Apparently unbeknownst to most people outside of Belgium, Westveletern had a crazy one-day large-scale release of Westvleteren 12 gift packs. They released 98,000 "boxes" as they called them in an effort to raise money to restore parts of their abbey. The one-day release apparently rivaled large release parties in the USA like Dark Lord Day and the Pliny the Younger release, except it was at a chain of stores across Belgium instead of just in one location!
What's of most importance to us, though, is the last tidbit... where this article is translated as saying, "Almost all revenue, 2.3 million will be devoted to the renovation. A similar formula should also be born abroad in 2012. Some 70,000 boxes should be sent beyond our borders." Whoa... 70,000 gift packs of Westvleteren 12 leaving Belgium? You have to assume that at least part of that will be coming to the United States, so keep tuned and keep on the lookout for this next year. I'm sure it'll be a crazy event, I know I'll grab as much as I can even if it's $30 or so per pack, or whatever 25 Euros is exchanging to these days... probably more. I paid $20 per bottle just to try it so a 6 bottle and 2 glass pack, hell yeah.
Here's hoping this is true, I'd love to have a few of these in the fridge waiting for me when I get home.
http://beernews.org/beer/westvleteren-xii-12/
ReplyDeleteLooks like this is getting a lot more official.