Trappist Monks Launch Soft Drink Based on 75-Year-Old War Recipe

The Trappist monks of Abdij Koningshoeven in Berkel-Enschot-best known for their La Trappe beer-have launched a new soft drink called Ariston. The recipe dates back 75 years and was discovered by accident in the attic.

During World War II, the German occupation forbade the monks from brewing beer. After the war, raw material shortages continued, so they switched to producing a soft drink instead. Searching for items to celebrate their 140th anniversary, the monks stumbled upon old bottles of the original Ariston.

Abbot Isaac Majoor told Omroep Brabant that the original recipe was "sickly sweet and not of this time" 😅, so they developed a less sugary version to appeal to modern health-conscious drinkers-especially younger people avoiding alcohol.

The drink tastes of fruit and herbs and comes in several varieties. About 10,000 liters have been produced so far, amounting to roughly 36,000 bottles. For now, Ariston is only available at the brewery's tasting room, with wider distribution planned if it proves popular. 🍃