Brussels Belgium

This is more than just a Brussels post. This is THE Brusels post.

My friend Alex is half Belgian. Her parents keep a car and an apartment in Brussels. . .right below her grandma. We've worked many trips to Belgium together but this trip was special. She wanted to drive to the little town of Vleteren, Belgium to buy the best beer in the world for her husband. This beer is called Westvleteren.

So, instead of sleeping when we got in, Alex picked me up in her family's car and we drove to Vleteren.

Here we are. This beer is only available for pick up. Here are the rules:

"Availability

Currently, the beer is priced at €30.00 (Blonde), €34.00 (8°) and €39.00 (12°) per 24-bottle crate (excluding bottle/crate deposit). Deposit for empty bottles and crate: 12 EUR (9.60 EUR for the crate plus 0.10 EUR per bottle). Glasses specifically designed to drink the beer can be purchased at the abbey in packs of 6 for 17 euro.

Buyers were originally limited to ten 24-bottle crates of the beer per car, but as the beer increased in popularity, this was first reduced to five, then to three and now to two or one crates. For the Westvleteren 12 in 2009, it was limited to one case. When making an order now, the type and quantity of beer available for sale are revealed. Sales are limited to one order every 60 days per person per license plate and phone number. Also, the beer must be reserved on their "beerphone" beforehand.^[5] The monks do not sell beer to individuals who drive up to the abbey hoping to purchase beer. The reason for this is to eliminate commercial reselling, and hence give all visitors a chance to purchase the product.

The current production is 4750 hl (60,000 cases) per year, and has remained the same since 1946.^["5

On a previous trip to Brussels, Alex and I spent the night in her parent's apartment and watched Pride and Prejudice while she tried to get through to the monastary to reserve some beer. Her persistance was rewarded. After 3 hours, she was able to get through.

Below is the monastary and gift shop

Here we bought the best cheese in the world. We didn't know it at the time...we only found that out later when we ate it on the airplane.

We had lunch at the cafe where they served their famous beer.

I'm drinking sparkling apple juice.

But I will tell you something;

The was the only time I was ever tempted to drink some beer....

what does the best beer in the world taste like?

Alex said it was amazing.

We drove back through a little town called Leper.

Where we found out they have the best bread in the world

To go with the best cheese.

We finished off the day with a traditional Belgium stew with frites

Cheers to you, Belgium. What a wonderful, wonderful day.

It will go on the list of the top 10 days of my life.