Westvleteren 12

Martyn1989 · 06-09-2012 04:32PM

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Their whole schtick is to only sell them in or around the abbey and not commercially. It's quite a marketing idea from those crafty monks.

so unless the roof falls in again, or they get greedy, it won't be available for general release any time soon.

You could visit the abbey, or you could pick one up second hand. Maybe there might be a brick still in one of the off licences if you look hard enough.

Kellys Offlicence in Clontarf still have them.

Mr Benevolent · 07-09-2012 02:58PM

So it's not worth the €50 so - that's good enough for me.

Seaneh · 07-09-2012 03:08PM

I think it's worth it to be honest. It's a lovely beer.

People have no problem paying €8 a bottle for stuff like Tokyo and nogne o beers and they are often much inferior beers (I happen to think Tokyo is septic).

Even if you just bought it as an investment it's worth it.

johnnyskeleton · 07-09-2012 03:32PM

Confab wrote: »

So it's not worth the €50 so - that's good enough for me.

At c. 7.50 a bottle, you can buy as good if not better trappist beers. For me anyway it feels like you are paying a premium because of its exclusivity rather than because of its quality. For €50, you could get a much better selection of beers.

However, as a once off novelty it's probably worth the money just to try one. As a beer that has a sort of cult status as the best beer in the world (of online beer reviewing, anyway) it's not going to blow you away, but it certainly is a good beer, there's no denying that.

If you know a few others who are interested in trying it, you could split a brick which makes it seem more reasonable.

Saruman · 07-09-2012 03:54PM

Don't forget you are helping the poor monks fix their roof.

I have 2 bricks. I have not had any but I have had it before. I will decide one of these days to just open one. I plan on letting some age and trying again in a few years.

johnnyskeleton · 07-09-2012 08:34PM

Saruman wrote: »

Don't forget you are helping the poor monks fix their roof.

I have 2 bricks. I have not had any but I have had it before. I will decide one of these days to just open one. I plan on letting some age and trying again in a few years.

True, those monks need an extra strong roof to stop their god from noticing that they've set up a brewery in the basement.

Mr Benevolent · 07-09-2012 08:35PM

Well, I bought a six pack with the glasses. I'll try one tonight and report back!

oblivious · 07-09-2012 09:24PM

Confab wrote: »

Well, I bought a six pack with the glasses. I'll try one tonight and report back!

Enjoy

stuchyg · 07-09-2012 11:43PM

Confab wrote: »

Well, I bought a six pack with the glasses. I'll try one tonight and report back!

any word yet

Mr Benevolent · 08-09-2012 02:48PM

any word yet

Divine nectar. I gave my girlfriend the first taste and her reaction was 'Wow.' Mine too. The mouthfeel is perfect, the aroma is just right and taste is, well, impossible to describe. Malted heaven. My six bottles were sitting in McHugh's for a year before I got them, so letting them sit is unnessecary imo. The glasses (goblets apparently) are a treat too.

In conclusion: The best beer I've tasted so far. I've already tried the competitors, St. Bernardus Abt 12 and Rochefort Trappistes 10. In reality there is no competition. Well worth the money.

Fart · 19-09-2012 10:07PM

So I've just picked up a case of this, but will try one at Christmas with my dad

. I got it in a Molloys, and they just informed me that they will be stocking a good few bottles of Rochefort in future. Mmmmm.

A question about the yeast at the bottom, or if there is any yeast at all. Should I try keep this at the bottom of the bottle and not allow it into the beer in the glass? I've read mixed opinions on this.

I'll hope to age at least 3 bottles too, for a couple of years.
How long will this beer last and how long is too long?

Cheers.

Edit: I've also found this. :eek:

BeerNut · 19-09-2012 10:45PM

Fart wrote: »

Should I try keep this at the bottom of the bottle and not allow it into the beer in the glass? I've read mixed opinions on this.

For something that strong and dark with a yeast-forward flavour it's not going to do much harm. Throw it in.

Fart wrote: »

How long will this beer last and how long is too long?

That's a microbiological mystery. You should be safe enough up to five years at least, I reckon.

Mr Benevolent · 20-09-2012 08:46PM

I'm drinking Hercules Double IPA atm and I have to admit it rivals Westvletern 12. Hoppier of course, but a wonderfully balanced beer.

BaZmO* · 20-09-2012 10:00PM

Confab wrote: »

I'm drinking Hercules Double IPA atm and I have to admit it rivals Westvletern 12. Hoppier of course, but a wonderfully balanced beer.

Chalk and cheese though.

Saruman · 21-09-2012 09:39AM

Confab wrote: »

I'm drinking Hercules Double IPA atm and I have to admit it rivals Westvletern 12. Hoppier of course, but a wonderfully balanced beer.

A bit like comparing a Jaguar E type with a modern Jaguar XKR.

One is a temperamental ass but also arguably the most beautiful car ever made.
The other is a modern, comfortable, sports car with a lot of power and would wipe the floor with an E type. But it's not an E type :cool:

I do love Hercules though.

enda1 · 21-09-2012 09:43AM

Picked up twelve of these a while ago. Will have to try some and report in!

Wookie · 02-12-2012 08:19PM

If anybody missed this the first time around I notice that they have come back in again at Redmonds.

Saruman · 03-12-2012 10:09AM

I opened my first bottle in October. It was not nearly as good as my first Westvleteren 12 but you can read my thoughts here.

Wookie · 03-12-2012 11:09AM

I tried one and I really enjoyed it. I can’t claim to have the kind of pallet that seasoned beer tasters would have so I would struggle to come up with a complex breakdown of the flavours. The box/brick with its combination of 6 bottles and 2 mini goblets is very cool and gives the whole process a sense of occasion. Strong flavours, sherry like I guess, with plenty of alcohol, it leaves a really nice after taste and I didn’t want open another beer afterwards (and I don’t plan to dip back in to the other 5 bottles for a while) while the nice flavours were still in my mouth. I guess it will work best if you have tried a couple of stronger Belgian beers and have a developed a bit of a taste for them. In my case I tasted it after a family meal and everybody around the table enjoyed the beer and we all had a bit of fun trying it.

Seaneh · 03-12-2012 05:41PM

Saruman wrote: »

I opened my first bottle in October. It was not nearly as good as my first Westvleteren 12 but you can read my thoughts here.

I'd wager the first one you had was a few years old. The ones that were sold here earlier in the year were bottled about this time last year, so they are very, very young.

Heroditas · 03-12-2012 05:49PM

Wookie wrote: »

If anybody missed this the first time around I notice that they have come back in again at Redmonds.

€60 for the pack, isn't it?
Weren't they €50 previously?

Saruman · 03-12-2012 06:02PM

Seaneh wrote: »

I'd wager the first one you had was a few years old. The ones that were sold here earlier in the year were bottled about this time last year, so they are very, very young.

That's what I figure, and am hoping it's not just a rushed version for them to make money for their roof

Wookie · 04-12-2012 05:56PM

Heroditas wrote: »

€60 for the pack, isn't it?
Weren't they €50 previously?

It was a gift so I am not sure, but it sounds like some were held back so they could be sold for an additional premium at Christmas?

gosplan · 12-07-2013 08:57PM

Wookie wrote: »

It was a gift so I am not sure, but it sounds like some were held back so they could be sold for an additional premium at Christmas?

Just got one of these packs at McHugh's on the Malahide road today for 50.

Not sure if they're the original release or not but they said they've loads left. Their web page even has them do must be good supply - web site said 60 but price tag was 50.

As an aside, while you're there see if they have the Karmeliten Kloster Dopplebock. 8% German dark larger. Rediculously good body, one of my favs. They might only have this in the Raheny shop though - but they probably have the Westvleteren there too.

Anyway, the important thing is that I've a Westvleteren that's going to be opened tonight.

irish_goat · 13-07-2013 01:50AM

I've still not opened my box yet. Due to get my sinuses fixed up in a month or so I might wait til I've had that done and make sure I really appreciate my first bottle.

the beer revolu · 13-07-2013 09:26AM

irish_goat wrote: »

I've still not opened my box yet. Due to get my sinuses fixed up in a month or so I might wait til I've had that done and make sure I really appreciate my first bottle.

Try one before your procedure, you might have f/a sense of smell after!

MrGee · 13-07-2013 11:40AM

I heard this , gonna head up there monday and get a brick, had it in Amsterdam and Brussels recently, Fantastic beer.

gosplan · 15-07-2013 03:42PM

gosplan wrote: »

Anyway, the important thing is that I've a Westvleteren that's going to be opened tonight.

OK, it was lovely and it's astonishing to see how complex a taste they can give to a beer.

But I don't think this would be going down as 'the worlds nicest beer' if it didn't have they mystery and scarcity of this beer.

(Whisper it but the St Bernadus quad is nicer)

All that said, lovely beer and well worth splashing out on.

Andre Salmon · 27-07-2013 03:57PM

Just picked up a box for myself, thanks for the heads up.
Still plenty left so might get another one

Seaneh · 12-11-2013 09:13AM

McHugh's.

Brick for €60.

Westvleteren 12

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