Trappist January 2026

You'll have already noticed I ignored the call for 'Dry January' of course, but for this blog I went for the 3 Rochefort bottles they had at Hastings Eel & Bear (blog). I'll deal with them going up in strength, with a bonus La Trappe to finish off the blog. First the Trappistes Rochefort series (website). Brewing had started at the 13th century Abbey of Notre-Dame de St-Remy by 1595, whilst the monks worked on farming and mining beforehand. During the revolutionary period from 1789, the monks fled from French troops, returning 100 years later. Because of looting and the destruction of their church they built a new church and brewery and, as farming failed to meet the monastery's financial needs, they supplemented their income by selling their beers. 

By 1952 professional brewing became their main source of income, a new brewery was built in 1960, and since 2020 brewing in a brand new 'state of the art' brewhouse. They started brewing all 3 of these ales in the 1950s, Rochefort 6 being the first brewed from 1950. Hallertau (hopslist) and Styrian Golding hops (hopslist) are used for all their beers. Rochefort 6 (7.5%), aka as the "Trappiste" is a deep reddish amber colour, with a gentle fruity aroma, and fruity, slightly malty taste, a dry bitter finish, very easy to drink, nice one! 😁

The Rochefort 8 (9.2%) aka "The Speciale" was the third of these brewed from 1955, originally for the Christmas season. The aroma is dark fruits with a hint of cloves like a fruit cake, the colour is a darker tawny, and the flavours appropriately include a BIG fruity taste, with dark and dried fruits, and a very subtle toasted bread and malt, ending with a dry finish, but not quite as bitter as the Rochefort 6. I did like all of these, it's pretty darn good! 😋

The second eldest, first brewed in-between the other 2 in the early 1950s, Rochefort 10 (11.3%) aka La "Merveille" (trans. wonder or miracle). A deep reddish brown in colour, with a spicy, figs and dark fruits, slightly smoky aroma. It's sweet at first, and pretty much full of dark spicy fruits in the taste, a little chocolate too, drying out with a nutty slightly bitter finish. Indeed, a Black Forest Gateau of a beer, plenty of body, rich and luxurious, gorgeous. And not to forget that all the Rochefort ales are bottle conditioned of course, and all superb! 👍

Finally, the 10.0% Quadrupel from La Trappe (website), which La Trappe claims to be the first Quadrupel ever brewed! La Trappe Quadrupel is a dark reddish brown colour, and brewed with Hallertau Northern Brewer (hopslist) and Slovenian Super Steirer (also known as Super Styrian, ie Aurora grown in Slovenia - hopslist), this Quadrupel has a dark fruits and slightly vanilla aroma, as with many malty or slightly malty ales I detected butterscotch, as well as dark fruits in the flavour. Rich, slightly sweet, and smooth to drink, with warmth from the alcohol, but a dry finish, making it very drinkable, good stuff, cheers folks, Happy Trappist January! 😉