Westvleteren question....

There isn't a real brewery tour, per say. The "Tap Room" is probably the cafe, link below. They *usually* have all 3 beers for drinking on-site. Also note the closure days around then!

http://www.indevrede.be/home.php?lang=en

 

The best chances to find out what is available on the date is to check the website 1 week before about what is selling in the brewery on the same date. If they were selling the Westvleteren 12 in the brewery then very high possibility the coffee shop should be able to get the stocks for sell as well.

 

In the deVrede-shop you have to be lucky what they have on sale that day (only one type at a time) - and normally only 6
bottles each. But you can also have bad luck that they don't have something for sale there - but especially in Witer I think you'll get a 6-pack of something
For drink at the café they always have everything - They are open 26th-30th. Dec. according to their homepage.
And for reserving a full crate, you have to check here: http://docs.sintsixtus.be/bierverkoopactueel.htm
You must call at the specific time stated there and can only pick up the days and times shown. Normally two weeks in advance.
Good luck!!!

 

There is no method to the madness. I've been there when there's been no beer available for takeaway, when there have been sixers available of one of the beers, when there have been sixers available of two of the beers (Blonde and 8), when there has been a one per limit, when there's been a two per limit, when they didn't care if you came through the line twice, when they did care if you came through the line twice. All that said, it was the 12 that was available a majority of the time that they were selling sixers when I was there.

They always have all 3 beers available for tasting on site, so you will at least get to try them if you can't take them away. Good luck!

 

No tour of the abbey available. Across the street, you can almost always purchase for all three beers for enjoyment at the cafe. In addition, you may be available to purchase six-packs of one of the beers. You never know what will be available or if anything will be for sell to carry out. I've been there when they offered nothing to carry out, when they said they had nothing but after eating and drinking...lo and behold, some was brought in for sale. Ive been there when I was allowed to buy several six packs. DON'T EVEN CONSIDER DRIVING OUT THERE AND THEN DRIVING AFTER DRINKING THESE BEERS. Take a train and then a bus, cab or bike.

 

Worth mentioning - if you see a sign saying "No beer available today" at In De Vrede, do NOT give up.
We arrived around 11AM and were disappointed to see a sign like that.
However at around 1PM, that sign mysteriously disappeared and sure enough, they had plenty of 6-packs of all three varieties.

 

Last time the wife and I were there (last summer), nothing to go was available. When we asked the bartender about it, she told us all three would be available the next day.

Alas, we didn't have the chance to go back...so she made us up a six pack: two of each style and knocked two of our in-house bottles off the tab. Full marks for her!

 

last week, they had only 6-packs of Blonde.

 

Last Tuesday they had blonde & 12, but no 8 for sale. As far as I know you can always get the beers on tap to consume there. You may leave with empty pockets but you will not leave thirsty.

If you're desperate you can buy all Westvleteren's at de bierschuur, a beer shop just outside Brussels that's definitely worth a visit, even the "boxes" that were sold in the US a couple years ago. They have plenty.

You can also buy it online, just google it.

 

Is it actually on top, or just bottles? It's been a while, but on a couple visits I recall being served bottles. To the disappointment of some of the fellow yanks who consider it a given that brewery = taps.

 

Always bottles as far as I know. I never seen Westy on tap, and I go there approximately once a month...

 

It is never on tap - they only produce bottles - I think "Stefkes" meant "out of the bottle"

 

Is this available on tap or to go in Brussels?

 

As said earlier in the thread, it's never been on tap. You may find it in some stores in Brussels but at very high prices.

 

I did find the 3 at 250 Beer store. But decided not to buy them. Prices were from $15-$22 per bottle. Didn't feel right. I don't know if they come without labels or labels? These had none.

 

Comes without label.

 

Bier Tempel was the cheapest I found any Westvletren stuff at $12/bottle.

 

I would bring the 3 back but I got no more room. Bringing back 6 bottles of Cantillon.