Just trying to get a sense here if it would be possible to trade for Andechs Doppelbock, considering I don't really keep a cellar and can only offer up whatever I can find on the shelf (I'm on the NJ/NY border if that helps). Is there a very high premium placed on a beer like that? I checked Etre Gourmet, and they don't have any right now, and it looks to be an expensive proposition even when they get it in stock.
It's basically the Westvleteren 12 of Germany, except with only a tiny fraction of the hype and a tiny fraction of the number of bottles that make it into the states. That makes it tough to trade for. It should be a simple international trade - if you are willing to pay the shipping on Etre, may as well pay the shipping on the international box. It does show up on Etre from time to time though.
Thanks for the info. I guess I'm at the point where it sure would be nice to try, but at what cost. I was also getting a feeler on the kind of hoops I would have to jump through. I see it doesn't look good, but I guess it doesn't hurt to ask. I'll keep checking Etre, though. Cheers!
If you love doppelbocks, it is very good. It's not a transcendent beer though in the way that aged Westy is. Also, I find a lot of parallels to the Westy/Rochefort battle between Andechs/Ayinger. You can easily make a case that Rochefort and Ayinger are better beers, and the fact that they are so easily accessible makes it not worth worrying about the much more rare Westy/Andechs.
That's a good point about how Westvleteren ages, and I've had it both young and aged so I could see how it would be more of a unique beer to try to get a hold of. I have heard that to approximate Andechs you would blend 2/3rds Celebrator to 1/3rd Salvator- not a bad idea- but something makes me want to try it first hand. I might just have to make it a long-term goal- like if I know somebody visiting Germany, or something like that. Thanks again.
