$85 for a 6-pack? Beer fans shell out for rare brew
Westvleteren XII is brewed by a small group of Trappist monks in Belgium. The unusual sale of the beer in the US drew crowds this week.
For American beer lovers, word that a very limited amount of Westvleteren XII would be on sale this week was like a visit from Halley's Comet: a once-in-a-lifetime situation.
The event brought out thousands of beer fanatics -- all competing for a beverage with a suggested retail price of $85 per six-pack.
The world-renowned beer is brewed by a small group of Trappist monks in Belgium, and usually can only be bought at their abbey. But the monks' home needs some restoration and renovation work, so they announced the sale of 15,000 "brick" gift packs (a six-pack and two commemorative glasses) for sale in the U.S. for the first time on Dec. 12.
"This is a special one-time only release," the monks warned on their website. "It might sell out right away on Dec. 12th. No advance reservations are accepted via this website."
If you missed your chance, well, hope you have a plane ticket to Belgium handy. There may not be any Westvleteren XII available at U.S. stores in the future after the reclusive monks use the sale proceeds for some needed home improvement.
"They say, 'We are monks, we don't want to be too commercial,'" a spokesman for Westvleteren Brewery tells NPR. "We needed some money to help us buy the new abbey and that's it. Back to normal again."And of course, small supply plus great demand equals craziness. Retailers in 21 states had limited supplies of the beer by Wednesday -- much of which was sold out within minutes of becoming available to eager consumers.
"None of the retailers, distributors or importers are getting any money off this either," Craig Wathen, owner of City Beer Store in San Francisco, told KCBS TV.
Beer connoisseurs in Colorado lined up for 12 hours before a store in Colorado Springs stocking the legendary brew made its meager stock of 36 six-packs available on Thursday. Another store in Colorado, Wilbur's Total Beverage in Fort Collins, sold out of "Westie 12" in 15 minutes, The Denver Post reports.
And by Thursday afternoon, according to the Post, the six-packs were going for as much as $750 on eBay (EBAY). Even the box alone that held the six-pack and glasses was being auctioned for $100.
"It’s going to make a fantastic Christmas present and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Las Vegas, N.M., resident Dan Smith told the Colorado Springs Gazette. "I'm giving it as a gift but I hope to get a sip though."
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I spend that on a bottle of good single malt scotch. So if you are a beer coinsure it may be worth it, and it goes to a good cause. Most beer drinkers here in the states could care less about flavor they just want a brew that is tasteless, and that they can drink like water on the weekends. Anyone who would buy this is buying it to savor, and enjoy not guzzle.
This beer is even difficult to get over here in Belgium. You must make an appointment at the Monestary and notify them of the amount you are going to purchase; and they have a limit.
Personally I find many other beers in Belgium to be just as good, but it's a matter of taste. With so many to chose from I would go with something different. This one is not worth the price American's are paying for it.
Well I guess....
Considering what we have spent money on...
Tips we've left at Casinos, would have bought some of these...
Guess I would buy TWO....One for relative, and one to keep for a "collectible."
We still have an 8 pack of the "old" Coca-Cola, in bottles, that we bought years ago.
One bottle was drank for a special occassion....The rest are full.
yeah, PT was right.
"Pop a Top Again!" "Chug-a-lug-chug a-lug, makes ya wanna holler Howdy-Ho, burns your tummy don't cha know?" "There stands the glass, it's my first one today."
Like Non Picker Eater said..."Get over yourselves!" If someone wants to spend that amount on a six-pack, what the Hell does it matter to you?
I don't know why people complain.
Anyway, people overpay for stuff all the time like wine, cars, electronics and many other things.
When I was in basic training for the Army we would only get candy in our MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat.) Our drill sergeants would order us to throw all candy away, we weren't allowed to have stuff like that during basic training.
Some soldiers wouldn't of course and sneak the candy back to the barracks. I remember little bag of skittles, reese's, m&m's, etc., were selling for 20-50 dollars. That to me was ridiculous. I though have never had a much of a sweet tooth.
I do enjoy my beer though. I can get tipsy of some cheap milwaukee best or natural ice.
But to me drinking is not just about getting drunk. I love the taste, I love it with a nice steak. I love it during live sporting events, or over a game of pool or poker.
For something I value I'm willing to pay more if its of a better quality. Not all beer is the same. I can totally understand why someone would pay $85.00 for a six pack.
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