Brasserie Cantillon: Difference between revisions

Cantillon is the only traditional lambic brewery located within the city of Brussels.  Founded in 1900, today Cantillon operates both as a brewery and as a living museum, the [[Brussels Gueuze Museum|Brussels Gueuze Museum (Musée bruxellois de la gueuze)]]. Cantillon uses 100% organic grains and hops in all of its beers.  Cantillon brews traditional lambic products, using 65% malted barley and 35% unmalted wheat.  Cantillon's beers are spontaneously fermented using a large coolship in the attic of the brewery and fermented in oak barrels. The brewery's flagship products, which are discussed further below, include: [[File:BrasserieCantillon-18.jpg|thumb|right|Wall of Gueuze at Cantillon]]

In addition to these beers, Cantillon brews a variety of beers for special occasions and experimental releases. The brewery hosts [[Cantillon Zwanze Day|Zwanze Day]], [[Cantillon Quintessence|Quintessence]], and [[Cantillon_Public_Brewing_Sessions|Cantillon Public Brewing Sessions]].  Cantillon also participates in the [[Weekend of Spontaneous Fermentation]], the [[Night_of_the_Great_Thirst|Night of the Great Thirst]], and a variety of other festivals worldwide.

Cantillon has, over time, done more lambic and grape experiments than any single fruit. This list has been broken out of the fruited lambic and given its own section to reflect that. It does not include blends of lambic aged in specific wine barrels that have no fruit in them.

*[[Cantillon Y12 Trinidad|Y12 Trinidad]]

 

Since 2008, Cantillon has released a special beer known as Zwanze. The beer itself is usually an experimental beer that may or may not be brewed again.  Since 2011, there has been a coordinated celebration around the world to introduce this beer.

In early 2021, Cantillon started a club called the Zwanzer's Club. Members were selected among friends of the brewery (many of them being long time members of the [[Brussels_Gueuze_Museum|Brussels Gueuze Museum]]) in gratitude for their support over the years. Members were allowed to purchase an allotment of special bottles (more limited and usually dedicated to be opened on-site at the brewery's taproom) for takeaway, about once a year or so. With acceptance of this membership, one agreed that they would only purchase what they would drink themselves. No further memberships are accepted at this point in time. This is to avoid people reselling these special bottles on the secondary market at a premium, and also due to the limited amount of bottles available.