Rochefort Brewery

Rochefort Brewery

The Rochefort Brewery (French: Brasserie de Rochefort) is a Belgian Trappist brewery located within the walls of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy, near the town of Rochefort.

History

The Rochefort Brewery was founded in 1595, within the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy. The brewery is one of only fourteen Trappist breweries in the world, and one of six in Belgium. The monks of the abbey follow the Rule of St. Benedict, which includes principles of self-sufficiency. As such, the brewery is not a commercial enterprise, but a means to support the abbey and its charitable works.

Beers

The Rochefort Brewery produces three beers, known as Rochefort 6, Rochefort 8, and Rochefort 10. Each beer is a Belgian strong ale, with the number referring to the original gravity in Belgian degrees.

Rochefort 6

Rochefort 6 is the oldest recipe, dating back to 1953. It is a dark ale with an ABV of 7.5%.

Rochefort 8

Rochefort 8, first brewed in 1955, is a strong dark ale with an ABV of 9.2%.

Rochefort 10

Rochefort 10, the most recent addition to the brewery's lineup, was first brewed in 1960. It is a quadrupel-style ale with an ABV of 11.3%.

Brewing Process

The brewing process at Rochefort Brewery is traditional, with the monks overseeing each step. The water used in the brewing process is drawn from a well located within the abbey. The beers are bottle conditioned, meaning they undergo a second fermentation in the bottle.

See Also

• Trappist beer
• Belgian beer
• Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy

External Links

• Official website of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy (in French)