Although stylistically the youngest of the bunch, the Quadrupel has become one of the most popular trappiest ales consumed in the world today. Here’s why you can feel good about buying a 10% ABV quad on a Tuesday.

Hang on, what does Trappist mean?  

Once upon a time, in the French village of La Trappe, there was a Monastery. During the French Revolution in the late 18th Century, the Monks fled France in search of a place to live. They settled in Belgium. The monks worked and still work for their cause making all sorts of delicious commodities such as biscuits, chocolate, jams, cheese, liqueurs, honey, oil, bread and most importantly (for us, anyway) beer.

What has that got to do with Beer?

There are very strict rules to be considered a Trappist ale.

Rule number 1.

• The beer MUST be brewed within the walls of the Abbey.

Lucky for La Trappe, the brewery is located on the most beautiful grounds located in Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands. Birds are tweeting, the forest skirting the brewery is swaying and the smell of bread, hops and chocolate fills the air. What a place to be.

Rule number 2.

• The brewing process must be overseen by the Monks.

La Trappe brewery has 1 monk CEO and 1 non-monk CEO. All decisions made about how the beer is produced, what charities to support and where the beer is sold. Monks work at the brewery but so do regular people including those with disability and neuro-diversity.

Rule number 3.

• The profits of the beer must contribute to social and environmental causes.

La Trappe is working toward a closed loop system to reduce waste, excess energy consumption and pollution. For example, the spent grain, a high-fibre residue of ale, is used for baking bread in their bakery. La Trappe supports a very poor community in Uganda and profits sold from La Trappe Isid’or provide transportation for children to get to school, clean drinking water for the community and support for workers at the abbey in Uganda. These are two examples but there are many, many more.

Okay so let’s talk Quadrupel.

You have heard of the dubbels and tripels which began to emerge in the mid-1800s but what about the Quadrupel?

Quadrupel as a style was born in 1991 when De Koningshoeven Brewery (La Trappe) brewed and coined the very first Quadrupel.

Thank you La Trappe.

Although stylistically the youngest of the bunch, the Quadrupel has become one of the most popular trappiest ales produced by La Trappe today.

La Trappe Quadrupel is a high alcohol Belgian style ale with big bold flavours. With a signature rich, malty flavour, medium bitterness, and hearty 10% ABV. Despite the heavy blow to your BAC, this Belgian quad has broad drinking appeal and can be enjoyed now or cellared for years to come.