Westvleteren 12 Beer: Where To Buy The Exclusive Brew

Westvleteren 12 is a dark Trappist beer that has been voted the best beer in the world several times on ratebeer.com. It has a golden yellow cap and no bottle label. The beer is brewed by monks at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, Belgium, and is known for its sweet, full-bodied taste with notes of caramel, chocolate, and raisins. While it used to be challenging to get a hold of, there are now several options for purchasing Westvleteren 12 online and in-person.

Westvleteren 12 at the Westvleteren brewery

Westvleteren 12 is a world-renowned beer produced by the Westvleteren Brewery, located at the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus in Vleteren, Belgium. The brewery was founded in 1838, and its beers have gained an international reputation for their exceptional taste and quality.

Westvleteren 12, also known as the Flemish Burgundy, is a dark amber-coloured beer with a stable, strong lacing and a white head. It has a complex yet refined flavour profile, combining sweet and nutty aromas with hints of caramel and chocolate. The beer undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, enhancing its flavour and resulting in a pleasant, full-bodied, and warm aftertaste.

The Westvleteren Brewery operates with unique traditions and methods that differ from modern business practices. The beer is not brewed to meet commercial demands, and it is sold in limited quantities directly from the monastery or the visitors' centre opposite. The monks brew only enough beer to support the monastery, and their primary purpose is not profit-driven.

If you wish to purchase Westvleteren 12 directly from the brewery, you must follow specific procedures. Sales are restricted to individual buyers who have placed advance orders, and the beer is sold in person at the brewery or the visitors' centre. The official website of the abbey allows buyers to reserve their orders online, with registration required weeks or even months in advance.

The Westvleteren 12 is also available through the official online store, westvleterenshop.com, which offers various packages, including six-packs, mixed packs, limited bottles, glasses, and gift packs. The beer can be purchased at a regulated price, and the website provides detailed information about the different options available.

The brewery's unique approach to brewing and selling beer has contributed to the reputation and exclusivity of Westvleteren 12, making it a sought-after beverage for beer enthusiasts worldwide.

Buying Westvleteren 12 online

Westvleteren 12 is a dark Trappist beer with a golden yellow cap and no bottle label. It has been voted the best beer in the world several times on the site ratebeer.com. Its rarity makes it an attractive and sought-after product.

Westvleteren 12 is only brewed by monks at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, Belgium, and they do not advertise, export, or produce large quantities. The only legal way to buy Westvleteren beer used to be at the abbey itself, but now it can also be purchased through the official web store.

Westvleteren 12 can be purchased through the official Trappist Westvleteren web store. The web store has limited opening hours, which are advertised on a calendar on the website. The sales moments with home delivery are indicated in black, and the sales moments with pick-up at the abbey are shown in blue.

To purchase Westvleteren 12 online, you must first register and create an account with personal details such as your name, date of birth, address, phone number, email, and number plate of the car you will use to pick up the products. After validating your registration, you can log in and access the web store during the specified opening hours.

During the sales moments with home delivery, you can only purchase one cardboard box of beer. For pick-up at the abbey, you can purchase up to four crates of beer, with a maximum of two crates per type. The beer is sold per crate of 24 bottles, and the price for Westvleteren 12 is €56.00 per crate.

It is important to note that the sale of the beer is not for commercial purposes and is only available to individuals who have registered in advance. There is a waiting period of one month between each order, and only one order per car per day can be collected.

Other Online Options

Westvleteren 12 can also be purchased online from other retailers, such as Belgian Shop and WestvleterenShop.com. These websites offer various pack sizes, including six-packs, three-packs, and single bottles, as well as mixed packs with other Westvleteren beers. The prices vary depending on the pack size and any additional items included, such as glasses or gift boxes.

It is important to note that some sources indicate that the only official online shop for Westvleteren 12 is the Trappist Westvleteren web store mentioned earlier. Therefore, it is recommended to proceed with caution when purchasing from other online retailers.

Westvleteren 12 in Belgium

Westvleteren 12 is considered by some to be the best beer in the world. This Belgian beer is certainly exclusive, with a limited production and a lack of advertising. The monks of the Sint-Sixtus Abbey in Westvleteren, where the beer is brewed, have no commercial aspirations for their product. They make and sell only enough to sustain their way of life.

The beer is not easy to get hold of, but it is possible. Here is some information on how and where to buy Westvleteren 12 in Belgium.

Buying Westvleteren 12 at the Brewery

The only legal way to buy Westvleteren 12 is at the Sint-Sixtus Abbey itself. The abbey is located in Westvleteren, West Flanders, and is an easy day trip from Antwerp or Brussels. The drive from Brussels is approximately 1.5 hours each way.

You can buy the beer from the abbey's tasting room, or you can reserve your beers online in advance through their website. The website will also provide information on the abbey's sale events. The beer is sold in wooden crates, with a deposit required for the crates and bottles. The monks do not sell to individuals who drive up to the abbey without a reservation, and they are very serious about the process. You will need to provide your name, license plate number, and phone number, and agree not to resell the beer. Sales are limited to one order every 60 days per person, license plate, and phone number.

Buying Westvleteren 12 at In de Vrede

Aside from the abbey itself, the only other official sale point for Westvleteren 12 is the abbey-owned cafe and visitor's centre, In de Vrede, located opposite the abbey. All beers, including Westvleteren 12, can be bought there for immediate consumption or takeaway, depending on availability. The prices are higher than at the abbey, and often there is no beer available.

In de Vrede is generally open daily from 10 am to 9 pm, except on Thursdays (from September 1 to July 1) and during the second half of Easter and September. It can get quite busy, especially on weekends, and parking can be difficult to find. In addition to beer, the cafe serves light snacks, sandwiches, and other food and beverages.

Other Options

Westvleteren 12 is also sometimes available through semi-legal or grey market channels, such as online resellers, but the monks condemn this practice.

Additionally, there was a brief period when the beer was officially exported to the US, with gift packs available at selected locations across 22 states for $84.99. However, this arrangement appears to have been short-lived.

Westvleteren 12 in the US

Westvleteren 12, also known as the Flemish Burgundy, is a highly sought-after Trappist beer that has been voted the best beer in the world several times on ratebeer.com. It is known for its complexity and simplicity, with a smooth taste of caramel and chocolate complemented by sweet raisin and nutty aromas.

You can buy Westvleteren 12 in the US through various online retailers, such as Belgian Shop and WestvleterenShop.com, which offer worldwide delivery. Belgian Shop offers a pack of three 1/3L bottles, while WestvleterenShop.com offers a wider range of options, including six-packs, three-packs, and gift sets that include glasses.

Westvleteren 12 is a dark Trappist beer with a golden yellow cap and no bottle label. It has a sweet, full-bodied taste with a fresh flavor, caramel sweetness, and a slightly sour touch. It pairs well with its recommended serving glass, a chalice-shaped vessel, and has a pleasant, sophisticated aftertaste.

When storing Westvleteren 12, it is important to keep it out of direct sunlight and at a temperature between 12 and 18°C. It is recommended to pour the beer carefully into the glass in one motion, leaving the yeast base in the bottle to avoid a bitter aftertaste.

Westvleteren 12 reviews

Westvleteren 12 is a highly sought-after beer that has been consistently named the "Best Beer in the World" by major beer rating sites. It is a complex, dark Trappist Quadrupel beer with a strong following. Here is a compilation of reviews from various sources:

Taste and Aroma

Westvleteren 12 has a sweet, full-bodied taste with a fresh flavour and a slightly sour touch. It offers a refined and sophisticated aftertaste. The aroma is a bit sweet with fruit and caramel, while the taste profile includes raisins, brown sugar, dark fruits, alcohol, and caramel. The beer has a pleasant, warm, full-bodied aftertaste with a firm alcohol percentage. The older the beer, the more refined its flavour, with other features developing over time.

Mouthfeel

The mouthfeel is described as velvety smooth and creamy, resembling the first few bites into a cream-filled piece of chocolate candy. The carbonation is tingly, contributing to a nice vehicle for the rich flavours.

Appearance

Westvleteren 12 is a dark amber colour with a stable, strong lacing and a white head. It pours clear but often has sediment at the bottom of the bottle. The beer has a dense, tan-coloured head.

Overall Impressions

Westvleteren 12 is considered a masterpiece in its complexity yet wonderful in its simplicity. It is well-carbonated and effervescent, with tiny bubbles that foam in the mouth. The alcohol content is substantial at 10.2%, but it is well-masked and not too forward. The beer is also known for its rarity and exclusivity, which adds to its desirability and high ratings.

Frequently asked questions