Hey guys, I'm going to be making the journey to Belgium in late March to try as many beers and visit as many breweries as possible in three days.
I know all about the westy beer phone and schedule and all that good stuff, but I'm wondering if you guys know if I made it through on the phone if they might make a reservation for a date past the calendar for say, the 29th or 30th of March, or if it must be posted first. Also, if I do ever get them on the phone, can I even request a specific date? I'd love to have some 12 and that's what just went on sale but I'm growing weary that I'll get any.
We made a trip to Belgium last year. From my experience, you "try" to phone in your order when they are accepting them. Then they tell you when you can pick it up. Even the natives are limited to the number of cases they can purchase in a year. I guess it adds to the mystique of the beer. I resorted to picking up a few bottles at local beer stores in Brussels. I don't know how that works exactly, since there is also a strict prohibition on resales.
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Originally Posted by marubozo
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i am going to be trying my damndest to get through. I have to call tomorrow morning (tonight) at 2am! I hope I get through and it ends up being worth it!
Even the natives are limited to the number of cases they can purchase in a year.
Justin Crossley (brewing network) just got back a while ago and they said that you are limited to 1 case per license plate per month. He talked about waiting on hold, giving up and then just buying the beer in their giftshop. Apparently, there is some type of gift box that has 3 varieties in it, but I believe he said you are limited to one gift box per person per visit.
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perhaps a line of single hop IPA's - there's so many new hops out there!!!
Well, I have already decided that if it comes down to it, I could settle for the gift pack. However, I am going to at least give it a shot. I'll make a dead with my self to only try for an hour, ha. Either way, I am going shopping in a beer store with over 400 beers, so even if I can't get any Westy, I'll be bringing back some "souvenirs".
I bought from them this time last year. My impression is that they're so oversubscribed by people wanting to buy their beer that when you get through on the beerphone, they tell you what you'll buy and when to turn up - there isn't a lot of room for discussion. That's not to imply they're in any way unpleasant - far from it - but I don't think there's any leeway beyond buying a single crate of whatever's on sale that day, at the appointed pick-up time.
One other unfortunate thing to be aware of is that the giftshop does sometimes sell out of the gift packs. It's not a huge establishment at all, and when I was there the gift shop had no bottles for sale. You could still buy a glass of beer to drink there, but in terms of bringing beers back, it's not guaranteed.
Slightly tangentially, if you're going to Belgium, I would highly recommend this book as being more than worth its price:
Thank you for the book link.
I didn't really want to get my hopes up on getting through, but I figured it was at least worth a shot. I have been watching the up-to-date beer info and I think if I didn't make it through today (which I didn't) that I would be able to be placed on the correct day.
It's ok though. I will hopefully still be able to taste it in the gift shop, and with any luck I can buy a gift pack. But I won't get my hopes up.
I blame this on Ratebeer. (Just kidding. I love you Ratebeer)
If you miss out on Westvleteren at the Abbey itself, it might be worth checking out Beermania in Brussels, at 174 Chausee de Wavre, in the Ixelles district. It's a beer cafe and liquor store in one. When I was last there they had individual bottles of Westvleteren 12 for sale, albeit for about 13 euros each. Their website is www.beermania.be .
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Bottle conditioning: Pliny the Elder clone; Tramp's Overcoat Barley Wine
Next up: Vanilla Porter
I may have to check out Beermania. Though I would feel bad for padding someone's pockets against the monks wishes.
I have been using that up date info. I got up at 3am this morning and tried for an hour then went back to sleep. I will just hope to sample some at the cafe.
Experienced Westvleteren Buyers please!!!
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