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In de Vrede (Free House)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Westvleteren - Blonde |  | 4 |
| Westvleteren - 8 | | 4 |
| Westvleteren - 12 |  | 5 |
Visits Details
22 Dec 2014 (Stephen Harris)
Mid-afternoon on a Monday and this legendary venue is packed with beer pilgrims. Today, all three beers are available to drink in or take away (in packs of 6), which is not always the case here. We have an hour and I linger over just the one glass.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westvleteren - 12 | 10.20 | | Magnificent, strong, complex, dark beer. But is it the best beer in the world? |
10 Sep 2005 (Ian)
Worthy of a pilgrimage in itself. Purpose built bar next to the St Sixtus Abbey where the 3 Westvleteren beers are brewed. The Westy 12 has been voted the best beer in the world and after coming here, you can see why (although in my opinion the 8 is better). Normally we do not have bottled beer on this site, but this is too good to leave off the site and you can't buy these beers on draught.
Good efficient service and the croque monsieur was not bad either. Not too busy even on a Saturday lunchtime
On this visit, customers were limited to 12 bottles only to buy in the shop.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westvleteren - Blonde | 5.80 | | Hazy gold colour, thin lasting white head. Excellent yeasty/hoppy/citrus/grapefruit aromas. Fullish in mouth with again hit of lemon/lime juice and then drying hop/citrus finish. Stunning |
| Westvleteren - 8 | 8.00 | | For me the best of the 3 beers. Dark brown with thin lasting beige head. Blackberries/blackcurrants on the aroma. Quite full in mouth with some candy sugar, malt flavours are exquisite and then black cherries on the finish with chocolate. Some hoppy bite as well. Stunning. |
| Westvleteren - 12 | 10.20 | | Dark brown. Thin lasting beige head. Intense almost syrupy aroma of dark fruits. Touch of vanilla. Full in mouth with a wonderful mix of fruit and vanilla cream with hot alcohol finish. Some hops but they are masked by the heat. Black cherries amongst the raisin/sherry fruit. |
22 May 2005 (Martin)
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westvleteren - 12 | 10.20 | | 10.6% - not 12! €3.40 at time of writing. Almost syrupy texture in the mouth - richer still than the 8. Figs, dates and banoffee pie all lurk in this complex beer. Must try more but I may fall off my chair - doesn't taste quite as strong as it suggests, but... |
22 May 2005 (Martin)
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westvleteren - 8 | 8.00 | | €3 at time of writing. A burst of blackberries, dark fruit and coffee - in a rich and unctious. Yes this is a beer review, not a wine -though it does have hints of a brandy wine about it, with a slightly sweet edge. Really unlike any other beer I've tried - loved it and it'd work really well with gamey food or rich desserts. |
22 May 2005 (Martin)
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westvleteren - Blonde | 5.80 | | 5.8% - €2.50 at time of writing. Pale beer with a wonderful clean taste that gives way to citrus and resinous notes. Creamy without being overly rich and with enough alcohol to make you sit up and take notice. A great summer beer. Buy in bulk. |
21 May 2005 (Ian)
Opposite St Sixtus Abbey (signposted from the Westvleteren to Poperinge road) this modernish building is very popular with just about everyone. The plentiful parking and seating suggests that it can get very busy. The interior is pleasant with wood and glass in evidence and a good sized patio for better weather. Only serves the 3 bottled beers from the abbey from 6 fridges behind the bar. Basic food is available and a shop for the sale of the beer and other local produce
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westvleteren - Blonde | 5.80 | | Hazy golden blond colour. Tight white head, hoppy citric creamy nose, some yeast, creamyish in mouth with tart drying lemony citrus finish. Refreshing and wonderful |
| Westvleteren - 8 | 8.00 | | Dark ruby colour. Black/hedgerow fruits on nose with chocolate and coffee flavours balanced by slgihtly sweet fruit in mouth. Some toffee is detectable. Some dryness on end. A lovely brown beer. |
| Westvleteren - 12 | 10.20 | | Dark ruby. Sweet nose, lots of different fruits inlcuing raisins adn banana. Some alcohol heat with coffee, sweetness. Still hoppy to balance the sweetness, with a warming finsih. |
28 Dec 2004 (Ian)
Quiet just after Christmas, but this excellent glass and wooden structure houses some of the best beer in Belgium selling the Westvleteren beers from the St Sixtus abbey. Does light snacks. You can also buy the beer in bottles as off sales.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westvleteren - Blonde | 5.80 | | Exceptional blonde beer with good hops and citrus fruit |
| Westvleteren - 8 | 8.00 | | Excellent warm fruity malts and some hops give a good structure to this beer |
| Westvleteren - 12 | 10.20 | | Good alcoholic kick, but the malts and smoothness of the beer balance the strength |
About the In de Vrede
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 9 |
| 4 |
 | - |
 | - |
 | - |
The pub is found in Westvleteren, Belgium, 8640.
Situated about 2 kms from the village (follow signs to Abbaye St Sixtus) and opposite the abbey is the In de Vrede. It only sells the beer from the abbey as well as the cheese made there. Excellent inside and out with lots of wood, seating and a patio. Plenty of parking for cars, coaches and bikes means that this place can get packed on holidays
We have visited this pub 7 times, seen 3 different beers and tried them all.
Postcode: 8640