Spencer Monks' Reserve Ale (ABV 10.2%) is a fragrant, robust and full bodied Quadrupel, mahogany in color and crowned with a dense, tan, frothy head. Its malt-forward profile yields to a warm finish.
The recipe development phase stretched over three years and 13 experimental brews. The Spencer monks sought an alternative to the use of spices for flavor enhancement by pushing the boundaries of traditional Trappist Quad malt profiles, even incorporating some local barley grown in nearby Barre, MA which was craft malted in Hadley, MA.
The outcome is a unique product with a distinct flavor profile well situated within the Trappist family of Quadrupel ales. 11.2 oz. bottle.
Click to learn more about Trappist Ales
The recipe development phase stretched over three years and 13 experimental brews. The Spencer monks sought an alternative to the use of spices for flavor enhancement by pushing the boundaries of traditional Trappist Quad malt profiles, even incorporating some local barley grown in nearby Barre, MA which was craft malted in Hadley, MA.
The outcome is a unique product with a distinct flavor profile well situated within the Trappist family of Quadrupel ales. 11.2 oz. bottle.
Click to learn more about Trappist Ales

St. Joseph's Abbey: Spencer, Massachusetts
St. Joseph's Abbey is a monastery of the Catholic Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (O.C.S.O.), popularly known as the "Trappists", located in Spencer, Massachusetts.
The Abbey was founded in 1950 by Belgian and French Trappist monks from the Monastery of Our Lady of the Valley in Valley Falls, Rhode Island, which had burned to the ground. In the rustic hills of central New England, they established a new home in which to follow an age-old contemplative way of life.
The monastery became known internationally as the origin of the Centering Prayer movement in modern Catholicism and Christianity, whose leading proponents were monks at the monastery: Fr. William Meninger, Fr. M. Basil Pennington and Fr. Thomas Keating.
Work has always been greatly esteemed in the Cistercian tradition, since it gives the monks the opportunity to follow in Christ' footsteps and share in His Divine work of creation and restoration. The monks participate in three major industries which provide for their livelihood and for the care of the poor. Since the 1950s, they have produced Trappist Preserves, their popular line of 30 flavors of jams and jellies. Since 1949, The Holy Rood Guild has created beautiful, finely-tailored liturgical vestments to enhance the dignity of the Sacred Liturgy. In 2014, with the advice and assistance of their brother Trappists in Belgium, the monks founded Spencer Brewery, producing the first and only certified Trappist beer made in the United States.

Write a Review
Apr 28, 2022 | By Bill E
Dec 17, 2021 | By RODNEY P.
Nov 4, 2021 | By Jeffrey
Jul 12, 2021 | By LeRoy
Feb 13, 2021 | By Michael G.
Nov 3, 2020 | By sarah e.
Jun 2, 2020 | By DOMINICK M.
Mar 1, 2019 | By Danielle
Mar 12, 2018 | By Paul C.
Feb 14, 2018 | By Capt Richard
Reviews
10 reviews
Supreme taste a surprise





My wife never goes to liquor stores but this time she was with me. We saw a "pick six" and she said do it just for fun. I told her to pick some and she chose this one because she liked the presentation (bottle shape and packaging). What a surprise to find the best tasting ale I've ever had.
Bill E
Not my Style...





I have always said this style of beer was not for me.
I was dared by a friend to buy four of these and before the the end of the first beer I would wish I had ordered 8.
My friend and I have drank a lot of beers over the years and compared notes on what we liked and didn't like in a beer, so I trusted him and ordered not 4, but 8.
All I can say is that this is simply a stellar beer and yes I am glad I ordered 8.
now I need to try some other Spencer beers!
RODNEY P.
One of the best from any country





Easily the best beer I have tried all year.
Jeffrey
Great taste!





I really enjoyed this Ale. Normally I don't care for dark ales, but this one really changed my mind ( and taste) for them.
LeRoy
Top shelf Trappist ale





Easily one of the very best Trappist ales to be found anywhere. The fact that it's brewed at a Trappist monastery in Massachusetts is a bonus.
Michael G.
To be enjoyed





I'm no expert. But I have been around the restaurant/bar industry for many years. This is a wonderful full bodied beer. I was not disappointed.
sarah e.
Wonderful ale





After first tasting a selection of Spencer beers just last summer at a fair, I was hooked. This monks reserve quad ale is my favorite! It's so good words don't do it justice. Simply wonderful.
DOMINICK M.
Gift Hero!





My husband loves trying new beers and I wanted to find something special for his 50th birthday. This was it! Years (like a million years ago) when I was in college I visited St. Joseph's Abbey. I heard they had started making beer and had been on a mission to find it. My husband was thrilled with the "instructions manual" that came with the beer. Well packaged, great bottle. Big hit!
Danielle
SPENCER Trappist Quad





I'm not a wine or beer snob bent towards detailed ratings. All I know is this SPENCER Quad has great body, mouthfeel, and taste. A big, delicious beer! As good as a Chimay Grand Reserve, or any other Quad from Belgium. Made right here in the USA!
Paul C.
Captain





Capt Richard