home produced food and quality beers. that this tradition has been pasesed down through generations ensures that the product is the best and a quality one.
With tasting notes and hints about exploring these establishments for prayer, meditation, reflection and hospitality makes this a wonderful book to read and reference. Taking in brewhouses in Belgium, Italy. The Netherlands and USA you seek men dedicated to their skilled practices and true artisans. Beautiful pictures of the abbey/monestry adorn the pages as well as photographs of the brewhouse/brewery which are clean, modern and include laboratories insome cases.
The different ales produced are listed and I have included some of these:
Orval a pale ale (6.2% ABV) - Try also Petite Orval once just brewed for the monks, a patersbier, the style likely came about when the monks did an extra sparge of the mash to extract left over sugars; Achel 8 Blonde (8% ABV) [Also a Bruin] and both in Extra in both styles but at 9.5% ABV; La Trappe Blonde, 6.5% ABV, Dubbel 7% ABV, Isid'or 7.5% ABV, Tripel 8% ABV and Quadrupel 10% ABV; Rochefort 6 [a Belgian Dubbel] 7.5% ABV red cap, 8 9.2% ABV green cap and 10 [a Quadrupel] 11.3% ABV blue cap; Chimay Gold or Doree 4.8% ABV another patersbier originally for the monks only, Premiere [Rouge / Dubbel] 7% ABV, Cinq Cents [Blanche / Tripel] 8% ABV; Westvleteren Blond 5.8% ABV, 8 [Dubbel] 8% ABV and 12 {Quad} 10.2% ABV; Westmalle Dubbel 7% ABV, Triple 9.5% ABV and Extra 4.8% ABV another patersbier brewed twice a year for the monks and their guests staying in the guesthouse; Zundert "Monks brew to live, they don't live to brew." Trappist Beer [Tripel] 8% ABV; Shift Engelszell produce, Gregorious [a strong dark ale / Quad] 9.7 ~ 10.5% ABV; Benno {Duppel} 6.9 ~ 7% ABV and Nivard {a pale ale} 5.5% ABV; Tre Fontane Triple with eucalyptus 8.5% ABV; Spencer Trappist Ale 6.5% ABV not quite a classic patersbier a straw colour favoured by me, Trappist Holiday Ale a strong dark ale [Belgian style] 8.7~9% ABV and Trappist India pale ale 7.2% ABV to name but three other beers brewed in a german style as well.
I loved that their summary was entitled "Contemplation" in keeping with their experiences being with and sharing life with the monks' but some of the facts are mind blowing. That in some circles these are viewed as micro-breweries is missing the point and quite misleading.
This was an adventure three female writers embarked upon. That they produced such a wonderful and empathic book is a joy to us readers who can share their discoveries and reference our own trips to these places in due time. They provide details of local attractions, travel tips and if the brewery can be visited. Either way there is always the shop for spiritual guidance and liquid refreshment.
The book has an excellent reference section and a glossery of terms for the general reader.
I know what a trappist monk is now and I have a real desire to give money to the order via the purchase of their fine ales. This is a book I have enjoyed the more I have read and it is a book that I would want to own and refer to again and again.

Packed with wonderful information for traveling the trappist beer region, this guide has everything one would need in order to plan their trip and visit some of the most beautiful, unique, and oldest breweries in the world.

Highly recommended for any beer fan or those looking to explore interesting new places.

Beer writers Caroline Wallace,‎ Sarah Wood and‎ Jessica Deahl undertook the enviable task of visiting every Trappist brewery in the world. The result of their work is Trappist Beer Travels, which combines beer history with their travel journal.

Originally beer was brewed for the monks' consumption as it was a reliable way to make water safe and provided calories and nutrients. But brewing evolved into a source of revenue that helped support monastic operations and charitable projects.

Each of the breweries is closely regulated by the International Trappist Association closely, which make sure they all meet strict production and quality guidelines. Currently there are only 11 breweries recognized by the group.

Trappist Beer Travels (Schiffer, digital galley) dedicates a chapter to each of the 11  breweries, making the book a useful guide if you plan on making a pilgrimage to any of the monasteries. It's important to note that some of the facilities are rarely, if ever open to the public. And some of the breweries only offer tours a couple of days a year.

The authors provide a history of each monastery and its brewing operations, along with information on visiting hours and tastings, if they are available. Several photos accompany each chapter, providing views of the beautiful facilities and grounds at the breweries. Each chapter finishes with thoughtful reviews of the beers produced at each monastery, making this a useful guide to anyone looking for Trappist beers to try.

Trappist Beer Travels
Reviewed by Jim Wilson

Three Texas beer writers obsessed with history and driven by wanderlust traveled to Europe and Massachusetts on a whirlwind tour. They learned firsthand about the 11 Trappist monasteries that currently brew to support their religious activities. Six of the monasteries were in Belgium, two in Holland and one each in Austria, Italy and the US.

The authors then drew on an imposing 90 references to fill in a history and travel tome stitched together with bits of information about beer at each stop along the way. The tone is lyrical and the text is lavishly supported by 239 photos and illustrations, including more than a few with quirky perspectives.

First, great detail is presented on the history of how the Catholic Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, commonly known as the Trappists, came to be. The effort started in 1098 at Cistercium or Citeaux, FR which hinges on whether you prefer Latin or French in your religious history.

Depending on your interest in church organization and evolution, this discussion may be TMI or not. What stood out to me was the Trappist’s simple prescription of pray and work and the number of monasteries that have been destroyed by fire or ensnared by wars. After eight chaotic centuries, Westmalle sold the first commercial Trappist beer in 1856 and others followed when the time was right for them.

Trappist Beer Travels devotes a chapter to each of the brewing monasteries. Their location and setting, historical trials and tribulations, brewing anecdotes, beer descriptions, travel tips and area attractions are detailed. All 37 of the commercial Trappist beers currently produced are briefly described. The reports are useful, but are simple compared to those used by BJCP judges in competitions. No recipes are given, but useful ingredient and process hints are sprinkled around.

These discussions were most interesting:
• Why Orval brews an Imperial English Pale Ale fermented with Brettanomyces.
• The variety of work chosen by the monasteries.
• Dr. De Clerck and Brother Theodore’s modernization of Chimay’s brewing after WWII.
• The sensitivity to sustainability that monasteries exhibited as they chose beers to brew.
• The aging demographics of the communities and what it could mean for their futures.
• The austere chapels that the breweries mirror.
• The diversity of Spencer’s beer styles.

This is an entertaining story of the Trappist brewing business. It will be mildly romantic for home brewers, who will also enjoy reading books with more technical detail. The best of those is Brew Like a Monk by Stan Hieronymus.

I may confess that I am not a big beer drinker - if any - but the idea of a journey around the world in trappist beers sounds entincing, especially for the history and cultural stories to be told. This beautifully illustrated book by Caroline Wallace is a great inspiration in this respect, as it covers not only the tastes and the ingredients used for creating various trappist beers, but is sharing a lot of tasty, moderately alcohol-infused tales going as far as the Middle Ages. A very interesting adventure that almost made me think about starting to plan my own beer adventure soon.

This was a combination of history, Trappist beer making, travel and the Rule of Benedict (Work and Pray). The women traveled to 11 Trappist monasteries that make beer to sustain themselves. Each monastery, brewer and brewery was different and interesting but the underlying Benedictine rule was constant. One chapter for each monastery with beautiful photos of each. Unfortunately, the authors did not add much personality to the book so it was a bit "dry." Ha.
The book was interesting but I gave it an extra star for its photographs.

This a very informative book, it is well structured, each of the 11 abbeys gets their own chapter.  It starts off with an illustration of the abbey, followed by it’s history, then info on the brewing process, then a review of each beer and finally finishing of the chapter is info on planning your trip. Each chapter has at least 20 photos to accompany it, including the all important photo of a freshly poured beer.

What’s missing from the book is a bit of character, nothing on their travels, nothing on any incidents crossing borders with a car full of beer, instead it just feels like a information leaflet you could pick up from the abbey.  At one point it is mentioned they are very tired and carrying an injury, unless I missed it the injury was never mentioned in the book.  One useful thing would be some info at the beginning on the types of beer, how you go about tasting it and picking up on all the flavours, most readers might be aware of all that but I’ve only ever just drunk beer…..so after complaining about too much info I now demand more info.  hehe.

Some of the areas the abbeys are located sound amazing, lovely remote places, loads of hiking trails and cycle routes, it is very tempting to go and do a visit, having that extra bit of info at the end about planning your trip is very helpful, some recommended places to stay was great.

I have enjoyed this book and couldn’t resist going beer hunting, I managed to find some Trappist beer and I recommend you read this book whilst drinking Westmalle Dubbel.

This is the kind of book that would make an amazing gift for the beer lover in your life. Along with a quality local brew to enjoy with it. The historical information was stealthily educational, broken up with sections on the brews available from each location, the other local attractions, and an amazing variety of photographs to bring it all to life.

While I don't know if or when I'll personally be able to visit these monasteries and historic breweries, I felt as if I was right there with the travelers as they featured the locals, the histories, and the brewing rooms themselves. This is the kind of book that looks beautiful on a coffee table, or in a formal bar. I think I need a hard back for my buffet alcohol cabinet in my dining room, and it is publishing just in time to make a perfect wedding gift for a special beer loving couple.

A few years ago, one of my best friends and her fiancée told me that one of their top bucket list items was to not only drink all the Trappist Ales, but to also visit all the Trappist Monasteries that made these ales. When Trappist Beer Travels came available on NetGalley, I did not hesitate to request it because it made me think of my friends’ quest.

The introduction to the book is blessedly brief – one and a half pages - describing only how the three authors went from a plan to visit ten Trappist breweries in ten days to a more contemplative eighteen day itinerary that included the newly founded eleventh Trappist brewery in Rome. They explain that their book will expound on the history, spirit, and beers of each individual abbey visited. The chapters will also explain where to go and what to see for those who want to journey to the Trappist breweries on their own. After reading the introduction, I was excited to read the book.

Of course, I was delighted to see that the introduction was immediately followed by a map of the Trappist breweries. The call out on the map of Europe enlarged the country of Belgium so that it was easier to see where the six breweries within the country were in relation to each other. However, given the rough outlines of the other countries on the map of Europe, it was difficult to tell what country the Engelszell Abbey was in. (FYI – it is in Austria, not Hungary.) The location of the Spencer Abbey on the much smaller call out of the United States looked much more Mid-Atlantic than New England; however, that was definitely forgivable as the authors had made clear in the preceding Introduction that it was in Massachusetts.

The authors chose to begin their book with a chapter on the origins of the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance – the Catholic monks commonly referred to as Trappists – so that the reader could “fully appreciate the commitment, choices, and history that have shaped the beer.” The bilateral philosophy of The Rule of Saint Benedict, which is often summarized as “Pray and Work,” is at the heart of why the Trappist monasteries brew beer to financially support themselves. The history begins with Robert of Molesme striking out from his abbey to found a new austere monastery at Citeaux, continues through the Trappist reform of the 17th century, and ends with a description of the Trappists in modern times. The authors also take the opportunity in this chapter to clear up the misconception that Trappist beer is a style of beer all its own. Rather than indicate a style, the term “Trappist” serves as a designation and a certification of origin.

The historical overview is followed by one chapter on each of the eleven beer brewing Trappist Monasteries. Each chapter begins with a one-page pen and ink sketch of the abbey, labeled with the abbey name and location. The bulk of the chapters discuss the abbeys’ origins, their sometimes tumultuous history, and their beer brewing operations. At the end of the chapters are the descriptions of the abbeys’ beers and the travel tips, including other area attractions. Photographs from the authors’ trip and historical photographs are liberally interspersed throughout each abbey’s chapter. These photographs really provide a sense of place and personality to the stories of each abbey.

The authors’ contemplation in their conclusion summarizes their experience traveling the eleven abbeys in eighteen days, and underscores the difference between Authentic Trappist Products and “abbey ales,” which is a catch all term for beers brewed by non-Trappist monastic orders or commercial breweries mimicking the Belgian styles typically associated with monastic brewing.

I am definitely going to buy this book as a wedding gift for my friends because the travel writing is very engaging and the beer writing is very intelligent. The travel tips and area attractions will most certainly be useful in their planning their bucket list trip(s) to drink all the authentic Trappist beers. Personally, living in New England myself, I am inspired by the book to maybe make a pilgrimage to Spencer, Massachusetts to visit the abbey in that area.

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What exactly is a Trappist beer? Beer nerds likely have a pretty good idea already, but for those that don't, this book answers the question nicely. The writers do a good job of explaining what a Trappist monastery is and why the monks might be interested in brewing beer.

There can be some excitement about these beers because they are highly regarded and available in limited quantities. An aspect of this book that I think is really important, which the writers bring up numerous times, is that the monks aren't brewing to make a profit. There goal is to sustain themselves and support their communities and various organizations. The monks also have a specific lifestyle to maintain that devoting full time to brewing would interrupt. These women are very respectful of the monasteries and their inhabitants throughout this book, which is fantastic to see.

I loved the photos. These show off just how varied the monasteries are. Coupled with some excellent historical information, it gives a good sense of how these different locales are similar and different. There is even a short description of the different beers and how widely available they might be. My only real complaint comes in the writing style. With three creators involved, it made it kind of awkward when they tried to express a collective idea. That may just be my personal take on it though.

Beer lovers should find plenty to enjoy in this book, whether they've had numerous Trappist beers or just find inspiration to pick up their first.

My husband and I are avid beer connoisseurs and we visited Belgium a couple of years ago. We are very interested in Trappist beers, but, unfortunately, we were unable to visit any of the Trappist monasteries. I would like to purchase this book when it is published for us to use as a reference when we plan our next trip to Belgium. I loved the fall color photographs and other graphics used in the book and the organization of the book was wonderful. The information is historical and very interesting. This would be a great addition to any beer snob's bookshelf!

I'm planning a trip to Belgium soon, and when I was approved to review Trappist Beer Travels, I decided to focus my trip in visiting the breweries mentioned in this book. Being fairly decent beer fan, Trappist beers caught my attention some time ago, but I never truly followed up on the information behind the scenes. This book provides that information, and then some! Gorgeous photos, tips and tricks, beer/brewery information, I'm so excited to try and visit at least one of the monasteries listed!

Beautiful book! So much history and travel and information.

Wallace, Wood and Deahl haven’t merely crafted a tale of a beer pilgrimage they took together. Instead, they’ve ended up creating what almost becomes an informative love-letter to the Trappist brewing traditions. The brewers are treated with the utmost respect, with each monastery getting its own chapter, its own personal history told, its own in-depth description of their current brewing operations, and of course an overview of the specific brews that each one produces. Not only those, but each monastery is covered with gorgeous pictures, and helpful snippets of information on what else travelers can do should they ever have the good fortune to visit these establishments that are a mix of prayerful solitude and masterful beer-production. The thoroughness with which each monastery is covered is absolutely top-notch, to put it lightly.

This is not merely a guide to Trappist brewing. It’s of this reader’s opinion that for now, this should be “the” guide for anyone with even the slightest interest in this Catholic order and their magnificent beer-producing traditions.