Engelszell Gregorius Trappist Ale

Well, what to you know, there's an new Trappist brewery, from an Abbey that's been around since the 13th century, and this one isn't Belgian, it's Austrian (making it a "kloisterbrau"). But that doesn't mean that they're making Germanic-style brews, no, they're doing it Belgian-style. And here's the one they call Gregorius.


Stift Engelszell Gregorius Trappistenbier. Product of Austria. 9.7% ALC./VOL. Ale brewed with honey.

Appearance: rich caramel brown, with ruby fringes, under a lush tan head, stays strong, drifts down slowly.

Aroma: sweet and malty, toffee and caramel, plums and raisins, figs, and a bit of cherry in there, too. Complex and wonderful. The label didn't give a style, but based on nose and appearance, it's somewhere between a dubbel and a quadruple.

Taste: Starts slightly bitter, tasty hops doff their caps to us, then a funky twist emerges. Mostly malty, with a surprisingly hoppiness. Trappist yeast continues to contribute to the intriguing character. It's a very complex creature, and tremendously enjoyable.