St Bernardus: from Westvleteren contractor to Belgium's best brewery? | The Craft Beer Channel

Brad and Jonny visit one of their favourite traditional Belgian breweries, and find a modern and vibrant place with a stunning ROOF TERRACE and of course some of the best Abbey-style beers they've ever tasted.
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[@mrougelot]

One of your best videos for sure. Too many people tend to discard St Bernardus for not having the Trappist or indeed Abbey badges, but really who gives a damn when their beer is that good. And what a brewery, I would never have expected such modernity and interactivity from them. I guess one more for my list of must sees.

[@onyva3256]

There is a fabulous brasserie on the top floor. It makes for the perfect trip: brewery tour, crates from the shop, lunch in the brasserie - the only regret being that the 12 on draught is even better than the bottle.

[@davidh2323]

Lovely video and i like Marco's description of a beer that goes beyond beer geeks. Reminds me of this time last year of taking my parents to Bruges and placing a St Bernadus Christmas on draft infront of my step dad. I'm not sure in their 20+years together that my mother ever experienced the look in his eyes upon his first sip!

[@tenchman4526]

I almost didn’t watch this, not being a drinker of Belgian beers (mainly due to limited access on the other side of the world), but how glad I am that I did! Excellent as always, production values always increasing, but what a great and interesting story. I’ll go and seek out said beers and see for myself. Thank you.

[@danieltaylor3737]

This is both amazing and educational - never realized I've been pouring my St Bernardus wrong all these years.

[@chrisgreen6259]

Wow, this really opened my eyes. Going by the brand alone, you'd think it was a big, old school brewery but it's actually cutting edge and beautiful - and their beer is delicious. Deserves to be enjoyed worldwide, Pater 6 and Abt 12 are two of the finest Belgian beers out there.

[@oneminutebeerreviews6628]

Me and the missus were there in late March, we walked to St Sixtus and we stayed in the B&B for 3 nights, amazing place

[@Tatterdash71]

Definitely going to get some St. Bernardus for after work tonight! I love the inspiration I get from your videos!

[@TheJohnnyh61]

Fantastic video, very interesting must go and get a bottle

[@mikeslostworld5178]

I love these breweries tours you guys do. Seeing places that I'll never get to visit.😊

[@bobsylvester3190]

Fantastic! Always a must stop when in Belgium. You didn’t mention the guesthouse! Yes, you can stay there.

[@nicolasemboloni2734]

Left from Brussels last week, at the dutyfree shop at the airport I got a 0,75 Abt12 bottle (and the monk on the label winks... ;-) )

[@86eoghan]

Amazing to see how they've shifted up a couple of gears in terms of beer tourism. I went there for a tour 7 years ago (for my 30th) and it was a very simple walk around guided by someone from the brewery, followed by a few beers in their old "brown café" tasting room. I'd be fascinated to do a comparison now with the new set-up. Have no excuse really, only living (relatively) down the road...

[@meschadarc141]

you made a video i loved. the perfect blend of enthusiasm and awe. i've never been a beer drinker, but i drink st-b's abt, and usually let it rest in the cellar, and even let it age for a year or longer, even up to five years or more. in the glass it generates a rewarding experience! and bernadetje is one of the best tripels around, period.

[@onyva3256]

A five star video gents. Obviously helps that the 12 is my favourite beer, notwithstanding the legend round the corner.

[@IMakeBeer]

Phenomenal video! This beer was my introduction into “Trappist” beer. I do the tours at Genesee Brewery in NY and theirs looks awesome. Great job again guys.

[@SimonC.-bv5vl]

Drinking ABT 12, re-watching this doco, and enjoying both very much.

[@cpreston8996]

If this place wasn't on my 'to-do' list, it is now. I love the blend of traditional beers served in a clean, modern environment.

[@daikidetbilisi]

So 1000 bottles of St Bernardus 12 before the monk winks at you… but how many of these do you need to drink before you start winking at the monk? I imagine a fair fewer. Love these guys - obviously the 12 is up there with the other traditional styles but the Wit is incredibly delicate, floral and delicious. I also tried the 12 on nitro in Plymouth, wasn’t as good but still excellent.

[@davidellis6468]

Well gents, you've done some absolutely cracking documentaries over the last few years, this one takes the biscuit in my opinion. If this doesn't win awards then the judging panel don't know what they're doing. Bravo!

[@MichaelAndersen_DK]

Oh man, had I know this, we would have visited St. Bernadus place instead of driving all the way to Chimay (no offense, but that place has nothing to offer compared to this) when we were in Belgium a few years ago. Next time!

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

The trappist cafes are all a little bit of a letdown. Except the westy 12 ice cream....

[@vikramjitsingh4538]

you fellas rock......Jonny n Brady.....as 2023 winds up......we, the fans of the craft beer channel would like to thank you for showing us some of the best breweries around the world.............wish you happy and relaxing happy holidays.......cheers and have a good one matey.......ta

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Thanks so much! And thanks for all the comments over the Year!

[@vlamsamsam]

Very beautiful documentary about the St Bernardus brewery. I’ll plan, thanks to this documentary, a daily trip with some friends in the area and have some delightful beers

[@JohnL9013]

Visiting St. Bernardus in 2018 and staying over was one of the beer highlights of my life. Looks like the tour is even more impressive now than it was then! One of my all time favorite brands I will always be loyal to.

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

We can't wait to go back and not have to work!

[@roymcneill96]

I've visited there so many times, stayed at the B&B 9 or 10 times, met Marco a couple of times & still learnt stuff I didn't know. Great video guys.🍻

[@tdtm82]

Very close to De Struise; Oust Vleteren which is near West Vleteren and the opposite side of Poperinge. Bossuit-Kortrijk where the braumaster is from is where Alvinne is. More of this please. Great stuff.

[@timgentier5087]

Watched this again and you're so right ❤

[@vsznry]

Beautiful.

[@collie27]

I still cannot believe I can just go into Tesco and buy this in 2023. As emblematic as Comté cheese being in every supermarket of how UK tastes have developed since the 90s

[@tedhodge4830]

If it makes you feel better, I can buy this in the Americas all day long, and quaff it longer, and I can assure you that I have (ironically, not in the Commonwealth of Canada's government run shops). I also enjoyed some Comte cheese recently along with some British cheeses as well on my charcuterie boards with salamis and chorizo. Some day I will sit in your country and taste that damn mythical "real ale."

[@payneee9082]

Excellent video, to echo a few comments one of the best!

[@roccodimiccio5199]

the tripel is my favourite beer of all time

[@mmertesfp]

This was awesome, and when I saw the thumbnail the beer looked familiar, and it turns out my father had brought me a handful of these beers from a gift pack (I'm in Canada) so I drank an Abt 12 for the first time and it was excellent. Cracking a Wit now. Keep up the great content.

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

I wish I could drink it for the first time again!

[@BrewabitRick]

Seriously fantastic video once again. I love that breweries beers and what a backdrop for a interview cheers 👍🍻

[@tripel9505]

Thoroughly enjoyed this one! Ya'll are making me want to plan trip over there now. Looking forward to more of these. Cheers~

[@domb5900]

Fantastic stuff. Favourite beer. We've been getting it for a very long time in Quebec. Been drinking this beer for at least 20 years.

[@petargeorgiev-2024]

Amazing video, folks!! 32:30

[@VloggingBastendo]

What a great video. I was at West Vleteren this summer. Me, my brother and a friend were drinking there and we red a story about the trappist beers in Belgium and I was surprised St Bernardus wasn't one of them. Nice to know now the history. I really want to visit them. Their christmas ale is amazing.

[@Jaap-Relou]

One of my ever absolute favorites, abt 12, on my absolute favorite day of the week, on my favorite channel! Enjoying a Belgian strong blond while making vegan hamburger for my lady and myself. Whats not to love? Cheers to this wonderful trip and episode. Enjoy your weekend 🍻🥳🤟🏼

[@MBr___]

I biked to Westvleteren from Poperinge on my last trip to Belgium. Thought that was awesome, but little did I know that this gem was also around the corner! Damn, next time I guess... :)

[@viper29ca]

Another one to add to the European vacation, whenever that happens. At this rate, I am probably going to need about 6 weeks!

[@SchaeferJamesE]

Terrific video. Keep up the good work.

[@twistedtxb]

Incredibly interesting. Thanks so much for doing this!

[@Adrian.Kirk.]

I have never been to Belgium. I want to go there now.

[@FatherEarth93]

What an awesome video! Sint Bernardus' 'numbered' beers and Tripel are hallmark representatives of their style and always a great choice when in a bind! I love the Sint Bernardus 8 Prior, while I am not really a Dubbel kind of guy. Thanks, guys!

[@Jango1989]

Brilliant video! I love your documentaries and brewery tours 🍻

[@ya4dang1]

My all time favourite beer St Bernardus abt 12

[@Ferrybobbins]

Excellent work Gents and definitely what you do best. Love to hear the stories behind things like this and the pride and passion the producers have. Now off to hunt for a bottle (or two).

[@SankaraHomeBrewing]

Thanks for sharing. Hope to make it over to that brewery in the future. Cheers!

[@jamesgibson3838]

Had the Christmas beer in the poschenkelder in brussels this day last year. Great video guys and a great brewery ❤

[@liambrown911]

Wowsers! Congratulations on such a fantastic video Gents. Well worth the wait. Great insight into the history of the brewery. Using this to convince a few friends to take a trip next year.

[@pv4669]

Wonderful video. Thanks guys.

[@Herknungr]

What a great film again guys! Their beers are so amazing, complex tastes leaving you wanting more and more. Their Abt 12 is very special!

[@Jannes-pj4cd]

Great job on the documentary, I’ve loved every second of it. Now I’m even more hyped to go there. I’ve definitely added it to my beer travelling list.

[@garytong3395]

Great video guys! Seriously one I'd watch a few times. And to think I've driven past many times and never knew it was there! Many thanks!

[@swchall]

Another excellent video, thanks lads 👌👏

[@eduardosanchez9341]

Amazing video! Can't wait to come back to the brewery.

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Go to, Poperinge Beer Festival most years in October, and St Bernadus are there every year, and all the Beers are their on Draught too 🍺👍😀

[@stefanmccurley5951]

This video was absolutely outstandingly amazing ❤

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Thanks so much!

[@dannyganelin9777]

My first "serious" beer that I tried. To this day I'm astounded that it is sold in supermarkets here in Israel and it's not rare to find on tap...

[@johnoberto2659]

Super cool. Belgian beer is king

[@pczTV]

I lived in Belgium in the late 90s and , using the late Michael Jackson’s book, travelled the country sampling the various products. This beer was not on the radar. In fact, I just thought it was a poser until this video. I will definitely go out and buy some to sample it.

[@terryhodkin1851]

Great video. Hope you could do one at 3 Fontaine or Tilquin one day

[@StBernardus]

You guys rock. What a great video. Thank you very much!

[@mickmac8182]

Great video guys. Really amazing brewery. Belgium is not my favourite style but I so want to try this now. 😂. Thank you for great content.

[@Prognosis__]

I have been to Belgium 3 times yet never went there though it’s one of my favourite brews

[@OlBeerBar]

Next time when you're around, do pass by my bar. I'll happily tell you all about my 46-faucet dispensing system and all the challenges it brought with it. There's no real knowledge about doing it without messing up the beer, so I'll happily share my experience!

[@StBernardus]

Couldn't agree more 🙂

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Your bar looks incredible! We will come by for SURE next time.

[@igmu-dn6ri]

Popped in the shop just a few days ago to stock up before returning to Blighty. Really would like to spend more time there - with a non-drinking driver for company!

[@buridanjwh]

Until 2008, i loved st. bernardus 12, it has an awesome mouthfeel, it was delicious and felt like a cheesecake as a beer. after that, or around then, it changed, perhaps before, but that is when i noticed and it became a little more watery and thinner, still delicious, but then it fell out of my weekly tipple to an occasional purchase.

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Hmm this is surprising. Not aware of any real change that happened then. Would have been the old brewery and same recipe....

[@buridanjwh]

@@TheCraftBeerChannel That's what they say. But it might have been a processing change or a filtration change that changed the mouthfeel, because while it is still good these days, the mouthfeel is not as good, though tbh i didn't save any to show this, and those bottles would have changed anyway.

[@dredh3052]

That was awesome! I have to go there when I visit Belgium again. For now, I will go hunt the winking monk on my local store ;)

[@aphexart]

I found out about the story when i bought a more than 40 year old westvleteren, and it looked like a st. Bernardus bottle. And i wrote the brewery what the deal was. Btw, a 40 year old abt12 is a beer experience of a lifetime!!

[@kanefrazer3022]

Brilliant video. Hope you are still doing your Xmas beer video ❤️

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

We sure are. Live next week!

[@MF-hz6xx]

It’s sensational beer and so widely available in the states.

[@geoffpm]

Another exceptional episode ! Don’t ride a bike after a 10%

[@Jaedon-green]

Take me to Watou… and I don’t need a return ticket.

[@steviebeavie1]

St Bernardus is no way not as good as westvleteren. Been tasting wine in this area for 40 years +, St Bernardus is absolutely fantastic beer. More of a wine guy myself but important to know that the exclusivity aspect introduced by Westvleteren (not available in shops and mind numbing boring purchase pursuits) does not make it better, it still tastes like a 1980s remote control put through a blender with some fizzy water and vinegar added.

[@treyokelly9662]

Now I need to search for a winking monk bottle

[@patrickobrien8520]

Was fairly partial to Watou Wit beir from van Ecke up the road.

[@steventopping106]

You should visit the Duvel brewery, I visited in September. Absolutely loved it!

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

One day we hope to!

[@ldoumen9904]

It's like a Christmas cake in a fluid state...

[@Jaedon-green]

Any chance of a video focusing on mash temperatures at some point? What different temps do to mouth feel etc. Does it really make that much difference or is it all down to the grain and matching the mash temp that’s best for that grain?

[@Hannes_Lind]

Lets add card-monks to the list next to admin-monks.

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

And security monks.

[@Hannes_Lind]

Yeah, and winking monks!@@TheCraftBeerChannel

[@zeveroarerules]

W-Vleteren did change their yeast, so it's no longer the same as the current W-Vleteren. DMS is always included in the Abt 12. It's my favourite for making "stoofvlees", but not a style I like to drink. Very recognisable for me though.

[@paskrell]

I think you guys need to try the Vit beer properly. It is made after the original recipe. It’s a delight at the level of an alagaash

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Oh we have and we love it but we're focusing on the Abbey story for this vid

[@danytalloen]

As a Belgian myself, from the same region (around 30 km away), I just want to point out that when you say that monks moved from France to Belgium, that was not really correct, since at that time the french region they originally were located in was still Flemmish.

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

A fair point - we should have said "what is now france"

[@headweasel93]

Gotta go to Birra Nursia in Norcia, Italy.

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Will look into it!

[@Srups11HD]

Jonny: *Matt Berry voice* Entrepreneur…

[@tortap]

St Bernadus Abt 12 is a fine beer. But better than Chimay, Westmalle, Rochefort? Lets agree they have some stiff competition

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Well, only one of those breweries makes a Quad, and while Rochefort at its best can't be beaten, it's pretty inconsistent in our experience. ABT 12 is world class every batch

[@daikidetbilisi]

Id argue its stiffest competitor (apart from the obvious one) would be Oostvleteren 12 by De Struise - it’s essentially a flatter bourbon barrel aged version of this. I still prefer Bernardus 12 though.

[@tortap]

@@daikidetbilisi I will make a note of that. Not easy to find where I live

[@eDinsideTV]

Good story, but just another non related craft beer ^^ i mean i'm fine with St-Bernadus (the label's so fun n' i Can get it a the supermaket ). Anyway i guess i'm stuck on the channel name. Lets show some real craft beer :)

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Our definition of craft beer is this: Craft beer is a race to the top. It is brewed with the intention of putting flavour and process above cost. It can be innovative or traditional, served in any format, and does not have to come from an independent or small brewery - but it must not do damage to the industry’s reputation or any other brewery’s freedom to produce beer to the best of its ability. As such, St Bernardus is an excellent example of craft brewing.

[@janpcs]

Is it so hard to pronouce Westvleteren the right way? You even add a vowel in between the V en the L that shouldn't be there. It isn't Westveleteren.

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

I didn't. I just use a hard T cause I'm British!

[@starfishprime6330]

Camera guy needs to chill out with all the movement. Almost making this unwatchable in certain areas

[@knightarnaud]

St Bernardus is in my humble opinion by far the most overrated beer in Belgium. It's good beer, but man it's nothing compared to beers like Westvleteren or Rochefort.