So I am currently studying in Berlin Germany and have some time off to travel. I would like to dedicate some of this time to traveling through Belgium and checking out some of the Trappist Breweries. The only thing is, I am not sure if I will even be able to get my hands on any of the beer considering it will be February when I go. If anyone has any suggestions or experience in this area please share your knowledge, thanks!
You most certainly can get some! All the breweries have beer on site or a small cafe nearby where you can have the brews. Orval even has Orval Vert, a lower alcohol version only available at the abby.
Great use of your time off, I'd say -- have a great trip. But keep in mind that you can get almost all the Trappists easily throughout the country. The great majority of bars and grocery stores will have the regular Orval, the Rocheforts, Westmalles and certainly Chimays. The others aren't too hard to find, either. The exceptions are of course Westvleteren with its famously limited distribution, and, as omgrich noted, Orval's "small" beer kept in house. Those two are also the best, and possibly only, options to see anything inside the walls of the brewing abbeys, but you don't see their actual breweries, and the country has lots of other abbeys that can be visited in more detail. As for breweries, there are obviously many, many more secular ones to explore, just as there are many that don't really throw their doors open (much) to visitors, so they can be hunted out in cafes and shops. SO WHAT does this all mean? I suggest that you could approach Belgium like any visitor: either 1. to seek out the cities and areas that intrigue you, and you'll be sure to find distinctive brews anywhere you go; or 2. to make beer your focus and pick the places that give you the best presentation of what you're after. Post back here if you have further questions, beer-specific or otherwise.
You will not be able to actually visit any of the Trappist breweries unless you are on a special tour. But, that said, some are worth checking out. For instance, Orval, is very interesting in that you can visit the old ruins, tour some of the grounds, check out a museum, and of course sample their offerings at their tourist center just a short walk down the road. I took a tour, but it was part of an organized tour with a beer tour company that had a brewery owner in it...by prior arrangement. It is secluded and hard to get to...almost have to have a car. Westveletern is nice...but you are just going to visit their tourist center and of course taste all their beers. With luck, you may be able to buy a couple of six-packs or more. Achel on the Belgian/Netherlands border is neat, but again, you will be able to eat, walk around the some of the grounds, buy some beer (all Trappist beers except Westvleteren) and you can see the very small brewery from the cafe. With luck, maybe a tour. Westmalle has a visitors center for food and beer. You are not going to get inside the abbey. Chimay...nice visitors' center a half mile away for food, beer and a wonderful small inn (stayed there). You can get into most of the abbey and it is very enjoyable. You will not be able to see the brewery...the fermentation and bottling plant is in town anyway. Rochefort...not going to see anything. Beautiful from the outside but their beer is sold everywhere. Pick a couple of cities and be a beer tourist... Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels. You can't go wrong. From Brussels, the other cities are just a short cheap train ride away. It's ALL good! Have a blast....after all...you'll be in BELGIUM!
Actually, he could get a case of Westy if he calls and asks. Tourists can get cases if they're rolling up in Rental with just a name! I've had several folks do that.
St. Bernardus does tours, I think on Friday's and some other days as well, only a couple of miles from Wesvletren and In De Vrede. Beautiful area.
Some bars in Bruges and Ghent are selling westy (around € 10 a bottle) best way to see a lot in a small time is using a beertour on demand ... so you can drink and don't have to drive ....my favorit beerbar is Cambrinus in Bruges ... ooh and check out the duvel cafe at the big market there ... Beertour: www.belgianbeerbreweryvisit.com is a belgian guy that knows his way around to get some beers or breweries you like to visit ..
St. Bernardus of course not actually monastic, just to clarify to the OP in case of any confusion, but was at one time the contract brewer for St. Sixtus (Westvleteren), so, what's not to love.
I found the hop museum worth my time as well. I love the little hop emblems studded into the sidewalks of Poperinge! I walked from Poperinge to Westvleteren/In De Vrede, and I think that was one of the best decisions in my life. It was so invigorating to slowly walk around & through the hop farms, taking in all of the smells. The Poperinge area with its hop farms will always remain with me; truly one of the moments in life where I felt most connected with beer.
This, though we road bikes. We road from St. Bernardus to this bar on the way towards Poperidge. It started pouring on our way then we made a turn to the bar that was up what seemed to be a giant hill in the rain. Will have to look up the name, but it opened some time around 1895. After having a couple of beers the rain stopped and the sun broke out and the sky was beautiful. Then we got back on the bikes and coasted down hill to Watou for about 3 miles in the countryside. One of the coolest experiences of my life.
This issue is all about the Westhoek / West Flanders. http://www.belgianbeerandfood.com Tons to see. Enjoy your trip!
