The brewery brews three traditional Trappist beers in small quantities to support the operations and philanthropic causes of the abbey.

[citation needed] The brewery continued to operate during both World Wars albeit at a reduced capacity.

[2] Brewing operations are carried out by the monks from the abbey, with a small team of secular workers for manual labour tasks.

Whilst the brewery is a business by definition (its purpose is to make money), it does not exist for pure profit motives and they do not advertise.

The monks have repeatedly stated enough beer is brewed to run the monastery, and production volumes will not be increased to meet market demand.

The 8 and 12 are bottle conditioned and considered to have a long shelf life, with some drinkers preferring the taste when the beers have been stored for several years.

The beer must be reserved online through the abbey's website, with registration weeks before the planned pick up date.

[6] Aside from the brewery itself, the only other official sale point for the beer is the abbey-owned In de Vrede,[7] a cafe and visitor's centre opposite the abbey.

[8] The brewery and the Belgian retailer Colruyt put a gift pack (6 bottles of Westvleteren 12, plus 2 glasses) on sale, available only in exchange for promotional coupons printed in selected media.

[9] On 4 November 2011 it was announced that 7760 gift packs (each containing 6 bottles of Westvleteren 12 and 2 glasses) would be imported by US-based Shelton Brothers, starting in April 2012.

[10] During a Shelton Brothers beer festival in June 2012, the gift packs were then made available to attendees at the price of $85.

[citation needed] Following these events, interest in Westvleteren's output increased and stories appeared of the abbey's stock being low, forcing the monks to reduce the amount of beer sold to each customer.

"[3] Despite the popularity, the monks of St Sixtus have continued to decline almost all interview and visit requests, and have not enjoyed all of the attention they have received.