St. Bernardus Brewery, brewery in Belgium
St. Bernardus is a brewery in the West Flemish village of Watou, Belgium, known for producing abbey and specialty beers based on Trappist recipes. The site includes historic production buildings with traditional brewing equipment and an on-site café open to visitors.
The brewery was founded in 1946 when the monks of Sint-Sixtus Abbey handed their beer production to outside brewers, passing on their recipes and brand rights. After 1992, when the abbey took back full control of its own production, St. Bernardus continued brewing under its own name.
The name St. Bernardus comes from the patron saint of the nearby Sint-Sixtus Abbey, which lent the brewery both its identity and its recipes. Walking through the brewery today, visitors can see old copper vessels and traditional equipment that reflect the methods still used in the brewing process.
Watou is in a rural area close to the French border and is most easily reached by car or bicycle. The site has an on-site café where visitors can try the beers directly, which makes a stop worthwhile even without a guided tour.
The recipe for St. Bernardus Abt 12, one of the brewery's best-known beers, is widely described as nearly identical to Westvleteren 12 from Sint-Sixtus Abbey, since both trace back to the same original monastic formulas. This shared origin makes a direct comparison a popular topic among beer enthusiasts who visit both places.
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