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Westvleteren 12 available in the supermarket

On Thursday Belgian shoppers had a unique opportunity to stock up on Westvleteren 12, the Trappist beer that is usually only sold at the gate of the West Flemish Abbey. The monks have struck a deal with one of the big supermarket chains that means that a limited amount of the Trappist brew Westvleteren 12 is available in Colruyt supermarkets.

Usually this fine brew is only sold at the gate of the Saint Sixtus Abbey in West Flanders requiring dedicated beer lovers to make the journey to West Flanders province. The Trappist monks are now making an exception because they need to raise cash for renovation works in their home.

People who are interested in making the purchase do require the voucher published in Wednesday's edition of the Christian daily De Standaard and the weekly Knack. Armed with this voucher they will be able to buy what is called a "building stone box" that includes six bottles of Westvleteren 12 and two dedicated glasses. In all some 93,000 boxes are being sold.

The voucher has also been sent out to Colruyt loyalty card holders.

The renovation work is needed after the abbey was confronted with subsidence a decade ago. Works started in 2008. The money raised by the sale of the boxes will help to fund the operation. After the renovation work is complete the Trappist monks will be able to return to their old quarters.

In February the American beer lovers' website RateBeer selected Westvleteren 12 as the world's second best beer. flandersnews begs to differ.

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