For beer geeks: Pre-order Westvleteren 12 now!

[stuck_in_chuk]

I found out this weekend that Zyn will be getting a number of 6-packs of Westvleteren 12 sometime next month. They are taking pre-orders on them as we speak. Cost for a 6-pk of beer and 2 beer glasses is $80.

Anyone familiar with this beer will know what a rare opportunity this is. Westvleteren beers are usually only available at the monastery in Belgium, and buying them requires winning a lottery which will allow you to purchase up to 24 bottles. They are often found on e-bay for upwards to $100 per bottle.

The beer itself is always ranked as one of the best beers in the world. It's style is Belgian Quadrupel, and is 12% alcohol by volume. It ranks 100 on beeradvocate.com.

Beer snobs are invited to take advantage of this very rare opportunity.

[nik-]

[K1LLswitch]

Thanks for the heads up - sounds neat! Will try to get in on the pre-order!

[Svensational]

Heh.. that much...for beer? Yeah, I'm sure there's a market for it and tons of ppl who love it, but come on!

[Sopure]

Definitely interested, though not a total beer snob. I'd keep it for when my dad and grandfather visit.

Do you have to call in or can you order online? I looked on the website and can't seem to find anything about it?

[stuck_in_chuk]

Originally Posted by Sopure

Definitely interested, though not a total beer snob. I'd keep it for when my dad and grandfather visit.

Do you have to call in or can you order online? I looked on the website and can't seem to find anything about it?

I didn't see anything about it online, but I called them up and got my order placed in a few minutes.

[Jacks]

I'm sure it's really good but the only way I'm paying $13.00 for a beer is if it comes with a lapdance.

[stuck_in_chuk]

If the only Belgian beer you have ever drank is Stella Artois, then Westvleteren is not for you. Beer judges consistently rank it as one of the top 5 beers in the world, and it is also one of the hardest to find. The increasing market for craft and specialty beers has increased demand for all of the Westvleteren beers, but the monks there are very insistent on brewing just enough to finance their way of life. So, it becomes even rarer every year.

This is a special release to finance improvements to their monastery, so it is a very rare opportunity to try this extremely hard to find beer. People who are fans of Belgian beers, especially of the Trappist ales, are very excited about this opportunity.

However, this is not a beer for everyone. First off, the cost is not cheap (although compared to wine or scotch, the cost is very minimal). It is very dark in colour, and at 12% alcohol is quite potent. I have never tried it myself (although it has been on my "must try" list for a number of years).

Considering that the big breweries in Canada and the US account for over 95% of the market, I'm sure that most people will not be interested in this beer offering. Don't buy it simply because some website calls it the best beer in the world - try it because you are a fan of the style and want to sample the best. I know that a few people on this site will be very interested in this offer, and I wanted to share this information.

[Sopure]

Originally Posted by stuck_in_chuk

I didn't see anything about it online, but I called them up and got my order placed in a few minutes.

Which location did you call? Banker's Hall or Inglewood?

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I'm sure it's really good but the only way I'm paying $13.00 for a beer is if it comes with a lapdance.

Then I suggest staying away from Cowboys!

[stuck_in_chuk]

Originally Posted by Sopure

Which location did you call? Banker's Hall or Inglewood?

I called Inglewood. I suspect you could call either, though.

[DownInFlames]

I stopped in the Inglewood store and ordered some. I'll gladly pay $13 a bottle for what might be a once in a lifetime experience.

[Flash Walken]

Plus, you get the GLASSES people.

Awesome glasses that I highly recommend you drink the beer out of and then display as trophies of your latest conquest.

[Sopure]

Just pre-ordered mine!

[username]

Just walked down to the one in Bankers over lunch and was able to pre-order six.

Thanks for the heads up!

[BlackArcher101]

Ordered two via Inglewood

Thanks for the heads up.

[jtfrogger]

I really don't know too much about different types of beer, but I figured this was worth trying. I just called and put down a deposit for a 6-pack.

[DownInFlames]

You better get a break on your order based on all of these referrals, stuck_in_chuk.

[Bobblehead]

From an email sent out by ZYN.ca

WESTVLETEREN XII
(Gift Pack includes 6 bottles and 2 chalices)

This beer has been consistently rated "the best beer in the world" by most beer critics and experts around the world.

Visual: A very dark brown, with cherry hues. Pours like coffee liqueur.
Nose: Slightly vinous, possibly red wine. Cream, raisins. Mint leaves and toffee. Malt loaf mixes with candy floss and banana. Brown sugar granules and malt room turnings. A refreshing feel to the air overall.
Body: Brown sugar. Plums. Very smooth and creamy. Figs, or in fact an overwhelming range of dark fruits. Banana yogurt. Toffee. Milk chocolate and raisins.
Finish: Lots of plum pudding, with a sugar dusting. Caramel and milk chocolate. Figs again, which lead into bitter chocolaty undertones.

This is the only time that Westvleteren XII will be available in Canada. The Trappist monks have released a small quantity of this beer to Canada to finance the building of their new abbey.

Suggested Retail Value - $80 per gift pack

We are pre-selling with a $40 deposit and the balance due when the beer arrives (Mid July, 2012).

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Plus, you get the GLASSES people.

Awesome glasses that I highly recommend you drink the beer out of and then display as trophies of your latest conquest.

Is it these glasses? I would prefer these, but I saw some pics of a gift pack with chalices with gold lettering and roman numerals that weren't as hot.