The only legal way to buy Westvleteren beer is at the abbey itself.

What kind of beer is Westvleteren?

The brewery’s three beers have acquired an international reputation for taste and quality; Westvleteren 12 is considered by some to be the best beer in the world….Westvleteren Brewery.

What is a Belgian single beer?

Singel, or single, is the name given to the relatively light types of beer that Trappist monks brew for their own tables. Although Belgium’s Trappist breweries produce some of the world’s most beguiling beers, the monks themselves rarely drink the beers they send out into the secular world.

What is Belgian style beer?

Belgian beers are primarily ales (as opposed to lagers) with a heavy emphasis on malts and a lot of fruity yeast flavors. This style of beer is “spontaneously fermented,” meaning that the wort is open to the air, allowing any local yeasts and bacterias to take up residence in the beer (like sourdough bread).

Why is Belgian beer so expensive?

Belgian beer was considered the height of exotic beer flavors for some time and that drove up what the importers could charge. Consumers agreed to pay a premium for these beers and as the price of other beers rose so too did the price point on these beers.

Why Belgian beer is the best?

But in Belgian styles it’s much more important than in any other beer, because Belgians aren’t really down with the hop thing. They find other ways of making aromas. But mostly they use beautiful yeasts, all with their own distinctive smell and taste, and all unique to Belgium. And that means it’s in big demand.

How much does westvleteren cost?

Only two crates can be bought at a time, with priority going to newer customers. A 24-bottle crate of Westvleteren 12 will cost $50, a bargain compared to a Dutch grocery store chain that reportedly sold them – without permission – for over $11 a bottle.

Can you visit Westvleteren?

Yes, it’s possible to find good beer in the tourist hot spots of Belgium like Bruges, Brussels, and Ghent. While many flock to the area to drink the much sought after Westvleteren 12 from Saint Sixtus Abbey (Beer Advocate’s Best Beer in the World), nearby Saint Bernardus and De Struise are also worth visiting.

Is Stella Artois a Belgian beer?

Stella Artois is brewed under contract in Australia and the UK but originates from the Belgian town of Leuven where, according to tax records, the Den Horen (the horn) Brewery resided as far back as 1366.

Where is Westvleteren beer made?

Westvleteren Brewery. Westvleteren ( Dutch: Brouwerij Westvleteren) is a brewery founded in 1838 at the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus in Vleteren, Belgium . The brewery’s three beers have acquired an international reputation for taste and quality, Westvleteren 12 being considered by some to be the best beer in the world.

What are the most famous Belgian beers?

The most famous Belgian Abbey beers, of course, are from the Trappist breweries. In total there are 6 Belgian Trappist breweries: Westmalle, Chimay, Rochefort, Orval, Westvleteren, and Achel. The Trappist designation means that these beers are all brewed inside the walls of a functioning monastery by – or under the supervision of – monks.

Where is Trappist beer made in Belgium?

Westvleteren abbey is one of the six Belgian abbeys that make Trappist Beer. The other five Belgian Trappist beers are made at Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, and Westmalle. Westvleteren is the only one of these monasteries that still retains its original brewing kit made of copper.

Where can I buy Belgian beer outside of Belgium?

International distribution. Cafés, exclusively or primarily offering Belgian beers, exist beyond Belgium in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, amongst others. Some beer festivals outside Belgium have a Belgian beer bar as an alternative to local products.