The Best Beer in the World.

According to the people who say such things, Westvleteren 12 is the Best Beer in the World.  It's the Holy Grail.  It goes  $119 for a six pack on eBay.

I was prepared to be underwhelmed.  I was not.

My good friend Joe, author of The Thirsty Pilgrim and the soon to be released book Across Belgium in 80 Beers, which he wrote with Yvan de Baets, last week sent me a couple of 12s along with a Westie Blonde and a few others that I haven't tried. (Note to the monks:  I received the beer in trade for a few Texas brews, so no profit - at least monetary - was turned in the transaction.)

If you haven't had it - it's a fantastic beer.  It's dark and imposing out front like a gothic cathedral, but one inhabited by a jolly old fellow with whom you could spend hours in a tavern.  It's amazingly drinkable for a 1o.2% abv beer.  It's one of the only beers that big I could honestly say would make a terrific session beer - even if the session would end with me falling out of my chair before finishing a six pack.

The beer arrived in two bottle that were physically different.  One had a "Trappistenbier" ring around the neck - the other did not.  The inconsistency would be unacceptable in any modern commercial brewery, but it could be a metaphor for the beer.  The packaging is immaterial - the soul is the content.  This beer is undoubtedly made by people who care.

Is it the best beer in the world?  That's a non sequitur - a question without an answer.  It's like asking a Texan where they would live if they couldn't live in Texas.

But is it worth a trip to Belgium to try it out?*  Absolutely.

* I do not condone obtaining Westvleteren via any means other than a trip to the monastery (unless you can get a personal friend to make the trip for you and said friend will accept only beer in exchange).   The monks very obviously respect their beer, and the drinking public should respect their distribution decisions.