As you are aware, the James Squire brewers of Malt Shovel Brewery are responsible for a number of beers that are being sold nationally around Australia; New Norcia Abbey Ale being one of them. This year we had the opportunity to enter the New Norcia Abbey Ale in the 2010 World Beer Cup held in Chicago USA and it won GOLD! The category was Other Belgian-Style Ale with 35 entrants from around the world, New Norcia Abbey Ale was the only Australian made beer to win a gold medal this year. This category is set up for Belgian-style ales that are brewed outside the normal specifications for the other Belgian style ales for one reason or another.  New Norcia Abbey Ale is a lower alcohol version of a true Tripel or a Strong Belgian Golden Ale. Due to excise, much higher costs and our attempts on moderation, our brewers brew it at the absolute lower limit of 7%. As a description the brewers call it single or rather a lower alcohol level Tripel.

Congratulation Brewers, 2 gold medals at 2 World beer Cups (James Squire Pilsener in 2008) is quite an achievement!

New Norcia Abbey Ale is the product of Australian pale malted barley, raw and Belgian sugar brewed with imported hops and fermented with a Belgian Ale yeast. The result is a golden coloured monastic ale with intriguing aromas and a rich heavenly finish. Spiciness from the Styrian Goldings hops and the Belgian yeast fermentation creates a lovely balance with the richness of the malt.

An alcohol level of 7% ABV adds to the complexity.

Distinct from the famous Trappist beers, Abbey Ales are brewed by commercial brewers who licence their names from abbeys. The term Abbey Ale in fact refers more to a relationship with a monastery than to a specific beer style. To qualify as an Abbey Ale (according to the trade organisation, The Belgian Brewers), the ale must have a link to an existing abbey, the profits from the sale must benefit the abbey, the brewer must protect the cultural heritage of the abbey and the abbey retains control over the advertising and marketing of the ale.

New Norcia Abbey Ale is a handcrafted brew made for the monks of the Benedictine Community of New Norcia WA. Abbey Ale is now available exclusively on tap at New Norcia Hotel and in six packs and cartons from speciality bottle shops nationally.