Got myself some Westvleteren 12, what to expect?

actuallylike

Managed to get myself around 12 bottles of this today, really excited about trying it to be honest. Thing is, I usually try a different beer every few days and then stick with one I'm really liking at the time. I've been drinking nothing but English and Scottish styled ales these days (Thwaites Wainright, Sottish Joker IPA, O'Hara's IPA, etc.) and haven't really sampled a European beer in ages.

When I taste the Westvleteren I don't want the taste to be foreign so going to sit down with my first in a week or two so what should I drink in the meantime to get my pallate ready :pac:. Kind of like a preparation, I really want to get the most out of this tasting.

Seaneh

Any dubbel or Quadrupel would be a good bet.

Westmalle Dubbel is a great place to start.

slayerking

There are so many different Belgian beers out there, lots of really great beers to choose from. And many will improve in flavour and complexity a fair bit with a bit of aging.

I'd start off with some of the more common ones like Duvel and Chimay (Red or Blue). There generally available in most supermarkets or any good offey.
If you can get to some of the more specialist Offies, try get your hands on some Westmalle (dubbel or tripel) Rochefort (maybe 8 or 10), Orval, La Trappe or some of the St Bernardus range.

Also, if you can get your hands on/have a nice belgian chalice glass, it adds to the experience!!!

rcaz

slayerking wrote: »

Also, if you can get your hands on/have a nice belgian chalice glass, it adds to the experience!!!

If the OP got the Westvleteren that's going around in the 6 bottle gift packs, s/he'll have some nice XII glasses to drink from!

I'm in the same position as yourself, going to pick up some of this to see what all the fuss is about, but I don't drink much Trappist/abbey beer. I started with a Westmalle Dubbel last night, really liked it! Going to have another go at Chimay during the week, I remember loving it around a year ago.

fourmations

the westy is really something, so complex, tonnes of flavours off it,
not as heavy as you might expect

ive had two of mine already!

slayerking

rcaz wrote: »

If the OP got the Westvleteren that's going around in the 6 bottle gift packs, s/he'll have some nice XII glasses to drink from!

True.
The glasses in the Westy pack are nice, but for some strange reason, there only 150ml glasses!! Its almost as if they want you to share the bottles between two people!!

Seaneh

slayerking wrote: »

True.
The glasses in the Westy pack are nice, but for some strange reason, there only 150ml glasses!! Its almost as if they want you to share the bottles between two people!!

Would make sense, not like an Abbey is going to be promoting getting drunk.

Paparazzo

slayerking wrote: »

True.
The glasses in the Westy pack are nice, but for some strange reason, there only 150ml glasses!! Its almost as if they want you to share the bottles between two people!!

Haven't opened my box yet, but noticed the glasses are a bit small. Pity bout that

fmul9798

Any tips on where to locate this one? I haven't seen it available here before, and I gather from OP that perhaps it's difficult to find?

Seaneh

Drinkstore in stonybatter.

fmul9798

Thanks for that. Will have to try and have a family member who is close to it to pick some up.

johnnyskeleton

Seaneh wrote: »

slayerking wrote: »

True.
The glasses in the Westy pack are nice, but for some strange reason, there only 150ml glasses!! Its almost as if they want you to share the bottles between two people!!

Would make sense, not like an Abbey is going to be promoting getting drunk.

Is it not their way of worshiping god, understanding his mysteries or something?

pa990

Does anyone know if the abbots in cork have it in stock ?

poitinstill

abbots had it last night... i got one last night but yer man said they were flying out the door...

adamski8

got my set at the weekend in sweeneys, seemed to have a good few for €58, i know others are selling it for €50 but i thought i better strike while they are there and to support my local.
now the only problem is its too expensive to drink. just trying to think of occasions when i can have it

actuallylike

Just an update on it. Been fun getting back into Belgian styled beers again. I needed to cause the first time I ever got seriously drunk in pubs was when I was 14 away with the scouts hitting the bar every night resulting in a lot of vomiting. For this reason, any time I've had Belgian beers, the taste gives me an unfortunate flashback to this time .

But, it's been going well. Having a new beer every night, gone through the La Trappe Dubel and Quadrupel, Duvel, Chimay's, Delirium Tremens, etc., not getting drunk, using tasting notes and finally can get a real taste for it I think. Have gone splits on the Westvleteren with 2 other mates (2x6 packs) so just waiting till they're free. In the meantime, I've got more beers to sample .

Oh by the way, I got mine in Molloys of Dublin (€50). Might want to ring up your nearest branch to reserve it first though. Also saw some in the window of the off licence (forget the name) in Harold's Cross across from the petrol station.

Cheers for the advice.

poitinstill

I thought the abbey set the price for the "brick" at 50 and it as non- negotiable. so that place selling at 58 are breaking the rules as such ( obviously its only trust that they can enforce a price across europe. I got mine for 50 in abbots in cork.

AwayWithFaries

I really want to get me some of this soon. Hopefully the Abbots will still have it in stock at the weekend. Hopefully....

Padraig Mor

AwayWithFaries wrote: »

I really want to get me some of this soon. Hopefully the Abbots will still have it in stock at the weekend. Hopefully....

Rang them Tuesday. No joy. May be getting it back next week.

AwayWithFaries

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Rang them Tuesday. No joy. May be getting it back next week.

That's a pity. Must give them a call next week so.

Padraig Mor

AwayWithFaries wrote: »

That's a pity. Must give them a call next week so.

Said they'd stick it up on Facebook if/when they got some in.

the beer revolu

AwayWithFaries wrote: »

I really want to get me some of this soon. Hopefully the Abbots will still have it in stock at the weekend. Hopefully....

I believe Bradley's just got a few in.

AwayWithFaries

the beer revolu wrote: »

I believe Bradley's just got a few in.

Excellent. I must try and make it in there at the weekend.

Heroditas

Picked up a block of this in Drinkstore today.
This is going to be stored away for quite a while!

They still have quite a few of them left too.

Padraig Mor

AwayWithFaries wrote: »

Excellent. I must try and make it in there at the weekend.

I got one there this evening and there was 14 bricks left iirc. Still none in abbots.

AwayWithFaries

Padraig Mor wrote: »

I got one there this evening and there was 14 bricks left iirc. Still none in abbots.

Managed to get to Bradleys earlier and grab myself some. Still a nice bit left there by the looks of it, if anyine else is interested.

KJ

I was in McHughs today and they had the bricks but they also were selling them single for €8.99 I'm pretty sure that's against what the monks had set.

BaZmO*

KJ wrote: »

I was in McHughs today and they had the bricks but they also were selling them single for €8.99 I'm pretty sure that's against what the monks had set.

Fairplay to McHughs I say.

johnnyskeleton

KJ wrote: »

I was in McHughs today and they had the bricks but they also were selling them single for €8.99 I'm pretty sure that's against what the monks had set.

Someone should make a complaint to the eu competition authority about these crafty monks.

Ruben Remus

KJ wrote: »

I was in McHughs today and they had the bricks but they also were selling them single for €8.99

Does anyone know of anywhere else in Dublin doing this? I'll be in the capital for a few hours tomorrow but probably won't be able to make it out as far as McHughs. Would like a couple of bottles of the Westvleteren but not sure I can commit to/afford a full brick...

pa990

Bradleys in cork have sold out of westlvetern.
I picked up the last few at lunch time.