Ratebeer.com for two years in a row has proclaimed that beer drinkers prefer a Belgian beer over Swedish and German. Westvleteren 12 has been made by Trappist monks at St. Sixtus for approx. 150 years and produces 130,000 gallons/yr for the last 60 years. The beer has been noticed by tourists and is favored for its dark, strong, distinct taste. It dethroned the Swedish dark beer Narke Kaggen Stormaktsporter in 2011. The people of Vleteren benefit locally with restaurants, B&Bs, and shops that cater to the tourist overflow since the beer is not exported. On an average day lines of cars can stretch 3 miles and beyond waiting to get to the beer. Only 1 batch was sent to the US for charity to raise money to fix the abbey buildings, but then after work ceased so did the beer. A 6-pack goes for $85 US!!!