About
The abbey was established in 1831. Already in the early days beer was brewed in small quantities, not for sale but just for their own consumption. In May 1839, the Abbey received a brewer’s licence signed by king Leopold I on April 19, 1839. Most likely a first test brew was produced the same month. In June 1839 the first official brew was produced.

Around 1860 a vast complex of buildings for amongst others sheds, a guesthouse, barns and a second brewery, was built. It remained however a small domestic brewery for personal use. Only from 1878 on production increased due to a good turnover of the tavern ‘In de Vrede’. Between 1886 and 1896 a third brew house, fully operational as from 1896, was built.

On 20 March 1922 the monks started the expansion of the brewery. On 27 October 1927 for the first time steam was used to brew in the modernised, fourth brew house. This brew house was operational till 5 January 1990.

In 1976 a fermentation room with six open yeast vessels and a laboratory were installed. Fermentation in open yeast vessels, a method that is used very rarely, is essential for the ester profile of the Trappist Westvleteren.

The present brew house was officially put into operation in 1990. The new bottling plant was put into operation in 2013. Since 2014, two brews are made per brewing day. This meant a considerable saving in terms of energy consumption and man-hours.

The lagering cellar and the fermentation chamber were modernised and automated, but because the capacity did not change, production also remained unchanged. The production amounts to approximately 6,000 hectolitres annually, spread over 42 brewing days. In 2016 a new secondary fermentation unit with storage space was built.
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CloakedDagger (38094) reviewed
Westvleteren Blond from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
6.6/10 — Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 6.5
(Bottle 33 cl) It’s rare but it does happen: a new Trappist beer. Pale golden with a huge head. Quite lightbodied with a very, very pronounced bitterness throughout. Fruity and fresh but also a bit sharp. Rather unusual trappist - perhaps Orval is the closest relative. But this lacks that beers refined spicyness. 220501
Tried from Bottle on 27 Jul 2005 at 09:48
Clarkvv (17430) reviewed
Westvleteren 8 Extra from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
8.6/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 10 Overall 8.5
Best Before 10.18.07 bottle, big thanks to Olivier_MTL for opening this. Served in a Westvleteren chalice for breakfast on 7/9/2005. Blind serving. Perfect appearance, with a foamy, large beige-flecked-white head, lasting, pillowy and providing ample lacing. The beer is very unfiltered and has a mahogany, tan-brown body, slight hints of light orange and copper. Aroma: The country must be Belgium. The yeast profile is just too smooth, subtley integrated and well-done to be an American replica. Notes of light vanilla cream, raisins, prunes and light candi sugar notes. Upon sipping, I remark that it must be a trappist. The mouthfeel and flavor are just fantastically drinkable, flavorful and balanced. Light carbonation, bits of bitterness and light acidity, with hints of chocolate, anise, hazelnuts and caramelized sugar. Light raisins and prunes with a hint of chocolatey fudge lingering, along with a delectable yeastiness. My next notion places it as an Abbey Dubbel, perhaps, or maybe a Belgian Strong. Somewhere in between, anyways. It has a restrained flavor, with all of the raisins and light fruits and caramel, I could really see it working as a dubbel. The yeast is restrained and tastefully done. Low alcohol apparency, no hops bitterness. On the end, I also did get a bit of waxy crayons, don’t really remember that from the 12, but perhaps it is some yeast dullness. Really enjoyable, smooth mouthfeel, and just tickles the palate with just the right amount of carbonation. Thanks so much Olivier!
Tried from Bottle on 11 Jul 2005 at 10:13
Dogbrick (24514) reviewed
Westvleteren Blond from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
Well I have worked my way "down" the Westy ladder and enjoyed the trip! While not as good as the 8 or 12, you can still tell that this beer is crafted with skill and care. Hazy golden yellow with a super thick white head that lasts a long time. Thick sheets of lacing. Aroma of citrus and floral hops. Medium-bodied and dry with spicy hops and citrus flavoring. Wonderful balance throughout. The finish is lightly bitter with yeast and spice flavors. I’d love to have any of the Westy brews again but considering the hefty price tag I’ll probably stick with the 12 from here on out.
Tried from Can on 10 Jul 2005 at 22:20
oh6gdx (52920) reviewed
Westvleteren 12 (XII) from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
9.2/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 9 Flavor 10 Texture 10 Overall 9
Bottled. Dark nut brown, hazy colour with small beige head. Sweet aroma of caramel, alcohol, fruit, flowers a bit licorace and banana, very complex. Extremely wellbalanced complex flavour, being soft and sweet into a bit biting alcohol. Flavour consists of bananas, citrus, hops, alcohol and caramel and lots more. Excellent beer.
Tried from Bottle on 09 Jul 2005 at 16:07
CloakedDagger (38094) reviewed
Westvleteren 12 (XII) from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
10/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 10 Flavor 10 Texture 10 Overall 10
(Bottle 33 cl) Dark brown with only a small beige head. Extremely complex with notes of plums, raisins and perhaps some chocolate as well. Starts sweetish but ends with a fig-like driness. Hops are present but only to balance things, they never dominate. Westvleteren 12 is a revelation, a truly heavenly experience - the kind of beer that explodes with flavours in your mouth giving you new impressions each and every time. And if you store this it only gets better. More a meal than a drink. Excellent, excellent. 100398
Tried from Bottle on 27 Jun 2005 at 10:25
CloakedDagger (38094) reviewed
Westvleteren 6 from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
7.8/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8
(Bottle 33 cl) Very dark - almost stout-like - with a big and rather stable head. Notes of figs - burned figs - a bit tar’ish. Must contain considerable amounts of burned malts. Surprisingly only medium-bodied for a trappist. Very easy to drink, and not really hardcore in any way. Pity this has been taken out of production. 070398
Tried from Bottle on 27 Jun 2005 at 10:07
shrubber (16041) reviewed
Westvleteren 12 (XII) from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
9.1/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 10 Overall 9.5
Bottle purchased at In De Vrede gift shop. Sweet fruity aroma - complex- cherry, plum, raisin, tannins and some chocolate malt - alcohol aroma become more apparent as it warms. Cloudy iced tea brown color with only the slightest head. Sweetness up front - flavor primarily chocolate malt and honey with cherry/plum undertones - slight alcohol burn at end but much less than expected with a beer this strong. / 12-8-18 - 10 year old bottle. Mild oxidation but still great - nice dried fruit aromas and tastes. Carbonation has held up.
Tried from Bottle on 08 Jun 2005 at 10:27
shrubber (16041) reviewed
Westvleteren 8 Extra from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
9.3/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 8 Flavor 10 Texture 10 Overall 9
At In De Vrede Cafe. Mild molasses malt aroma. Dark opaque brown color with little head. Initially a slightly sweet malt flavor with hints of raisins/dried apples and a mild acidic finish - could not really detect alcohol content. Full bodied. What can I say- this is a great beer. Addendum - bottle sample. Aroma more fruity - sweet cherry/raspberry. Taste more cherries as well - aging seems to have mellowed out the dried fruit flavor. A sharp acidic-mild carbonated finish. I have to change the flavor to perfect - thank God I took the trouble to find the monastery.
Tried from Can on 05 Jun 2005 at 11:01
shrubber (16041) reviewed
Westvleteren Blond from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
8.1/10 — Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
At In De Vrede cafe. Sweet apricot and apple aroma. Cloudy medium yellow color with small head. A complex flavor - taste peach, apple, plum, and malt with moderate acidity. A great beer and worth the effort finding the abbey.
Tried on 05 Jun 2005 at 10:57
Harrisoni (26621) reviewed
Westvleteren 12 (XII) from Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
21 years ago
9.1/10 — Appearance 10 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 9.5
Bottle at In de Vrede, Westvleteren. Dark ruby in colour. Thin lasting beige head. Intense aromas with lots of different fruits including interestingly raisins and bananas. Almost syrupy with touch of vanilla to go with the dark fruits. Some alcohol heat in mouth with coffee and sweetness. Still hoppy to balance with sweetness. Warming finish. Excellent beer that will age and release even further flavours.
Tried from Bottle on 24 May 2005 at 03:37