Trip 18: Watou & Westvleteren, Belgium

A visit to Beer Country . . to complete Jamie's quest to try all 7 of the world's Trappist beers.  Trappist monks dedicate their life to prayer and work.  There are many Trappist Monasteries but only 7 brew beer.  The other 6 Trappist beers are available to purchase in liquor stores or sold in local bars but the Westvleteren is not available anywhere except at the brewery by appointment.  So we set off to discover the "World's Best Beer". We stayed at a nearby town in Watou at one of the cutest B&B's, Brouwershuis, that was connected to a small brewery, St. Bernardus.  We enjoyed the beautiful property, the saloon offering their beers and their wonderful breakfast.  Then this afternoon we headed to Westvleteren to visit the monastery and pick up our order at the abbey.  A surprisingly lovely trip through the countryside and little villages of West Belgium.

  

 Brouwershuis B&B

 St. Bernardus beers offered to all guests at the B&B

 Hops fields all along our drive . . .

And many cattle farms

 St. Sixtus Abbey

All the Belgian brews / Jamie picking up his order