Brouwerij Westvleteren is a Belgian trappist brewery located within the walls of the abbey of Saint-Sixtus in Westvleteren (near to the large hops producing town of Poperinge). The beer can only be bought in the abbey shop near the monastery from one of the thirty or so Cistercian monks who live at the abbey. However, a couple of cafés in Belgium sell the trappist beers.
The beers do not normally come labelled and are identified by their distinctive caps. However, the few that are exported to the United States are labelled to comply with regulations.
There are three beers produced by the abbey for general consumption: Westvleteren Blond (green cap) is the lightest offering at 5.8% ABV, Westvleteren Extra 8 (blue cap) comes at 8.0% ABV has fruity and chocolatey flavours. Westvleteren Abt 12 (yellow cap) comes with an extremely high 11.2% ABV and is considered the most sophisticated of the Westvleteren offerings and tastes of a complex mix of chocolate, malt, coffee, bread and various other undertones. There used to be a Westvleteren Special 6 (red cap, 6.2% ABV, tends to be characterised by its fruity flavours), but this beer is now retired.
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