Today's spot is a really special beer, paired with a really cool bookmark from our pals at Louisville Water! Monk's Mercy is a #NuLuBrewed Belgian Tripel that clocks in at a not-to-be-disrespected 7.9% ABV. Classic Belgian yeast character is the star here. Aromas of banana, orange peel, a touch of bubblegum, and a pinch of clove. Full-bodied with perceived sweetness up front and a dry, ever-so-lightly-acidic finish. An homage to Trappist beer.
What’s Trappist beer, you ask? Well, friendly Advent(urer), it’s time for our 2025 Advent-provoked history lesson.
Tucked away in their humble monasteries, Trappist Monks have been brewing beer for centuries. And it’s not just any beer, either; it’s some of the best beer you can get your hands on. The Trappists brew heady, rich ales that adhere to the most stringent quality standards.
Originating ~1664, the Catholic Trappist order of monks began in the Cistercian monastery of La Trappe, France. The Abbot of La Trappe felt that the Cistercians were becoming too liberal, and so he introduced strict new rules to the abbey. Hence, the Trappists were born. These monks lived — and still live, though somewhat less strictly — under the “Rule of St. Benedict”, one of whose defining tenets is ‘ora et labora’ or ‘prayer and work’.
St. Benedict declared that monks and nuns should dedicate their lives to prayer and manual labor. Trappist monks must work with their hands to create something beneficial to the community. Because of this, most Trappist monasteries are located in the countryside, where the monks can surround themselves with crops and livestock to produce artisan goods. These goods are then sold to folks in town to fund the monastery and help the surrounding community. Zero profit is taken by any individual for personal gain.
To this day, there are thirteen recognized Trappist breweries in Europe. The rules for brewing have changed somewhat (chiefly, they are now more gender-inclusive). However, the product must still meet the following criteria to receive the prestigious Authentic Trappist Product (ATP) label:
All products must be made within the immediate surroundings of the abbey.
Production must be done by or under the supervision of Trappist monks or nuns.
Profits should be intended for the needs of the monastic community, for purposes of solidarity within the Trappist Order, or for development projects and charitable works.
Today, while only 13 breweries boast this ATP label, almost all breweries draw inspiration from the Trappists. We all brew our takes on Belgian Enkels, Dubbels, Trippels, and Quadrupels, and like Monk’s Mercy, these tend to be rich, full-bodied homages to Trappist beers.
Beer is an agricultural product, created by skilled laborers working with their hands to grow and process good barley and hops, and to source clean, fresh water. After all, a beer is only as good as the brewer who brews it and the ingredients used to brew it. Today’s Trappist monks are a living reminder of the fact that beer starts not in the brewhouse, but in the fields, and in our natural environments.
Speaking of beer ingredients and nature, today’s beer is accompanied by a bookmark from our friends at Louisville Water, who had a history lesson of their own they wanted us to share:
FROM LOUISVILLE WATER: In 1854, the state of Kentucky voted to create the “Louisville Water Works,” now known as Louisville Water Company – Kentucky’s first public drinking water provider in Louisville, Kentucky. In October 1860, Louisville Water began pumping water on the banks of the Ohio River, where the Louisville Water Tower and the original Pumping Station still stand today. This year marks 165 years of delivering high-quality drinking water to Louisville and beyond.
In 2014, the WaterWorks Museum opened to tell the story of Louisville’s drinking water. Today, the site hosts school field trips, events, and tours to continue sharing its rich history with the community. You can visit the WaterWorks Museum on the second Sunday of every month. Visit LouisvilleWaterTower.com for more information.
You can also always fill your reusable bottle with fresh Louisville Water at our Louisville Water tap in the NuLu Taproom.
If today’s blog was a bit dense for you, well, I did warn you that I’m a nerd. ;)
I’ll see you again tomorrow for a much lighter, shorter, breezier blog entry! For now, enjoy your Monk’s Mercy, and maybe find a good book on the Trappists for that bookmark.
