Achel Brewery is the newest, and least known of the Trappist breweries in Belgium. Achel is brewed by the monks at the Sint Benedictus Abdij in Achel, Belgium, just over the border from the Netherlands. The monastary has a history at the site dating back to the 1600’s, and a beer brewing history back to the 1850’s, but this was initially halted during WWI when the copper brewing works were commandeered by the German war effort. The brewery was rebuilt in 1998, and the first Achel Trappist beers hit the market in 2001.
Achel’s beers can be found around the world (even here in Taiwan!), but one of the best ways to enjoy this beer is at the brewery itself! The Achelse Kluise, as the monastary is known, is located along the well laid out bike trails in Noord-Brabant, and is just a short drive out of Valkenswaard and Eindhoven in the Netherlands. A visit to the monastary can be topped off with a stop in the cafe, where you can have a quick bite to eat and try the local brewed Trappist beer. The 5° Bruin and Blond beers (5% ABV) can only be tasted here on draft in the cafeteria. The normal product you see in bottles in stores is the 8° which is 8% ABV. You can enjoy your beer and snack in the beer garden, surrounded by the walls of the monastary.
If you are looking to try some other Belgian beers, try to pay a visit to the food store and beer hall located on the premises of the monastary, where you can buy large selections of other Belgian beers at excellent, almost wholesale prices! Local food products are also available here in the market and are a wonderful treat!
You may also wish to check out the book store and gallery with information on life in the area and at the monastary.
The Achelse Kluis monastary is open year round, except certain holidays like Christmas and Easter.
During Low Season from October to April, the cafe is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12-5PM (bar closes at 4:30). Closed Mondays. The gallery and book store are open Tuesday through Friday from 12:30-5PM, Saturday 12-4:30PM, and Sunday from 12:30-5PM. Closed Mondays.
During High Season from May to September, the cafe is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11-5:30PM (bar closes at 5PM). Closed Mondays. The gallery and book store are open Tuesday through Friday from 11-5PM, Saturday 10:30-4:30PM, and Sunday from 11-5PM. Closed Mondays.
The food store / beer hall is open year round from 9-12 and 12:30-5PM from Tuesday through Saturday, closed Sundays and Mondays.
St. Benedictusabdij De Achelse Kluis
De Kluis 1
3930 Hamont-Achel
Phone: +32 011.800760
https://www.achelsekluis.org/nl however much of the information is only available on the Dutch pages.
5 comments
Thanks for the info, we are headed to Belgium in a few weeks and trying to figure out what trappist allow vistors and which to visit.
Hi Hannah,
I haven’t been to Orval, so can’t speak to that one. The only one of the Belgian Trappists that I noticed really being able to see/access the brewery itself was Achel. Westvleteren, Westmalle, and Chimay all have cafe’s in proximity to the brewery/monastery, but none had tours that I recall. Rochefort had nothing at all, not even a cafe, when i tried to visit, but that was many years ago. Zundert, the new one in the Netherlands, only has a small shop at the monastery. La Trappe has tours available, including an option that includes food pairings. This is perhaps the best option for brewery + beer tasting + food pairing of all the trappists. From a proximity perspective, you could easily hit Achel, Westmalle, Zundert and La Trappe in a single day, if you so chose. The other four are all pretty spread out. If you go to Westvleteren, I’d suggest going on a Saturday, as you can then also visit the Struise brewery in Oostvleteren, which is one of the best craft breweries in Belgium.
When I visited Achel’s website I read this: the Brewery of the famous “Achel Trappist” beer (no visits)” http://www.achelsekluis.org/
Indeed, the monastery itself is not open for visitors, but there is a cafe and shop on premise you can visit.
Unfortunately, a cafe and a shop is not as interesting as visiting the brewery or the monastery 🙁