The Brewery
From Reformation to Revival, Mount St Bernard Brewery
Mount St Bernard Brewery, the producer of Tynt Meadow English Trappist Ale, operates from a small, purpose-built facility. Located within the Abbey, it occupies what used to be our kitchen and laundry. Currently, brewing is a key labour for us, helping sustain our community of monks and maintain our home.
Moreover, our brewery embraces sustainable practices, ingredients, and techniques. This approach allows us to produce a modern version of traditional Trappist ale in an environmentally friendly and community-focused way. Starting with a small home brewing kit, we now brew over 1,000 hectolitres of Tynt Meadow. You can find our ale throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, North and South America, and Asia.
Brewing on-site at Mount St Bernard
The way we make our beer reflects who we are – it is a blend of our background, aspirations and beliefs.
Cistercians deeply value simplicity. However, this simplicity doesn’t imply something done easily or cheaply; rather, it signifies the distillation of complexity. It’s about processing and ordering a rich, varied reality, making the result appear self-evident.
Ale was likely brewed at Mount Saint Bernard in the nineteenth century, with visitors praising the monks’ “table beer.” Although the original recipe is lost to time, Tynt Meadow carries on its spirit.
Our brewery, though small, is state-of-the-art. It features a bottling line capable of filling and crowning 2,000 bottles per hour. We handle secondary fermentation on-site in a dedicated, temperature-controlled facility. We also offer local delivery and ship to distributors across Britain, Europe, North & South America, and Asia.
Supervised, Sealed & Blessed
The monks of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey are real.
The monks of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey live with dedication to work, reflection, observance, and prayer. Traditionally, they worked as farmers, sustaining the community and providing for their upkeep. However, in the past decade, they transitioned to the great tradition of Trappist brewing.
At Mount Saint Bernard Trappist Brewery, we carefully oversee the brewing process, adhering to strict quality and sustainability protocols. Additionally, many monks actively participate in the production, sealing, and secondary fermentation of Tynt Meadow. Each stage of ale-making involves our community, ensuring the highest standards are met.
Moreover, we send every batch of Tynt Meadow from Mount Saint Bernard with a humble blessing. This blessing marks the culmination of our efforts and the start of the ale’s journey. Our pride lies in this labor, bringing Tynt Meadow to those who appreciate its quality and tradition.
Sustainability
We believe that sustainability must reflect in our products, practices, and outlook. To achieve this, we nourish and nurture seeds for tomorrow. As custodians and guardians of the land, traditions, and principles entrusted to us, we take our responsibilities seriously.
Mount St Bernard Brewery draws water from the original well, built almost two hundred years ago in the ‘well field’. Local ingredients remain a priority whenever possible.
Our commitment involves walking lightly upon the earth, viewing our produce as a bounty to share. Sourced from natural gifts, it is our duty to preserve these resources for future generations to enjoy.
How we Help
Our philosophy is shaped by our history, sustained by our beliefs, and realised through our actions. Consequently, we draw inspiration from the philosophy of Saint Benedict. In turn, our efforts focus on serving the community and advancing well-being.
Mount Saint Bernard Brewery is a not-for-profit operation. Our brewery is small by modern standards and is purposefully so, allowing us to pursue fulfilling labour while operating sustainably without commercial considerations. Proceeds from the brewery form a primary source of income that provide sustenance and upkeep for our community at Mount Saint Bernard, as well as allowing us to contribute to charity near and afar.
As a community that in turn is part of a broader community, we seek to fulfil our role as neighbours, servants, and friends. Our home is open to all those whom wish to visit. More information on Mount Saint Bernard Abbey is available here.
