An absolute dream come true…read more
I still can't believe they didn't shut the door in our faces on arrival. There we were, six young-ish dudes -- looking very, very thirsty -- checking in for two nights, one of them a humble bachelor celebrating his final days of freedom. They asked what our plans were for our stay. They laughed. They knew. They welcomed it. We conquered.
To say this place is perfect would be an understatement. It is better than perfect. Everything you've heard is true:
-- Three fridges stocked with every type of St. Bernardus beer in existence (cash donations accepted).
-- Large, comfortable rooms named after the various beers, some with air conditioning (although mine, the Pater 6, did not have A/C) all nicely decorated with beer art and warm colors.
-- A lounge with antique furniture and games, a chess board, books about beer.
-- Breakfast with cooked-to-order eggs, and three different types of cheese made specifically for the brewery.
-- Grab a bike and take the short but beautiful ride into the charming town of Watou. All for the truly incredible value of 110 Euros/night for a double room, 95 if you're traveling solo.
-- Did you wake up with a headache after emptying the fridges of their contents last night? No worries, Jackie knows, and she has aspirin waiting for you with the instructions to take it with the last beer you drank the previous night.
Don't forget to have a poke around downstairs (haha) and scope some of the St. Bernardus memorabilia from the days when they brewed Westvelteren 12 on behalf of the St. Sixtus Trappist Abbey. The old clay mugs are spectacular, as are the 3-liter commemorative Tour de France glasses.
Everything about this place is beyond exceptional. Everything. I can't wait to go back.