View source for Brasserie Cantillon

'''Website (English):''' http://www.cantillon.be [[File:Cantillon.png|right|240px|Brasserie Cantillon]]

'''Phone:''' +32 2 521.49.28

'''Address:'''  56 rue Gheude B-1070 Brussels 

== Overview ==
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 [[Musée bruxellois de la gueuze]]. They use 100% organic grains and hops in all of their beers.  Cantillon brews traditional lambic products, using 65% malted barley and 35% unmalted wheat.  Their beers are spontaneously fermented using a large coolship in the attic and fermented in Oak barrels. Their flagship products, which are discussed further below, include:
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* Fou Foune
* Gueuze
* Grand Cru Bruocsella
* Iris
* Kriek 100% Lambic
* Lou Pepe Framboise
* Lou Pepe Gueuze
* Lou Pepe Kriek
* Rosé de Gambrinus
* Saint Lamvinus
* Vigneronne

</div>
In addition, they brew a variety of beers for special occasions and experimental releases. Cantillon hosts [[Cantillon Zwanze Day|Zwanze Day]], [[Cantillon Quintessence|Quintessence]], and [[Cantillon Open Brew Days|Open Brew Days]].  They also participate in the [[Weekend of Spontaneous Fermentation]], the [[Nacht van de Grote Dorst - Night of the Great Thirst|Night of the Great Thirst]], and a variety of other festivals worldwide.

== History ==
The roots of Brasserie Cantillon stretch back even further than the brewery’s officially recognized founding date of 1900. According to Van den Steen in [[Books#Geuze_.26_Kriek:_The_Secret_of_Lambic_Beer|''Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer'']], the forefather of the Cantillon brewing family was a grain merchant named Auguste whose son, Paul, had no intention of continuing his father’s craft.  Auguste then began to search for a business that would suit his son’s brewing hobby. Since starting a brewery was too expensive, Paul made several attempts to take over breweries in the [[The_Language_of_Lambic#The_Town_of_Lembeek|Lembeek]] area. By 1894 Auguste had bought the Vandezande-Van Roy brewery located in Lembeek’s Hondzocht district. <ref name=GeuzeKriek>Jef Van den Steen, [[Books#Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer|Geuze & Kriek: The Secret of Lambic Beer]], 2012</ref>

By 1900, Paul Cantillon and his wife Marie Troch began a gueuze blending business in the industrial quarter of Cureghem which was part of the southern Brussels community of Anderlecht.  The brewery was located in a very busy area near the Bruxelles-Midi train station, the Mons boulevard, and the canal that ran through the city.  Jean-Pierre Van Roy, who wrote the forward to [[Books#La_Gueuze_gourmande|''La Gueuze Gourmande'']], calls the period between 1900 and 1937 the ''"première periode de la brasserie"''.  During these first thirty-seven years Cantillon never actually brewed a beer.  Instead, they bought lambic from a variety of producers in the area to blend and sell on their own considering Cantillon a ''biersteker'' (beer blender) and ''marchand de bières'' (beer merchant). They would house their beers at Gheudestraat 56-58 where the brewery is located today.<ref name=“LaGueuzeGourmande”>Nicole Darchambeau, [[Books#La Gueuze gourmande|La Gueuze gourmande]], 2006</ref>

Paul and Marie had four children, two sons named Robert and Marcel, and two daughters named Georgette and Fernande. The early years of Cantillon produced unblended lambic, mars, faro, gueuze, and kriek, and framboise. After the First World War, Paul was ready to expand the business and bring his two sons into the fold. Finally, in 1937 Paul, Robert, and Marcel purchased the Brasserie Nationale du Néblon located in Ouffet which had closed the previous year in 1936.  They moved the brewing equipment to its current location and the first batch of Cantillon’s own beer was brewed in 1938 shortly before the brothers were called to mobilize for World War II.<ref name=GeuzeKriek />

During the Second World War, with supplies in demand for the soldiers, it was more difficult to continue to brew beers.  The period during the war saw the brewery at a near standstill. The immediate post-war years did not see the same demand and production of beers as the 1930’s had.  To make matters worse, a massive heat wave in Belgium destroyed many brewery’s stocks including Cantillon’s. Sometime around 1950 the brewery began to recover and reached an all-time high production in 1955.  Paul Cantillon passed away in 1952, while his wife Marie lived until 1958.  Starting in 1960 the demand for traditional gueuze and lambic began to decline once again and Marcel sold his share to Robert and left the business. Robert, too, was on his way out of the brewing business when his only daughter, Claude, married Jean-Pierre Van Roy. By 1969-1972 Van Roy had taken the reigns of the brewery.

To keep the brewery afloat, Van Roy sweetened his gueuze with artificial sweeteners to keep up with current tastes.  Sadly, this did not help the brewery and it continued to operate at a loss. By 1975 Jean-Pierre began to abandon the artificial sweeteners and stopped the practice altogether by 1978. In 1978 he also decided to create a working exhibit dedicated to the art of lambic brewing. Opening Cantillon to the public allowed them to bring some extra revenue to help balance the books. It also helped to spread the word to both locals and to tourists. <ref name=GeuzeKriek></ref>

Sales began to increase.  Jean-Pierre continued to take steps to increase quality control, including discontinuing sales to stores that stored the beer upright. Storing the bottles upright caused the cork to dry out and let all the carbonation out. Jean-Pierre eventually brought his son, Jean, into the business in 1989.  Like his father, who had no formal brewing experience before working at the brewery, Jean Van Roy learned lambic on the job. With the lambic industry as a whole turning around, Van Roy began to pay off the past debts to the Cantillon family and by 1992 fully owned the brewery. 

In the years since 1992 the brewery has continued to flourish as one of the most sought-after producers of traditional lambic in Belgium.  Though still involved in the brewery, the elder Van Roy brewed his last official batch in 2009.  Jean Van Roy, who spent a full twenty years working beside his father, now directs the brewery’s operations after having officially taken over in 2003.  Unlike his father before him, who was rooted in the strictest tradition, Jean Van Roy has grown to experiment with a number of small batch lambics and fruits not native to Belgium like Finnish red currants and Danish blueberries. As of now, the future of the brewery seems to be quite stable with no less than seven grandsons of Jean-Pierre and Claude ready to carry on the Cantillon name. <ref name=“LambicLand”>Tim Webb, Chris Pollard, Siobhan McGinn, [[Books#LambicLand: A Journey Round the Most Unusual Beers in the World|LambicLand: A Journey Round the Most Unusual Beers in the World]], 2010</ref> <ref name=GeuzeKriek></ref>

In August 2014 Cantillon announced via Facebook that they would be expanding with enough space to double their production.  They purchased the building that once housed closed lambic blender [[Brasserie Limbourg]].  The increase in production will be realized during the 2016-2017 brewing season.

== Underground Cellar ==
In 2011, Jean started a long-term lambic aging process in cooperation with the city of Brussels. The city is providing the underground cellaring space free of charge where Cantillon plans to eventually age sixty- to eighty-thousand bottles in long-term storage over twenty years.  

This cellaring project is the largest of it's kind for aging lambic.  Chuck Cook at drinkbelgianbeer.com [http://drinkbelgianbeer.com/breweries/cantillons-bomb-shelter-cellar visited] in 2014 and wrote of his experience<ref name=“BombShelter”>Chuck Cook, [http://drinkbelgianbeer.com/about/charles-d-chuck-cook-the-belgian-beer-specialist Cantillon’s Bomb Shelter Cellar], 2014</ref>.

==Brewing Process==



== Beers ==
=== Gueuze ===
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*[[Cantillon 50 Degrees North - 4 Degrees East|50 Degrees North - 4 Degrees East]]
*[[Cantillon Amitié & Joie 40ème Anniversaire Super Gueuze|Amitié & Joie 40ème Anniversaire Super Gueuze]]
*[[Cantillon Brabantiae|Brabantiae]]
*[[Cantillon Classic Gueuze 100% Lambic|Classic Gueuze 100% Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Cognac Lambic|Cognac Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Crémant de Gueuze|Crémant de Gueuze]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée De Florian|Cuvée De Florian]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée du 120eme|Cuvée du 120eme]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée du 25eme|Cuvée du 25eme]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée I.P.A. 25 Jaar|Cuvée I.P.A. 25 Jaar]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée J. F. Vonck|Cuvée J. F. Vonck]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée U.G.M. Belair Gueuze 1997|Cuvée U.G.M. Belair Gueuze 1997]]
*[[Cantillon Crianza Helena|Crianza Helena]]
*[[Cantillon Goldackerl Gueuze|Goldackerl Gueuze]]
*[[Cantillon Gueuze Lombard BXL-BD Grand Cru|Gueuze Lombard BXL-BD Grand Cru]]
*[[Cantillon Gueuze Vélomoteur|Gueuze Vélomoteur]]
*[[Cantillon Heerengeuze|Heerengeuze]]
*[[Cantillon Hopduvel 10 jaar Gueuze|Hopduvel 10 jaar Gueuze]]
*[[Cantillon Jean Chris Nomad 2011|Jean Chris Nomad 2011]]
*[[Cantillon La Gueuze du Poje|La Gueuze du Poje]]
*[[Cantillon Lambic d'Haute Densité|Lambic d'Haute Densité]]
*[[Cantillon La p’tite Louise|La p’tite Louise]]
* [[Cantillon Loerik|Loerik (Lazy Gueuze)]]
*[[Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze|Lou Pepe Gueuze]]
*[[Cantillon Monk's Café Cuvée De Monk's Gueuze|Monk's Café Cuvée De Monk's Gueuze]]
*[[Cantillon Super Gueuze|Super Gueuze]]
</div>

=== Faro ===
* [[Cantillon Faro|Faro]]

=== Fruit ===
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*[[Cantillon Aigre de Kriek|Aigre de Kriek]]
*[[Cantillon Blåbær Lambiek|Blåbær Lambiek]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée du Cercle Industriel|Cuvée du Cercle Industriel]]
*[[Cantillon Zwanze 2014 (Cuvee Florian)|Cuvée Florian]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée Moeder|Cuvée Moeder]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée U.G.M. Belair Kriek 1997]]
*[[Cantillon Don Quijote|Don Quijote]]
*[[Cantillon Druivenlambik (Cuvée Neuf Nations)|Druivenlambik (Cuvée Neuf Nations)]]
*[[Cantillon Feestbier|Feestbier]]
*[[Cantillon Fou'Foune|Fou'Foune]]
*[[Cantillon Framboise|Framboise]]
*[[Cantillon Frambozenlambiek|Frambozenlambiek]]
*[[Cantillon Gouden Voeten Kriek Lambic|Gouden Voeten Kriek Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Groseille Lambic|Groseille Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Groseille à Maquereau|Groseille à Maquereau]]
*[[Cantillon Gueuzestraminer|Gueuzestraminer]]
*[[Cantillon Guy De Wit’s Fruitkorflambiek|Guy De Wit’s Fruitkorflambiek]]
*[[Cantillon Hopduvel 10 jaar Framboos|Hopduvel 10 jaar Framboos]]
*[[Cantillon Hopduvel 10 jaar Kriek|Hopduvel 10 jaar Kriek]]
*[[Cantillon Kersengueuze|Kersengueuze]]
*[[Cantillon Kriek 100% Lambic|Kriek 100% Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Lou Pepe - Framboise|Lou Pepe - Framboise]]
*[[Cantillon Lou Pepe - Kriek|Lou Pepe - Kriek]]
*[[Cantillon Mamouche|Mamouche]]
*[[Cantillon Menu Pineau|Menu Pineau]]
*[[Cantillon Monk's Café Cuvée Kriek|Monk's Café Cuvée Kriek]]
*[[Cantillon Mozart|Mozart]]
*[[Cantillon Noyaux|Noyaux]]
*[[Cantillon Pinot D'Aunis|Pinot D'Aunis]]
*[[Cantillon Pinot de Muscat|Pinot de Muscat]]
*[[Cantillon Pure Apricot|Pure Apricot]]
*[[Cantillon Riesling Blend|Riesling Blend]]
*[[Cantillon Rosé De Gambrinus|Rosé De Gambrinus]]
*[[Cantillon Reed Gueuze Muscat|Reed Gueuze Muscat]]	
*[[Cantillon Reed Gueuze Pinot Noir|Reed Gueuze Pinot Noir]]
*[[Cantillon Saint Lamvinus|Saint Lamvinus]]
*[[Cantillon Saint Lamvinus Unblended|Saint Lamvinus Unblended]]
*[[Cantillon Soleil De Minuit|Soleil De Minuit]]
*[[Cantillon Spuyten Duyvil|Spuyten Duyvil]]
*[[Cantillon Tyrnilambic Baie D’Argousier Lambic|Tyrnilambic Baie D’Argousier Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Vigneronne|Vigneronne]]
</div>

=== Oude Lambic ===
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*[[Cantillon Amarillo Lambic|Amarillo Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Amphora Lambic|Amphora Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Assemblage De L'amitie (Wild Friendship Blend)|Assemblage De L'amitie (Wild Friendship Blend)]]
*[[Cantillon Bière du Dragon|Bière du Dragon]]
*[[Cantillon Bourgogne Lambic|Bourgogne Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Bruocsella Grand Cru|Bruocsella Grand Cru]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée 1904|Cuvée 1904]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée Bonheur des Petits Loups|Cuvée Bonheur des Petits Loups]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée Des Champions|Cuvée Des Champions]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée du Petit Oiseau|Cuvée du Petit Oiseau]]
*[[Cantillon Cuvée Saint Gilloise|Cuvée Saint Gilloise]]
*[[Cantillon Florian Van Roy|Florian Van Roy]]
*[[Cantillon Goldackerl Lambic|Goldackerl Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Hoeve Lambic Fermier|Hoeve Lambic Fermier]]
*[[Cantillon Iris|Iris]]
*[[Cantillon Iris Grand Cru|Iris Grand Cru]]
*[[Cantillon La Dernière Cuvée Du 89|La Dernière Cuvée Du 89]]
*[[Cantillon LH12|LH12]]
*[[Cantillon Oude Lambic|Oude Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Pikkulinnun Viskilambic|Pikkulinnun Viskilambic]]
*[[Cantillon Sylvain Van Roy|Sylvain Van Roy]]
</div>

=== Jonge Lambic ===
*[[Cantillon Jonge Lambic|Jonge Lambic]]
*[[Cantillon Jonge Lambic Cascade|Jonge Lambic Cascade]]

==Cantillon Zwanze Day==
''Main article: [[Cantillon_Zwanze_Day|Cantillon Zwanze Day]]'' <br> 
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.

===Zwanze Series===
*[[Cantillon Zwanze 2008|Zwanze 2008]] (Rhubarb Lambic)
*[[Cantillon Zwanze 2009|Zwanze 2009]] (Elderflower Lambic)
*[[Cantillon Zwanze 2010|Zwanze 2010]] (Spontaneous Witbier)
*[[Cantillon Zwanze 2011|Zwanze 2011]] (Pineau d’Aunis Grape Lambic)
*[[Cantillon Zwanze 2012|Zwanze 2012]] (Rhubarb Lambic)
*[[Cantillon Zwanze 2013|Zwanze 2013]] (Spontaneous Abbey)
*[[Cantillon Zwanze 2014 (Cuvee Florian)|Zwanze 2014]] (Cuvee Florian - Dry Hopped Iris Grand Cru with Cherries)

== Breweriana ==
* [[Cantillon Coasters|Coasters]]
* [[Cantillon Glassware|Glassware]]
* [[Cantillon Signs|Signs]]
* [[Cantillon Everything Else|Everything Else]]

== Photos ==
<gallery>
File:BrasserieCantillon-1.jpg|375ml Bottle Tasting
File:BrasserieCantillon-2.jpg|Side Stored Magnums
File:BrasserieCantillon-3.jpg|Zwanze 13 and Gueuze
File:BrasserieCantillon-4.jpg|Around the Brewery
File:BrasserieCantillon-5.jpg|Barrels
File:BrasserieCantillon-6.jpg|Barrels
File:BrasserieCantillon-7.jpg|Barrels
File:BrasserieCantillon-8.jpg|Barrels
File:BrasserieCantillon-9.jpg|"Time does not comply with what is done without Him"
File:BrasserieCantillon-10.jpg|Crates at the Brewery
File:BrasserieCantillon-11.jpg|Mash Tun
File:BrasserieCantillon-12.jpg|Boiler
File:BrasserieCantillon-13.jpg|Around the Brewery
File:BrasserieCantillon-14.jpg|The Cellar
File:BrasserieCantillon-15.jpg|Barrels
File:BrasserieCantillon-16.jpg|Zwanze 12 Bottles
File:BrasserieCantillon-17.jpg|Around the Brewery
File:BrasserieCantillon-18.jpg|Wall of Gueuze
</gallery>

==Podcast==
<mp3player>http://traffic.libsyn.com/basicbrewing/bbr05-30-13cantillon.mp3</mp3player>

== Videos ==
<youtube width="250" height="200">50DGvgRwOJ0</youtube>
<youtube width="250"  height="200">WHZSWeiTkJw</youtube>
<youtube width="250" height="200">vDCoSJzP_18</youtube>

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Blenders & Brewers]]