Ah then trying not to derail the topic. I'm leaning towards getting through the next few weeks by diving into some aged Cantillons and a couple of Drie Fonteinens. It never seems the right time...
I know it is not the idea of the question but my problem with ordering Westvleteren from one of the online 'hawkers' (arf) is that I'm guessing for around the same price you could buy a St Bernadus Abt 12, De Struise Pannepot and a couple of Rocheforts. Sure you don't have the cred of having drank Westvleteren but you've probably had a much better night.
I was about to post this here. I have had 3 bottles of Westvleteren and I just cannot accept that it is any nicer than the Rocheforts which you can pick up for 1/20th of the price in a Belgian supermarket.
I second De Struise. I have had them twice. Once in Red Rose Cafe in Bruges and one in Amere et L'Amere a Boire in Brussels (actually I think I had a pannepot on tap in North in Leeds too - three times). The base pannepot is superb but barrel aged ones are majestic. The red wine barrel aged bottle I had in Brussels was without doubt the nicest beer I have ever had and they charged me 10 Euros for a 37cl bottle and threw in my girlfriend's half a blonde for nowt. Not bad compared with what you would pay for the nicest glass of wine in the world.
I do love proper German lagers. Rehills had a couple of new ones in a few weeks ago (I rarely buy expensive beer anymore after voluntarily taking a year off work and then a 50% pay cut and then involuntarily lost my job to the corona) but for the purposes of this thread I will go grab a couple and feedback to you all. :)
When all this is over Belgium is top of the list for a holiday.
Edit: and if you all really want a treat get hold of
Schiender Weiss Avenitus EISBOCK. If you don't know the style it's basically the Avenitus (I agree with all of you - heaven) but freeze it and skim off the ice to make a higher ABV version. I genuinely gives you a little rush that is like taking a very mild pill. You can feel your forehead pulling your eyelids up. Amazing.
I am mates with Rob who is Blackjack Brewery and he told me he once did one for a beer festival. Started the day at 6% and kept skimming. By end of the night he reckons it was pushing 25% and people in tears after a 3rd of it. Ha ha.