Official Trappist Complain that “Trappist” Is NOT a Style (Especially for US Beers)

In a news brief from the International Trappists Association website, the meaning of the word “Trappists” is being more clearly defined.  Seems as though many beers use the reference to “Trappists” as if it is a beer style, especially US Brewers.  This from the news brief:

In the last ten to fifteen years, the beers of the Belgian and Dutch Trappist Abbeys have become increasingly popular and highly regarded in the U.S.A. among beer lovers.

Whenever an individual, product, or service becomes held in high esteem, it is common for it to be emulated. As the old saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Commercial breweries and home brewers stateside have been emulating beers such as Chimay Blue, Orval, Rocheport 10, Weethalle Tripel and Westvleteren 12 for many years. Ache Extra and La Trappe Quadrupel enjoy a similar reputation for high quality nowadays.

However, there are an increasing number of commercial breweries in the U.S. that use the word “Trappist,” or some variant thereof, to name or describe certain beers that they produce. This worries the Trappist monasteries that brew beer, as Trappist is not a style of beer. It is an appellation, and a guarantee of provenance!