Is Westvleterenbeers.com legitimate?

Supposedly. I think the main difference is the yeast.

 

I believe Westvleteren uses Westmalle yeast while St Bernardus uses local yeast. Ive done many side by side and have found Westvleteren better. I was given a 1989 bottle of Westvleteren 8
back from when it was brewed by St Bernardus so I wonder how that one will be

 

Yes, they use the Westmalle yeast. Some say St. Bernardus uses the old Westvleteren yeast, but I don't have a reference for that.

 

Found this article http://ithinkaboutbeer.com/2013/05/16/q-ale-are-westvleteren-12-and-st-bernardus-12-the-same-beers/ and its commonly mentioned that St Bernardus uses local Westvleteren yeast. Initially both had the same yeast but at some point St Sixtus switched to Westmalle and St Bernardus kept using the local yeast. So in essence St Bernardus can be considered the original recipe.

 

Totally agree well both have similar taste profiles a back to back comparison well bring out the many subtle differences that make westy 12 superior.

 

I bought 24 bottles of Westvleteren 12 during a sanctioned release in Ontario. The difference between what I paid for the Westvleteren 12 and what Rochefort 10 cost in Ontario at the time was glaring when you consider what I believe to be a marginal quality difference between them. In fact, the next time I'm in Canada I will try them one after another. I've been drinking a fair amount of the Rochefort here and It might be better. I firmly believe that the harder anything is to acquire, the more it increases in esteem.

 

Yes and I think its hard to ever reach the hype that certain beers have. You wait years (in my case Pliny) to try something. And then you finally try it, and it NEVER stands up to the hype. I think Mexican Cake on draft at Westbrook is the one beer I've had that met its hype.