a short glossary of brewing and beer terms

do you know your top fermented beer from your bottom?

take a look through these pages to find out more about some of the phrases used on our site.

Trappist

The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, the Trappist order takes the name from La Trappe Abbey in Normandy where it began as a reform movement in 1664.

There are strict rules in place for gaining Trappist status: the beer must be brewed within the Abbey walls; it must be brewed under the supervision of the Abbey community; and a substantial part of the profit must be invested in social services.

Although there are some 171 Trappist Abbeys worldwide, however only seven of these brew beer – one in the Netherlands, the rest in Belgium.

ChimayLa TrappeOrvalWestmalle