Westvleteren XII (Possibly) Returning To U.S.

I can believe it would come back.

But if it comes back for much the same reasons, and in roughly the same amount and similar packaging, don't be surprised if you only hear about it and don't ever see or get some. Last time around it didn't go to all states. In shops that did get some of the gift packs the lines were longer than the supply could accommodate. If you want to improve your chances of finding some, if it does get here, talk to the folks in the PNW forum about whether it showed up in Washington at all, where it landed, and what folks who got it had to do to get it.

For myself, I won't be disappinted at not finding it during a regular shopping trip since I've tried it in Belgium and thought it was a bit different from the Rochefort or the St. Bernardus but not really noticably better. So I'm one of those folks who @breadwinner refers to that is quite happy with the admirable substitutions.

 

The last time these vaunted brews hit our shores, the release was an utter disaster. Permanent enmities were created that are legendary. Key players were Total Wine, Shelton Brothers, and innumerable independent shop owners, particularly in North Carolina and Georgia. My Trappist beer needs are currently being met.

 

I like to climb the St Bernardus scale - Pater, Prior, Abt

 

Well typed. That's the way I feel about every top rated hard to get beer I've been lucky enough to drink.

 

I've been wanting to try it for a while, even better would be a mix pack with the 12, 8, and blonde.

 

I really enjoy their beers and I'd be a regular buyer of them all, good news.

 

Not a fan of quads. Passed this by last time due to cost. If it's only bottles this time I might pick one up but doubt it since it will be a bit pricey for one bottle. Rather buy a real nice six pack than down $15 on a bottle of this.

Enjoy

 

So no Sheltons this time? I wonder what happened there?

 

Take a look see at post #5 by a BA who used to work in the business of distributing beer.

 

It's funny because when I was in Vienna last month I just walked into a shop and was greeted by this sight (photo below) and was left with my mouth open. In the US, this little display would have been empty within seconds of the shop opening its doors.

 

Hmmm, was that at Julius Meinl Am Graben?

 

No offense to the 12, but I'd like to see the blonde over here the most... then the 8... then the 12.

 

Same here. I thought the blonde was better as an example of that style than the 12 was an example of it's style. So I personally would make more effort to find it than I will if the 12 does show up here in the US.

 

Somehow my brain processed that as a retail issue and not an importation issue, but, yeah, with something like this it's all intricately connected I suppose.

 

Here is the link to the official TTB public record for the label; it was approved three days ago. What I find very strange is that there is only California Redemption Value on the the label. You can always add more states later without re-submitting but that's unusual. I have no firsthand knowledge of this but I'm guess this is an importer that is buying grey market and bringing it in for a small number of bars and restaurants. Time will tell.

 

At Beerlovers, on Gumpendorferstrasse, just west of downtown.

 

Ah, thanks. Beer destination noted for a future trip.

Typically on my trips to Vienna when I am anywhere near that general area I get detrailed/distracted by the Kunsthistorises Museum which has so many outstanding exhibits etc. that I often can't pass them by and never get tired of certain rooms full of art (e.g., the room full of
Breughels).

 

This was approved three days ago but did not appear on TTB until today, something that is not unusual.

 

I'm surprised that this would even be possible with the TTB involved... it's not legally being imported (or even distributed anywhere for that matter). I'm probably just being very naive.