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The city of Malle, in the province of Antwerp, was actually formed in 1976 through the merger of two small towns, Oostmalle and Westmalle. With barely 14,000 inhabitants, it is located more specifically in the north of Kempen, between Antwerp and Turnhout.
In its origins, it was probably a Frankish settlement known as Mallum or Maalberg. The first mention of its name dates back to 1194, when the Bishop of Cambrai granted the churches of Malle and Vorsele to the Church of Our Lady of Antwerp.
Since then, Oostmalle, Westmalle, and Zoersel formed a single domain, which depended on the province of Taxandria.
In the first half of the 13th century, the domain was divided into Oostmalle and Westmalle, as part of the Duchy of Brabant.
From the 16th century until the French Revolution, Oostmalle belonged to the Renesse family, while Westmalle was in the hands of the Van der Moelen, Cottereau, and Powis families. Unfortunately, in 1965, a tornado destroyed 135 houses and the village church of Oostmalle.
Malle is world-famous for its Trappist abbey, which produces an excellent beer and a magnificent cheese. The Abbey of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Abdij Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van het Heilig Hart van Jezus), founded in the 12th century, belongs to the Cistercian order.
The order was nicknamed the Trappist order in reference to the Abbey of La Trappe in French Normandy. The Cistercian order reformed some canons of the Trappist order in the 16th century and today it is known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance.
The Westmalle Brewery Is Born
The Trappist monastery of Malle, founded in 1794, achieved abbey status on April 22, 1836. The monks were authorized to drink the most famous beverage of Flanders — beer — during meals.
Later, Abbot Dom Martin decided to build a small brewery within the abbey, and the first beer left this brewery on December 10, 1836.
Until 1856, the beer produced in Malle was consumed exclusively within the abbey. However, that year the monks began selling it at the abbey entrance. Due to growing demand, the brewery began to grow, and by the 20th century the monks began marketing the beer beyond their borders.
The secret of these Trappist beers is that their recipe has not changed at all in 170 years of history. They are brewed with pure water, malt, hops, yeast, and sugar.
Currently, 13 breweries in the world are authorized to be labeled as Trappist: six in Belgium — Achel, Chimay, Rochefort, Orval, Westmalle, and Westvleteren; two in the Netherlands: La Trappe and Zundert; one in Austria: Stift Engelszell; one in France: Mont de Cast; one in Spain: Cardeña; one in Italy: Tre Fontane; one in the United Kingdom: Mount St. Bernard; and the only member outside of Europe: Spencer, in the United States.
All bottles produced in these Abbeys carry the logo that authenticates them as an Authentic Trappist Product.
Requirements for a Trappist Brewery
For a beer to be considered Trappist, it must meet three fundamental requirements:
- The beer must be brewed within the walls of a Trappist abbey and by Trappist monks, or under their direct supervision.
- The brewery must depend on the monastery and be part of the monastic project.
- The brewery will not generate profits. A portion of the income goes to the monks of the abbey, while the rest goes to charitable works. Additionally, advertising must respect the religious spirit in which the beer is brewed.
Products
The three beers produced at the Malle abbey are Dubbel, Tripel, and Extra. The Extra is only brewed twice a year and is served exclusively to the monks and their guests at lunch.
Westmalle Abbey has also been producing cheese since 1860. The monks make the cheese with milk from the abbey’s cows. Colorants and preservatives are excluded from the production, so the color of the cheese depends on the food the cows eat.
Cheese production is very limited and can only be purchased at the abbey and at the Café Pub Trappisten in Malle.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Westmalle Abbey famous for?
Westmalle Abbey is world-famous for producing Trappist beers — Dubbel, Tripel, and Extra — as well as artisan cheese made by monks since 1860.
How many Trappist breweries exist in the world?
As of this article, there are 13 certified Trappist breweries worldwide, six of which are in Belgium: Achel, Chimay, Rochefort, Orval, Westmalle, and Westvleteren.
When was the first Westmalle beer brewed?
The first Westmalle beer was brewed on December 10, 1836, shortly after the monastery received abbey status in April of the same year.
What does ATP mean in Trappist beers?
ATP stands for Authentic Trappist Product, a certification label that guarantees the beer was brewed under the direct supervision of monks within a Trappist abbey.
