Merchant du Vin announces the incoming arrival of Zundert Trappist Ale, from Netherlands' De Kievit Trappist Brewery
Press Release
Merchant du Vin and De Kievit Trappist Brewery, in Abbey Maria Toevlucht, Netherlands, are pleased to announce that Zundert Trappist Ale will be available in the US this summer.
The abbey was established in 1900 in the quiet countryside outside the village of Zundert, near the Belgian border. The brewery, built in one of the abbey's historical farm buildings, began selling beer in 2013. The lapwing weathervane on the roof inspired the name of the brewery, and remains in place still: Brouwerij De Kievit - "The Lapwing Brewery" - also uses the beautiful crested northern lapwing in their logo.
Zundert Trappist 8 Ale shows clear chestnut-brown color, a bouquet of herbal spice, and layered, fruity depth wrapped around caramel malt. Dry, complex, bottle-conditioned; Zundert evolves with each taste and defines a new chapter in the book of excellent Trappist ales. ABV 8.0%; OG 1.072; IBU 28.
There are only 11 Trappist breweries in the world. A beer displaying the "Authentic Trappist Product" logo on the package must be made at a brewery within the walls of a Trappist (Cistercian) monastery; the ownership of the brewery must be by the monks of that community; and the final profits from the beer must be passed along to charity.
About the Zundert Trappist Brewery
The monastery - "Abdij Maria Toevlucht" is the home of the Zundert Trappist Brewery. An opportunity for a new monastery in the Netherlands arose in 1897, when Miss Anna Catharina van Dongen from the town of Zundert gifted a piece of land to the Abbot of the Koningshoeven Abbey. It was decided that the church would build an abbey on the land, a refuge for French monks called "Our Lady of Refuge."
After financial troubles, the brothers of Our Lady of Refuge left with their horse and cart in the direction of the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle, where they were met with open arms. The brothers were able to return home and build a church on the grounds of Our Lady of Refuge. It soon grew to become home for 80 monks, but a monastery of that size was unsustainable. In 2007, the sixth abbot of the abbey was selected, and the cattle farm came to an end. Between 2000 and 2005 several of the abbey buildings were extended and renovated. The brewery was built in 2011 and beer production started in 2013. At the moment, there are 21 monks who make up the Trappist community of Zundert.
About Merchant du Vin
Specialty beer importer Merchant du Vin was founded in 1978, a time when Americans could not buy the world's classic beer styles - in fact, unless they had travelled to Europe most Americans had never even heard of pale ale, hefeweizen, or Trappist ale. MdV founder Charles Finkel realized that the flavors found in the great beers of England, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands were a universal pleasure that should be available to all adults.
The goal of Merchant du Vin is to enhance people's lives via the unmatched aromas and flavors found in great beer. Merchant du Vin's selling proposition is to educate the consumer and arouse curiosity as to the differences among the classic beer styles, and to make these beers available for purchase at stores, restaurants, and bars. Merchant du Vin's portfolio of beers comes from the nations with deep, rich brewing traditions: England, Scotland, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
[more]
