Abbaye du Mont des Cats - Mont des Cats Bière Trappiste

Mont des Cats Bière Trappiste is a rich and elegant Belgian-style Pale Strong Ale that celebrates the shared brewing traditions of the Trappist monasteries of France and Belgium. Brewed at Chimay for the monks of Abbaye du Mont des Cats, it pours a deep amber-copper color with a creamy off-white head. Aromas of toasted bread, caramel, dried apricot, fig, honey, and gentle spice are complemented by subtle earthy hop notes and the expressive character of traditional Belgian yeast.

The palate is smooth and complex, offering layers of biscuit malt, light caramel, orchard fruit, delicate honey sweetness, and mild peppery spice before finishing with balanced noble hop bitterness and a pleasantly dry, warming character. At 7.6% ABV, the beer delivers impressive depth while remaining refined and exceptionally drinkable, making it a fitting expression of the Trappist brewing tradition.

Produced through the unique collaboration between Abbaye du Mont des Cats and Scourmont Abbey, this distinctive ale represents a rare opportunity to enjoy a beer that honors centuries of monastic brewing heritage while showcasing the craftsmanship for which Trappist beers are renowned.

Mont des Cats Bière Trappiste is excellent when enjoyed fresh, but it also rewards careful cellaring for two to five years, allowing its malt richness, dried fruit character, and subtle spice to become even more harmonious. It pairs beautifully with washed-rind cheeses such as Mont des Cats or Époisses, roast pork, duck, mushroom dishes, hearty stews, French onion soup, and desserts like bread pudding or crème brûlée.

Founded in 1826 in the hills of French Flanders near the Belgian border, Abbaye du Mont des Cats is a Cistercian (Trappist) monastery devoted to prayer, work, and self-sufficiency. The monks established a brewery in 1848 to help support the abbey and its charitable mission, although brewing eventually ceased in the early twentieth century. Despite the closure of the original brewery, the monastery remained dedicated to preserving its brewing heritage alongside its renowned cheesemaking tradition.

In 2011, the abbey revived its brewing legacy through a unique partnership with Scourmont Abbey, home of Belgium's famed Chimay Brewery. Brewed at Chimay using a recipe developed in collaboration with the monks of Mont des Cats, the beer allows the French monastery to once again offer a Trappist-inspired ale while supporting the abbey's religious and charitable activities. The collaboration reflects the long-standing Trappist tradition of producing exceptional food and drink to sustain monastic life rather than for commercial gain.

Today, Abbaye du Mont des Cats remains one of France's most recognized Trappist monasteries. Together with its celebrated cheese and distinctive ale, the abbey continues to preserve centuries of monastic craftsmanship while sharing the traditions of Trappist brewing with beer enthusiasts around the world.