Where To Buy Westvleteren Beer?

Westvleteren is a Trappist beer brewed by monks at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Belgium. It has been voted the 'Best Beer in the World' several times, and its limited production and increasing popularity make it difficult to buy. The only authorised reseller of Trappist Westvleteren in the world is the abbey's own cafe, In De Vrede, where it can be purchased by the bottle. The abbey also operates a web store with limited opening hours, and a pilot project for home delivery to registered customers in Belgium.

Where to buy Westvleteren beer

Westvleteren beer is notoriously difficult to get hold of. It is brewed by monks at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, Belgium, and they do not advertise it, export it, or produce large quantities. They don't even put a label on the bottle.

The only legal way to buy Westvleteren beer is at the abbey itself. You can reserve your beers online in advance, but you will need to provide the license plate of the car you will be collecting the beer in, and the same car cannot be used to collect beer more than once every 60 days.

If you don't have a car, you can visit In De Vrede, a cafe owned by the abbey, located across the Donkerstraat from the monastery. This is the only authorised reseller of Trappist Westvleteren in the world. You can buy the beer by the bottle in the cafe, and there is also a small shop at the entrance to the cafe that sells beer by the bottle or in special collector's sets for takeaway. However, due to the limited production of the beers, there may not always be individual bottles available for takeaway.

You can also now buy Westvleteren beer online from some specialist retailers, although it is worth noting that the monks condemn the practice of reselling their beer and claim that it is illegal and prosecutable.

How to buy Westvleteren beer with a rental car

Westvleteren is a popular Trappist beer producer in Belgium, with its Westvleteren 12 beer often ranked as one of the top beers in the world. The only way to buy Westvleteren beer is to pre-order cases directly from the monks at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey and drive out to Westvleteren to pick them up at a set day and time. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to buy Westvleteren beer with a rental car:

Step 1: Register an Account

On the official website of Trappist Westvleteren, create an account with your personal details, including your name, date of birth, address, mobile phone number, email, and number plate of the car you will use for pickup. You will receive a link via email to validate your registration.

Step 2: Check the Sales Calendar

The website has limited opening hours, which are advertised on a calendar. Sales moments with home delivery are indicated in black, while those with pickup options are shown in blue. The calendar is typically updated on a rolling, roughly five-week window.

Step 3: Place Your Order

Sales usually open on Wednesdays, with pickup days offered the following Monday to Thursday. As sales do not take place weekly and order times may vary, it is essential to verify the details on the calendar. When sales open, you will receive a two-factor authentication code on your registered phone number. You will then be placed in a waiting room until it is your turn to order.

Step 4: Provide Rental Car Details

If you are using a rental car, log in to the online portal and add your license plate information. This step can be done after registering but must be completed before placing your order. The website requires a car license plate number for tracking purposes and to limit total purchases over a calendar year.

Step 5: Complete Your Order

During the checkout process, select your pickup day and time slot. Generally, there are morning and afternoon windows available over several days. Provide your payment details and complete your order. You will receive a QR code and a summary of your order via email, which you will need to present during pickup.

Step 6: Pick Up Your Beer

Drive to the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, Belgium, on the specified pickup day. The grounds are blocked off for visitors, but there is a designated beer pickup location next to the bus stop. Present your QR code for scanning, and your car license plate number will be confirmed before you can collect your order.

It is important to note that the sale of Trappist Westvleteren is not for commercial purposes and is only available to individuals who have registered in advance. There is a limit of one order per car per day, and the specified registration number of the car must match the one provided during the order process. Additionally, there may be waiting periods of one month between each order.

How to buy Westvleteren beer with your own car

Westvleteren is widely considered to be one of the best beers in the world, and it can be difficult to get your hands on some. The monks who brew the beer have no commercial aspirations, and they make and sell just enough to sustain their way of life. They don't advertise it, export it, or produce large quantities.

If you want to buy Westvleteren beer with your own car, you'll need to follow these steps:

Check the official website

Check the official website to see the availability of beers for that day. The website also has details of the opening hours of the web store.

Call or reserve online

Call to give your name and your license plate or reserve online. You can only pick up beer and/or reserve beer every sixty days. The same car cannot be used to pick up beer more than once in this period, and you cannot call from an anonymous number. You must agree not to resell the beer, or you can be banned.

Pick up your beer

When you arrive at the abbey, the monks will check that the license plate of the car matches the one you gave when you made your reservation. You can only collect one order per car per day.

Pay for your beer

You'll be directed to the Ingenico platform to make payment for your order, including a deposit for the empty goods (crate and bottles). Once your payment has been processed, you'll receive a QR code and a summary of your order via email.

Collect your beer

Present your QR code when you collect your order, either printed or on your smartphone. The monks will also check the number plate of your car against the information on your profile.

Return your empty goods

When you collect your beer, you can also receive a refund for the deposit of any empty goods you're returning from a previous order. Empty goods can also be returned to the sales centre at the abbey during the collection times indicated on the abbey's website.

The history of Westvleteren monastery and Westvleteren trappist beer

The Sint-Sixtus Abbey, a Cistercian abbey commonly called a "Trappist abbey", was founded in 1831 by Trappist monks from the Mont des Cats monastery in France. In 1838, the monks began brewing beer at the abbey, and in 1839 they received a brewer's licence signed by King Leopold I. In 1850, some of the monks founded the Notre-Dame de Scourmont monastery, which brews a Trappist beer called Chimay.

During World Wars I and II, the Westvleteren brewery continued to operate, although at a reduced capacity. It was the only Trappist brewery to retain its copper vessels during both wars, as the abbey was not occupied by German forces in World War I and the vessels were hidden in World War II. Since 1946, the brewery's production has remained at 475 kilolitres (60,000 cases) per year.

The abbey began selling beer to the general public in 1931, having previously only served beer to guests and visitors. The brewery currently employs three secular workers for manual labour tasks, but the primary brewing is done by the monks, with five monks running the brewery and five assisting during bottling. The purpose of the brewery is to provide financing for the operation of the abbey and its charity works, with proceeds going towards the monks' livelihood, the maintenance of the monastery, and development projects and charitable donations.

The abbey's beer is sold in small quantities, with the monks stating that they only brew enough to run the monastery and will not increase production, regardless of demand. The beer is sold to individual buyers on an advance-order basis and can be purchased at the abbey or at the abbey-owned In de Vrede cafe, which is the only authorised reseller of Trappist Westvleteren in the world. The cafe sells the beer by the bottle for immediate consumption or takeaway, and also offers collector's sets containing four beers, a Trappist Westvleteren glass, and a collector's box.

Westvleteren beer types and their characteristics

Westvleteren is a brewery founded in 1838 at the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus in Vleteren, Belgium. The brewery produces three types of beer: Westvleteren Blonde (green cap), Westvleteren 8 (formerly Extra, blue cap), and Westvleteren 12 (formerly Abt, yellow cap).

Westvleteren Blonde, introduced in 1999, has an ABV of 5.8%. It is a lighter beer that is best served cooled from the refrigerator and should be consumed within a year of purchase.

Westvleteren 8 is an 8% ABV beer with a dark colour. It has a less prominent alcohol taste compared to the other varieties, allowing other flavours to come through.

Westvleteren 12 is considered by some to be the best beer in the world. It has an ABV of 10.2% and a dark amber colour. This beer is characterised by its smooth taste of caramel and chocolate, complemented by sweet raisin and nutty notes in the aroma. It is known for its full-bodied, long-lasting, and warm aftertaste. Westvleteren 12 can be aged, as it continues to ripen in the bottle over time when stored properly.

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