Beer made by monks
History
In 1814, Jan-Baptist Victoor settled as a hermit in the woods of Westvleteren, where monastic communities had already been living long before. The history of the Saint-Sixtus Abbey started when some monks of the French abbey Mont-des-Cats joined the hermit in 1831. Aside from their monastic activities, the monks also cultivated the fields around the abbey and produced cheese in order to be self-supportive. Already in the early days beer was brewed in small quantities, not for sale but just for their own consumption. The Saint-Sixtus Abbey’s archive reveals that the first expenses for a brewery were made in June 1838. The production was taken out of the monks hands in 1946 and sent to the nearby and still operational brewery of St. Bernardus in Watou. In 1992, that license came to an end and the production was taken over by Sint-Sixtus again. These days, the 'Trappist Westvleteren' can only be bought through their web store and picked up at the sales centre located in the abbey. The sale of the beer is not for commercial purposes and is available only to individuals who have registered in advance.
Products
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Westvleteren Blond: 5.8% ABV, clear blondish straw colour. When refrigerated, the beer will automatically get hazy.
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Westvleteren 8: 8% ABV, clear but slightly hazed. Tanned, amber red-brown colouring.
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Westvleteren 12 (XII): 10.2% ABV, dark, though clear, reddish/burgundy brown.
Location and contact
Donkerstraat 12
8640 Westvleteren - Belgium
Phone: +32 57 400376
Visits
Not open to the public.
In de Vedre cafeteria, opposite the abbey, has an exhibition set up that will give you an insight towards life as a Trappist monk at the monastery. In the cafeteria you can taste the beer, or even buy limited quantities at their shop. More information is available on http://www.indevrede.be/.