Cantillon Zwanze Day

Zwanze Day Logo

History

Cantillon's Zwanze series of beers and events began in 2008 with a bottling of a special lambic with rhubarb added. Since then, Cantillon brewer Jean Van Roy has used his Zwanze series and the celebration days (since 2011) associated with them to bring lambic enthusiasts together around the world. Cantillon's website notes that the word zwanze in the Brussels dialect refers to a semi-sarcastic style of humor. That sense of humor is often reflected in the experimental nature of the beers, which are not always the most traditional of lambics. In the Flemish dialect, the verb zwanzen means to joke or to kid, and this has been reflected in some of the stories associated with the Zwanze beers over time.

Zwanze Day 2008

2008 marked the first official year for naming a beer Zwanze. Zwanze 2008, a lambic with rhubarb added, did not have an official day associated with it, but the beer itself was released both across Europe and North America.

Locations, 2008

There was no official release day or party for Zwanze 2008.

Zwanze Day 2009

Much like Zwanze 2008, Zwanze 2009 did not have an official release date and was quietly distributed to bars, restaurants, and festivals around the world. Zwanze 2009 is a lambic with elderflowers added. In 2010, Zwanze 2009 would become Mamouche, a regular addition to Cantillon's lineup.

Locations, 2009

There was no official release day or party for Zwanze 2009.

Zwanze Day 2010

As in the previous two years, Zwanze 2010 did not have an official release date and was distributed to bars, restaurants, and festivals around the world. Later, it was available for sale through some online Belgian beer shops. Zwanze 2010 is the first non-traditional/non-lambic beer of the series. It is a spontaneously fermented witbier.

Locations, 2010

There was no official release day or party for Zwanze 2010.

Zwanze Day 2011

Zwanze Day 2011 marked the first major change in the Zwanze Day tradition. Starting with Zwanze 2011, a lambic with Pineau D'aunis grapes added, a simultaneous worldwide release party and tapping would happen on Saturday September 17, 2011. As a reaction to the commoditization of previous Zwanze beers, the brewery decided to not sell any bottles of Zwanze 2011 and instead release it at a worldwide party.

The press release for Zwanze 2011 stated: "In keeping with our approach to brewing and selling beer, as well as out of respect for the product and the attitude implied with the name Zwanze, we don't want these vintages to become marketing tools designed exclusively to make a few bucks. A case in point: Zwanze 2010 was bottled with numbered stickers, and after one bottle had been sold at the brewery for 6 euros another one ended up on eBay less than a week later with a price tag of 80 euros. Because of my dedication to my work as a brewer and out of respect for the product itself, it is very important to me for prices to stay reasonable. Unfortunately, there are those out there who couldn't care less about spontaneous fermentation beer but who do care a lot about making easy money. For this reason, it has been decided that not a single bottle of Zwanze 2011 will be sold by Cantillon Brewery"

Zwanze 2011 was also the first beer of the series to have the majority of the product placed into kegs for on-site consumption. Approximately 2/3 of the Zwanze production for 2011 was put into barrels, whereas previous years had nearly 80% of the production go into bottles.

Locations, 2011

Zwanze Day 2012

Zwanze Day 2012 took the same basic form as Zwanze Day 2011, with a worldwide tapping and toast to the beer on December 1, 2012. Zwanze 2012 was a re-brew of Zwanze 2008, a lambic with Rhubarb added. It was available mostly on draught with a limited number of bottles being made available at the brewery for on-premises consumption. The beer that was served for Zwanze Day 2012 was not what had originally been intended for the day. The press release noted: "When in early April we brewed a top-fermentation beer which was to become Zwanze 2012, we hoped that it would be ready 3 or 4 months later so that we could organise another Zwanze Day sometime in September. However, since we are working in the very specific environment of traditional Lambic brewery where natural yeast flora reign supreme, even a top-fermented beer can take control of its own destiny. As such, on the occasion of a final tasting session at the end of June it became crystal-clear that the Zwanze 2012 would not be ready in time and that it would, we hope, become Zwanze 2013."

Locations, 2012

Zwanze Day 2013

As in the previous two years, Zwanze Day 2013 was structured as worldwide release party and toast on September 14, 2013. Zwanze 2013 represented the second departure from a traditional lambic for the event. The beer was an Abbey-style ale with lambic blended into it. It was available mostly on draught with a limited number of bottles being made available at the brewery for on-premise consumption. Zwanze Day 2013 also marked the debut of another new beer from Cantillon at some participating locations, Iris Grand Cru.

Locations, 2013

Zwanze Day 2014

Zwanze Day 2014 took the same basic form as the previous Zwanze Day celebrations. The beer brewed for the event was a second batch of Cuvée Florian. The beer is Iris Grand Cru (the base beer for Iris, without being dry hopped, then aged for three years) with cherries added. It was available mostly on draught during the celebration as well as in bottles for on-site consumption at the brewery.

Locations, 2014

Zwanze Day 2015

Zwanze Day 2015 took the same basic form as the previous Zwanze Day celebrations. The beer brewed for the event was the Wild Brusssels Stout, a spontaneously fermented stout first brewed in 2013. It was available mostly on draught during the celebration as well as in bottles for on-site consumption at the brewery.

Locations, 2015

Zwanze Day 2016

Zwanze Day 2016 took the same basic form as the previous Zwanze Day celebrations. The beer brewed for the event was the Cantillon Framboise, a raspberry lambic with blueberries and vanilla added. It was available mostly on draught during the celebration as well as in bottles for on-site consumption at the brewery.

Locations, 2016

Zwanze Day 2017

Zwanze Day 2017 took the same basic form as the previous Zwanze Day celebrations. The beer brewed for the event was the Zwanze 2017, a lambic with Oolong tea added. It was available mostly on draught during the celebration as well as in bottles for on-site consumption at the brewery.

Locations, 2017

Zwanze Day 2018

Zwanze Day 2018 took the same basic form as the previous Zwanze Day celebrations. The beer brewed for the event was the Zwanze 2018, a lambic aged in Italian wine barrels. It was available mostly on draught during the celebration as well as in bottles for on-site consumption at the brewery.

Locations, 2018

Zwanze Day 2019

Zwanze Day 2019 took the same basic form as the previous Zwanze Day celebrations. The beer brewed for the event was the Zwanze 2019, a two year old lambic brewed with a portion of smoked malts. It was available mostly on draught during the celebration as well as in bottles for on-site consumption at the brewery.

Locations, 2019

Zwanze Day 2020

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Zwanze Day 2020 was limited to locations in Europe. The beer brewed for the event was the Zwanze 2020, a lambic with beetroot. It was available mostly on draught during the celebration as well as in bottles for on-site consumption at the brewery.

Locations, 2020

References

← Cantillon