Beer lovers buy up rare Belgian brew

A rare Belgian beer previously available only at the abbey doorstep of the monastery where it is brewed was released in very limited quantities in Ottawatoday.

Local beer lovers lined up at the Rideau and Hunt Club/Merivale liquor stores to get their hands on one of just 1,404 six packs of Westvleteren 12. The rare beer wasmade available to selected LCBO outlets across the province.

"Its one of the rarest beers around and its one of the top rated too," said beer aficionado Robert Schmidt. "So its an opportunity to get a 12 and try it and stand in line with a lot of other people that were hoping to try it too."

Even at $76.85 per six-pack, the Trappist beer managed to sell out in minutes.The beer is named for the monks who brew it and hails from the Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren, which began brewing beer in 1838.

The particular 12 brand that went on sale in the province Thursday was first brewed in 1940 in copper tanks. The monksmanagedto keepthe copper tanks from thepilfering hands of invading Nazis. It was the only Trappist monastery to retain its copper tanks during the Second World War.

"I just heard about this beer and all the hype behind it, so its just a chance to try it." said Igor Grebenkov, who was able toget oneof the limitedTrappist six-packs. "But its a style Im really fond of very yeasty, lots of fruity flavours.

Asked when he planned todrink his expensive suds, Grebenkov said likely after his exams.

"So once Im finished Ill probably crack one open as a celebration," he said.

The beer is being sold internationally to raise funds to repair the monks crumbling 19^th Century abbey.