The brewery was founded inside Scourmont Abbey, in the Belgian municipality of Chimay in 1862.

[2] As with all other Trappist breweries, the beer is sold only for financial support of the monastery and good causes.

[3] The brewery business pays rent for use of the property within the abbey, which is used to support the monastic community.

The majority of the profit from the sale of the beer is distributed to charities and for community development around the region.

The filtered solids from the beer mash are recycled into livestock feed which is given to the same cows that produce the milk for Chimay cheeses.