Belgium
Ownership: Abbey of Saint Sixtus, West Flanders — monk-owned, never commercially sold
Known for: Repeatedly voted the best beer in the world. Available only by phoning the abbey and collecting in person. No label, no advertising, no compromise.
History: Brewed by the Trappist monks of Saint Sixtus since 1838. Westvleteren refused to industrialise, refused to licence, refused to grow — on monastic principle. You cannot buy it in a supermarket. You phone the abbey, book a time slot, drive to West Flanders, and collect it yourself. Production is capped because the monks brew only what they need to sustain their community. It is the ultimate anti-brand, and the most coveted beer in Europe.
