Visiting Brussels April 16 - 20th: Westy question

Discussion in 'Belgium' started by jdamaso84, Mar 31, 2014.

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  1. jdamaso84

    jdamaso84 Crusader (463) Aug 4, 2010 Colorado

    Hi everyone,

    I recently booked my first trip to Europe, which is now only two weeks away. I will be in London from April 14-16, in Brussels from April 16-20, and Amsterdam from April 20-23.

    The whole purpose of those this trip was really to visit Brussels, so I could check out both Fantome and Cantillon (which I do realize is more of a museum). I'm planning on renting a car to drive down to Fantome on Thursday, 4/17, and will likely be visiting Cantillon on Saturday, 4/19. On 4/18 I was thinking that I would just stay in Brussels, but now I'm thinking about trying to get over to Vleteren to visit Westy.

    Before someone says it: yes, I've read the "Visiting Westy" thread. Yes, I know about the call ahead, yes, I know about having to provide a plate/license number, etc.

    But my question is, if I can't get through the phone line to schedule a pickup time, and I took the train down during a "week" day and then biked over to the brewery (so either Thur 4/17 or Fri 4/18; I can switch the Fantome visit to Fri if needed), would I have "better" luck showing up and trying to get the six packs people have mentioned are sometimes available (I believe at the Cafe)? Is it easier to "show up" during the week than it is on the weekend?

    I'm going to try to call ahead, but if I don't have any luck, I'm trying to think about whether a "chancing it" trip is worthwhile.

    I'll be packing my backpack with whatever I could get, so honestly a six pack or two would be the most I'd want to carry.

    Any advice would be much appreciated!
     
    #1 jdamaso84, Mar 31, 2014
  2. Erzengel

    Erzengel Zealot (664) Sep 8, 2008 Germany
    BA4LYFE Society Trader

    Just two thoughts: Thursday 17th is Holy Thursday, the Friday is Good Friday. Fridays Westvleteren is closed anyway, and according to their homepage, the café where you normally can drink all their beers in closed on that Thursday as well --> http://www.indevrede.be/kalender.php?lang=en
    But on that Saturday (19th) the café is open. And if you're lucky you can even buy a 6-pack in their shop.
    But if you are only in brussels Thur-Sun you sadly don't need to call Westvleteren for a reservation...

    The Monday thereafter is Easter Monday, a holiday in BE and NL, so expect that (nearly) everything is closed that day. The same could happen on Good Friday in BE, but as this is only in Germany an official holiday (and not in BE and NL), I would assume that in Brussels many locations are open. But in the catholic south, Fantôme might be closed! The easiest to find out is sending them an eMail (best in French as they hardly speak no English). They normally answer very quickly :slight_smile: And if you say you're coming, they probably have time for you :slight_smile:

    --> Enjoy the area and all the beers :-)
     
    #2 Erzengel, Mar 31, 2014
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  3. FatDave77

    FatDave77 Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2014 North Carolina

    Hello to all.
     
    #3 FatDave77, Mar 31, 2014
  4. Stevenwings

    Stevenwings Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2014 Belgium

    Tomorrow i am going to call westy again and maybe we can make a deal if i get through.... as it looks like you only "need" 12 bottles :-)
     
    #4 Stevenwings, Apr 2, 2014
    JCam9981 likes this.
  5. jdamaso84

    jdamaso84 Crusader (463) Aug 4, 2010 Colorado

    Absolutely! Let me know if I can just bring you something when I'm out there.
     
    #5 jdamaso84, Apr 3, 2014
  6. WhatANicePub

    WhatANicePub Zealot (712) Jul 1, 2009 Scotland

    People who call it "Westy" don't deserve any.
     
    #6 WhatANicePub, Apr 4, 2014
    digita7693, Erzengel and -N8 like this.
  7. danybrew

    danybrew Devotee (375) Feb 8, 2010 Belgium

    .. you need 1 hour time with a car from Brussel up to my brewery ...
     
    #7 danybrew, Apr 7, 2014
  8. jdamaso84

    jdamaso84 Crusader (463) Aug 4, 2010 Colorado

    Well, I've already had it on a couple of occasions...so sorry to burst your bubble. :slight_smile:

    Dany - thanks for the info!
     
    #8 jdamaso84, Apr 7, 2014
  9. -N8

    -N8 Initiate (0) Feb 7, 2014 Germany

    #9 -N8, Apr 8, 2014
  10. digita7693

    digita7693 Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2010 Germany

    While Cantillon is called the beer museum, and that seems to be the only way many locals know about it, I would not go in expecting a museum per se.
    There is a small bar and seating area with a few of the regular bottles and a couple of special bottles (recently 50N, 2012 and 13 Zwanze) available for onsite consumption as well as a shop for purchasing bottles and merchandise. The tour is a self guided tour and you get 2 drinks at the end. Cantillon is somehow just a magical place, no matter how many times I visit.


    re: 6 packs at Westvleteren. It depends what is available. 2 weeks ago they were selling 6 packs of the Blond to go.


    have fun!
     
    #10 digita7693, Apr 8, 2014
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  11. -N8

    -N8 Initiate (0) Feb 7, 2014 Germany

    I noted the six-pack-per-person limit was not in effect when I was at Westvleteren. Some folks are getting several of the XII sixers for 20€ ea (if you call the beer phone a case costs 20€).
     
    #11 -N8, Apr 8, 2014
  12. digita7693

    digita7693 Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2010 Germany

    Case is 40€ + 12€ deposit (crate and bottles). But still far better than 80€ for 4 x 6packs.

    http://www.sintsixtus.be/eng/brouwerij.htm
     
    #12 digita7693, Apr 8, 2014
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2014
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  13. -N8

    -N8 Initiate (0) Feb 7, 2014 Germany

    #13 -N8, Apr 8, 2014
  14. hooliganlife

    hooliganlife Pooh-Bah (1,759) Apr 12, 2007 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    beer planet in brussels appeared to have west 12 bottles, i didn't look THAT close but i think the caps were 12
     
    #14 hooliganlife, Apr 8, 2014
  15. digita7693

    digita7693 Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2010 Germany

    at I think around 10€+ per bottle ;(
     
    #15 digita7693, Apr 8, 2014
  16. shnsajax

    shnsajax Initiate (0) Jul 2, 2013 Idaho

    When in Amsterdam go to the De Bierkoning. Great bottle shop that usually has 12 in stock. Its pricy so hopefully you can get it from the source instead. They have plenty of other great beers though too.
     
    #16 shnsajax, Apr 8, 2014
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