{"id":47123,"date":"2021-07-20T12:12:13","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T16:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/?p=47123"},"modified":"2026-06-27T11:41:55","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T15:41:55","slug":"tips-to-brew-beer-like-a-trappist-monk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebeertimes.com\/en\/tips-to-brew-beer-like-a-trappist-monk\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Tips to Brew Beer Like a True Trappist Monk"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Homebrewers Association<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Saint Joseph Abbey was founded in 1950 on a tree-covered hilltop north of the city of Spencer, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

\"Trappist
Brewing beer like a Trappist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Catholic monastery is home to the monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, better known as Trappists.<\/p>\n

It is common for Trappists to produce goods and provide services to help finance their monastery and support their charitable efforts economically.<\/p>\n

Since 1950, the monks of Spencer Abbey have been brewing and selling jams and jellies for this purpose, but it was only a few years ago that the Massachusetts abbey decided to follow the traditions long rooted in European Trappist monasteries and begin brewing beer.<\/p>\n

After spending a great deal of time studying brewing techniques and visiting some of the most renowned Trappist breweries, Spencer Trappist Brewery<\/a> opened its doors in 2013, becoming the first and currently only Trappist brewery<\/a> in the United States recognized by the ITA (International Trappist Association<\/a>).<\/p>\n

We had the opportunity to speak with Father Isaac, director of Spencer Brewery, to ask him for some tips to share with homebrewers.<\/p>\n