Westvleteren Beer: Where, When, And How To Buy It

Westvleteren 12 is often called the best beer in the world, and it's notoriously difficult to get hold of. The beer is brewed by monks at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, Belgium, and they place no commercial aspirations on their product. They don't advertise, export, or produce large quantities, and they don't even put a label on the bottle. The only legal way to buy Westvleteren beer is at the abbey itself, but there is a grey market where the beer is sold semi-legally at a high markup. However, the monks condemn this practice. So how can you get your hands on a bottle?

Buying Westvleteren beer in-person at Sint-Sixtus Abbey

Westvleteren beer is brewed by monks at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, Belgium. The beer is renowned for its taste and quality, with Westvleteren 12 being considered by some as the best beer in the world. The monks sell the beer to support the monastery and other philanthropic causes. They brew enough to sustain their way of life and do not advertise, export, or produce large quantities.

• Travel to Sint-Sixtus Abbey: The abbey is located in Westvleteren, Belgium. It is about a 1.5-hour drive from Brussels or Antwerp. You will need a car to get there, as it involves driving on rural one-lane roads.
• Know the Beer Types: Westvleteren brews three types of beer: Westvleteren Blond (green cap, 5.6%-5.8% ABV), Westvleteren 8 (blue cap, 8% ABV), and Westvleteren 12 (yellow cap, 10.2% ABV).
• Understand the Purchasing Process: The monks sell their beer directly to individual buyers and do not allow commercial reselling. You can purchase the beer at the abbey or at the official reseller, In De Vrede, a cafe located across from the monastery.
• Plan Your Visit: Due to the high demand for Westvleteren beer, it is recommended to plan your visit in advance. Beer sales at the abbey are by appointment only, and you will need to reserve your beer online through their website or by phone. Sales are limited to one order every 60 days per person, license plate, and phone number.
• Arrive at the Abbey: When you arrive at the abbey, proceed to the sales centre, where you will pick up your pre-ordered beer. Ensure that the license plate of your car matches the one provided during registration.
• Pay and Collect Your Beer: At the sales centre, you will need to present the QR code you received via email. The cost of a crate of 24 beers varies by type: €46 for Blond, €49 for Westvleteren 8, and €56 for Westvleteren 12. There is also a deposit for the empty goods (crate and bottles) that will be refunded if they are returned undamaged.
• Alternative: Purchase at In De Vrede: If you are unable to purchase directly from the abbey, you can try the official reseller, In De Vrede. This cafe is owned by the Sint-Sixtus Abbey and is the only authorized reseller of Trappist Westvleteren beer in the world. You can purchase the beer by the bottle for consumption at the cafe or buy collector's sets for takeaway, depending on availability. The cafe is open daily from 10:00 AM, except on Thursdays (from September 1 to July 1), the second half of the Easter Holiday, and the second half of September.

Please note that the purchasing process and availability may change, so it is always best to check the official website of Sint-Sixtus Abbey for the most up-to-date information.

Buying Westvleteren beer online

Westvleteren is a Trappist beer brewed by monks at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, Belgium. It has been awarded the title of 'Best Beer in the World' several times. The abbey brews three different beers: Westvleteren 12 (yellow cap), Westvleteren 8 (blue cap), and Westvleteren 6 Blond (green cap). Due to their international reputation, demand is much bigger than production, making these beers difficult to buy.

The only legal way to buy Westvleteren beer is directly from the abbey itself. The monks have restricted sales by requiring appointments and limiting the number of cases an individual can purchase. They have also launched a website where consumers can buy the beer online. The web store has limited opening hours, which are advertised on a calendar on the website. Only two crates can be purchased at a time, and the beer must be picked up in person from the abbey. To prevent reselling, the monks double-check the buyer's car license plates to ensure they match the information provided during the online purchase.

The beer can also be purchased and consumed at the abbey's cafeteria, In de Vrede, which is open to the public. In de Vrede is generally open between 10 am and 9 pm, although it is typically closed on Thursdays and sporadically on Fridays. All three beers, including the blonde, 8, and 12, can be ordered from the bottle at the cafeteria.

The official website for purchasing Westvleteren beer is https://www.trappistwestvleteren.be/en/beer-sales. The website provides information on how to register for an account, place an order, and schedule a pickup time. The website also includes a calendar with information on sales and pickup times.

It is important to note that Westvleteren Trappist beer is only sold to individual customers, and customers promise not to sell the beer to others. Reselling is illegal and goes against the wishes of the monks.

Buying Westvleteren beer at the In De Vrede cafe

The In De Vrede cafe is the only authorised reseller of Trappist Westvleteren beer in the world. The cafe is located right across the Donkerstraat from the Sint-Sixtus monastery, where the beer is brewed.

Opening Hours

The cafe is open every day from 10:00 am, except for Thursdays (from September 1 to July 1), the second half of the Easter holiday, and the second half of September.

Getting There

The best way to get to the cafe is by car or bicycle. It is located in a rural area, about a 90-minute drive from Brussels, and there are free parking spots available. However, the parking lot can get quite full, especially on weekends.

Purchasing Beer

Westvleteren beer can be purchased by the bottle in the cafe or at the small shop at the entrance. The shop also sells collector's sets, which typically include 2 blonde (green-cap), 1 8 (blue-cap), and 1 12 (yellow-cap) beers, along with a Trappist Westvleteren glass and a collector's box. Individual bottle sales are not always available due to limited production and increasing popularity.

The prices in the cafe are €3.20 for a blonde, €3.70 for the 8, and €4.30 for the 12. This is more expensive than buying by the case at the monastery or from a store, but those options are less likely.

It is also possible to reserve beers ahead of time using the official website. However, there are some restrictions to this process. For example, you must provide the correct license plate number of the car you will be driving, and you can only pick up beer and/or reserve beer every sixty days.

Food Options

In addition to the beer, the cafe offers light snacks, sandwiches, ice cream, hot and cold beverages, and products made by the monks, such as cheese and pâté. Some recommended options include the Portie Paterskaas (€2.50) and the Portie Abdijpaté (€2.90).

Other Information

The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating, with a spacious interior and a green terrace. It can get quite busy, especially on weekends, so it is recommended to make an appointment and reserve space if visiting in a group.

Buying Westvleteren beer by phone

Westvleteren beer is considered by many to be the best beer in the world. It is brewed by monks at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, Belgium, and is notoriously difficult to get a hold of. The monks do not advertise, export, or produce large quantities of the beer, and they do not put a label on the bottle. The only legal way to buy Westvleteren beer is at the abbey itself, either in the abbey's cafeteria, In de Vrede, or by placing an order by phone to pick up the beer by car.

Step 1: Getting to the Abbey

Westvleteren is located in West Flanders, Belgium, and can be easily reached by car from Antwerp or Brussels. The drive from Brussels is approximately 1.5 hours.

Step 2: Placing Your Order by Phone

To place an order for pickup, you will need to call the abbey and provide the following information: your name, date and time of pickup, license plate number, and the number of crates you wish to purchase. The abbey receives a high volume of calls, so you may need to be persistent to get through.

Step 3: Restrictions and Requirements

There are several restrictions and requirements to keep in mind when ordering Westvleteren beer by phone:

• You can only purchase up to two crates of beer, with 24 beers per crate.
• You must bring your own car, and the license plate number must match the one provided when placing the order.
• Rental cars are acceptable, but you must provide the correct registration number before collection.
• You can only pick up beer and/or reserve beer every 60 days. The same car and phone number cannot be used for pickup within this period.
• You must agree not to resell the beer, as this is against the abbey's policies.

Step 4: Payment and Pickup

Once you arrive at the abbey, you will need to provide your QR code, which will be sent to you via email after your order is placed. You will also need to present your license plate for verification. Payment can be made online or at the abbey, and you will receive a refund for any deposit on empty goods that are being returned from a previous order.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Beer!

Finally, you can enjoy your Westvleteren beer! The monks recommend cooling the beer in a cellar environment rather than refrigerating it.

Please note that the process of buying Westvleteren beer by phone may change, and it is always best to refer to the official website of the Sint-Sixtus Abbey for the most up-to-date information.

The history of Westvleteren beer

Westvleteren beer is brewed by monks at the Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren, Belgium. The abbey was founded in 1831 by Trappist monks from the Mont des Cats monastery in France. In 1838, the monks began brewing beer, and in 1839 they received a brewer's licence signed by King Leopold I. The abbey began selling beer to the public in 1931, and the recipe has changed very little since then.

The abbey brews about 70 days a year, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Five monks work in the brewery, and an additional five help on bottling days. The beer is only sold to financially support the monastery and other philanthropic causes. The monks have repeatedly stated that they only brew enough beer to run the monastery and will not make more than they need to sell, regardless of demand.

Westvleteren beer has often been rated as the best in the world by beer enthusiasts. In 2005, the beer website RateBeer named Westvleteren 12 the "best beer in the world", and it has consistently topped the rankings on beer rating websites BeerAdvocate and RateBeer since then. The beer's scarcity has also contributed to its popularity, as Westvleteren produces the least amount of beer out of all the Trappist breweries.

Frequently asked questions