For beer-drinking cyclists, Belgium is nirvana. The best riders, the best bikes, and the best beer all come from the motherland, and when you throw in the kassien, the bergs and the beautiful countryside of the Ardennes, there’s little argument to be made against such claims. Rapha might be seen by some as over the top in their commitment to fashion, but we’d argue that there is no limit to good taste.

Trappist-Bottle

For cyclists, the Ardennes is a place more commonly associated with bergs than beers, drawing fans and pros alike to its famous roads each year for three of the sport’s classic races. But for four Rapha riders, it was the idea of connecting three monastic breweries using these historic race routes that drew them to Belgium. Here, Gerben Gerritsen shares the story of his Trappist brewery tour.

Trappist-5

There are only 11 Trappist breweries in the world, and although many breweries find inspiration from the monk-crafted Trappist beer, strict criteria govern the right to brew and sell authentic Trappist products. The artistry that happens within the walls of a Trappist monastery, and the passion that accompanies the monks’ supervision, is good reason for preserving the Trappist moniker.