HEY DAUSS, beer Options

[johnthedrunk]

What did you think of the 3 westvleteren beers? would you say they were easily in your top 10? but most importantly....how in the hell did you get them?

[dauss]

The Westvleteren Blonde is a good Belgian Pale Ale. I'm just not that big of a fan of that style.

The Westvleteren 8, a Dubbel is incredible. Absolutely the best Dubbel I've had. Obviously there are other excellent ones like Westmalle or St. Bernardus, so they're a good substitute.

The Westvleteren 12, a Quadupel, the holy grail of beers. Has been claimed to be the best beer in the world, and it is probably in my number 1 spot, depending on the mood.

The first time I had a Westvleteren was at the Falling Rock Taphouse in Denver many years ago. Only 1 case was smuggled into Colorado. It was $17/bottle. They only had the 8.

I was able to get more when my dad lived in Northhampton, England. Took a taxi to the train station and went to London. Took another train to Antwerpen, took a rental car out to Westvleteren, and went to the Cafe in de Vrede across from the Abdij Sint-Sixtus. I had a blonde in the cafe while my dad got the 12. I bought a half case of the 8 and 12 before I left.

Unfortunately within 4 months I left, ratebeer decided to have a best beer in the world competition and Westvleteren 12 won. After that the press got wind and then the media was knocking on the doors of the abdij(abbey) and invading their privacy. Now you can buy a single 6-pack if you visit the cafe and the monks announced that they will not increase the production.

[johnthedrunk]

wow, thats a good story. its too bad that Northampton's soccer team sucks.

so you don't have to make reservations with the abbey in order to purchase a case? from what i understand you have to make reservations or wait in a lengthy line to get your hands on a case. did you take a tour of the abbey? or do they not do those?

im assuming you are a Belgian ale fan; at least by the looks of your beer list you have to be after trying all of those beers. What are some of your favorite readily available Belgian ales?

me personally, i enjoy the tripel, namely maredsous and la fin du monde (even though this isn't actually Belgian)

[2wolUTT]

I had a Heineken the other day, the first time I ever tried it.

[johnthedrunk]

I had a Heineken the other day, the first time I ever tried it.

seriously? draught or bottle? what did you think; better or worse than schlitz?

[2wolUTT]

seriously? draught or bottle? what did you think; better or worse than schlitz?

Bottle, it was better than I expected.

[THECHICKEN]

Went to the hieniken factory in amsterdam.... disappointment


got a kick ass shirt though

[FORSAKENR320]

I had a Heineken the other day, the first time I ever tried it.

[dauss]

so you don't have to make reservations with the abbey in order to purchase a case? from what i understand you have to make reservations or wait in a lengthy line to get your hands on a case. did you take a tour of the abbey? or do they not do those?

im assuming you are a Belgian ale fan; at least by the looks of your beer list you have to be after trying all of those beers. What are some of your favorite readily available Belgian ales?

me personally, i enjoy the tripel, namely maredsous and la fin du monde (even though this isn't actually Belgian)

Well, the Abbey is never open to the public. They don't do tours because it would intefere with their monastic life. What people do is call the abbey everyday to see if they have any for sale. The majority of time that you visit the abbey, they don't have any beer. If they do, the line is long and most likely sold out if you get there after they open their sales desk. The Cafe in de Vrede is the only authorized seller of Westvleteren and they always have it on hand. It's located across the street. It costs 33 euro for a case of the Westvleteren 12 and 27.50 euro for a case of the Westvleteren 8 at the abbey. The half case of Westvleteren 8 and 12 cost me around 45 euro at the Cafe.

My favorites are some of the Trappist ales(Westmalle and Rochefort). St. Bernardus does an excellent job, as well at Duvel Moortgat(Duvel, Maredsous), Ommegang, Unibroue, Allagash, and Urthel. With the lambics, Cantillon, De Ranke, and Drie Fountainen.

Obviously they don't have to be Belgian, but some breweries here in the US and Canada have Belgian style ales that are on the same playing field as authentic Belgian beers. I live in Colorado, so everything I've listed it readily available to me.