They came from Cobourg. They came from Oshawa. They came by train, by car and on foot. From all corners of the GTA, ale aficionados made the pilgrimage for a chance to get their hands on a rare beer widely regarded as the best in the world.

The beer, which sells for $76.85 for a six-pack of Westvleteren 12, comes from the Trappist abbey of St. Sixtus in Vleteren, Belgium. Previously it was available only at the abbey doorstep.

More than 150 buyers lined up at the LCBO store near Queens Quay and Yonge St. to try to snag the rare brew. The store had 120 six-packs Tuesday morning.

Two of the hopefuls, Peter Price and Mark Quigley, left Cobourg at 6 a.m., visions of the monks’ masterpiece on their minds.

“I guess we’re beer connoisseurs. Quality over quantity,” said Price. “There was a good story behind it. That’s half of it, I think.”

The beer is being sold internationally to help raise funds to repair the monks’ crumbling 19th century abbey. The LCBO is getting 1,404 six-packs.

Each pack includes two souvenir glasses along with bottles of strong dark ale. Star beer columnist Josh Rubin gave the brew four out of four stars.

“We sold out in less than four minutes,” said manager Robert Saliba. “You feel sorry for the last person.”

Hopeful customers were still flowing into the store well after the consignment had sold out, only to be turned away empty-handed.

The beer flew off the shelves at other outlets across Toronto. An LCBO spokesperson couldn’t say whether they were sold out province-wide, but stores reported lineups and sold out their stock in minutes.

One man bought a pack to split between his three kids — two bottles each.

“Maybe I’ll keep the glasses,” said the man, who didn’t give his name so as not to ruin the surprise.

Four stores in Toronto sold out their allotments Wednesday: the Queens Quay location, Dupont St./Spadina Rd., Hwy. 401/Weston Rd. and Yonge St./Summerhill Ave. The beer will roll out at other outlets throughout the week.

Full list of stores stocking Westvleteren 12

Ancaster - Golf Links & Hwy 403 (Meadowlands)

Kingston - Barrack & King

London - Richmond & Fanshawe Park (Masonville)

London - Wonderland & Southdale (Power Centre)

Oakville - Cornwall & Trafalgar

Ottawa - Rideau & King Edward

Ottawa - Hunt Club & Merivale (Nepean Crossroads)

Toronto - Queen & Coxwell (The Beach)

Toronto - Dupont & Spadina – Sold out

Toronto - Bayview & Sheppard (Bayview Village)

Toronto - Avenue & Lawrence

Toronto-North York Hwy 401 & Weston (Crossroads) – Sold out

Toronto - Bloor & Royal York (Kingsway)

Toronto - Yonge & Summerhill – Sold out

Toronto - King & Dufferin (Liberty Village)

Toronto - Laird & Eglinton (Leaside)

Toronto - Queens Quay & Yonge – Sold out

Toronto - Front & Bay (Royal Bank Plaza)

Toronto - King & Spadina

Toronto - Bay & Bloor (Manulife Centre)

Toronto - Yonge & Queen (Food Hall of Bay Store)

Guelph - Scottsdale & Stone Road West

Richmond Hill - Yonge & Hwy 7