brew not for riches or glory but brewing only enough to support themselves and their abbey.

Westvletern 12

The famous trappist is brew by monks at the Abbey of Saint-Sixtus in Westvleteren located in Belgium(of course). They aren't in the beer business for riches or glory but brewing only enough to support themselves and their abbey.

But then the dark quadrupel westvleteren 12 (12,2% alcohol) got famous when the website Ratebeer.com gave them nr 1 in their top 50 list of the world best beer. Happened around the year 2000. Not only have they received this fame but also as best brewery in the world by the site's first annual list of World's best brewers in 2002. Even tough the monks were not happy with this sudden fame, having people come from all over the world, looking to buy this trappist beer. Because they do not see this brewing as a business. Being 5 to brew and 5 more people to help when it is time to bottle the beer.

Westvleteren only produces about 126.000 gallons a year witch is very very low amount compared to Chimay as an example witch produces 3.2 million gallons a year. The abbey started around 1839 and sold to public in 1931, and the recipe has changed but little since. brewing 70 days a year and have 3 different one's. The Westvleteren 12, the Westvleteren 8 (8% alcohol) wich are both dark ales and a blond one (5.8% alcohol). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C6IElCKo9M Not only does it produces the least beer of Belgium but it is also the hardest to get. The beer is only available at the drive-trough pick up gate( with a limit of 2 cases per liscence plate and must be reserved 60 days ahead of time, that is if you are able to get trough the call line with to many calls going on), and the second place is at the Abbey's In De Vrede cafe (with a limit to 2 six-packs per person). Not easy to reach by car also. A case of Westvleteren 12 sells for 42 euro wich is pretty inexpensive for the best beer in the world( less than 2euro the beer).

This makes opening on the gray market to sell at much higher prices to even 40euro the bottle but the monks strongly discourage the reselling of their beer, the monks allready themselves are not looking to make a profit on the brewing operation. The monks say " we are no brewers, we are monks. We brew beer to be able to afford to be monks". So there goes the question of why not brewing more. according to a statement from the Father, abbot on the abbey's website. Increasing production, except as a means to live, goes against their beliefs. Very humble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVtZSSKYvB0 Even the Westvleteren 8 is on the same list of Ratebeer.com of 50's best beers in the world at the number 29. This is quite an achievement.

Making and selling beer to live, not commercialising and going for riches. It seems to quite pay of in greatness of the product. I'm happy to see Belgium products making a name worldwide and certainly hitting number 1. If you go buy some beer here, give it the time it remains good for years and years and keeps on riping the same time.

@vlad image and source: ratebeer.com/top www.uk.businessinsider.com/best-beer-in-the-world-westvleteren-xii-2014-12?r=US&IR=T