Cantillon Brabantiae
Description
Brabantiae is a gueuze that was finished in Port wine barrels, and made to honor the Belgian King Baudouin (7 September 1930 – 31 July 1993). It was released for the Koningsfeesten (King's Celebrations) in 1991.
History / Other Notes
Jean-Pierre brewed three batches of lambic (November 1987, February 1989, and January 1990). He first aged this lambic in 650-liter wine barrels ("pijpen" or "pipes") from Spain. Next, the batches were finished in Old Tawny Superior Port barrels from Portugal.
Francis De Hondt requested that Cantillon create a special cuvée to honor King Baudouin (also Duke of Brabant) to celebrate the Koningsfeesten. This particular anniversary was special as it represented a triple anniversary for the King (30 years of marriage, 40 years of reign, and the King’s 60th birthday). Brabantiae, which was already in barrels, was named and provided for this celebration.[1][2]
Indeterminable Bottle Date
There is conflicting information regarding the bottling date of this beer. Piet Sierens at www.wiels.nl presented the three lambic brew dates referenced above and declares that Brabantiae was bottled in December 1990.[2] However, according to Raymond Buren in Gueuze, Faro, et Kriek, Brabantiae was bottled on May 16, 1991. [3]
New blends
In March of 2016, Cantillon announced the arrival of freshly emptied Port barrels at the brewery. A total of fifty barrels of 500 liters each will be filled for a future release of the second batch of Brabantiae.
Jean Van Roy stated that "twenty-five years ago, in 1991, my father, Jean-Pierre Van Roy released a special Gueuze in response to a demand from the Province of Brabant. The "Brabantiae" was born. It was a Lambic matured in fresh Port barrels and refermented in bottles. To end this brewing season 2015/2016, we bought 50 Port barrels from 500 liters, freshly emptied. If everything goes as expected, after 2 years of maturation in these barrels and 1 year of secondary fermentation in the bottles, a new "Brabantiae" will be launched in 2019, 28 years after the first one !"
Port barrels being filled March 2016, photo courtesy of Don Lowman
Port barrels being filled March 2016, photo courtesy of Don Lowman
Port barrels being filled March 2016, photo courtesy of Don Lowman
Bottle Log
| Bottle date
(mm/dd/yyyy) |
Cork Date | Bottle Size | Label / Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ca.1990-1991 | N/A | 750ml | Disputed bottling dates | - |
| 11/19/2018 | Season 18/19 | 750ml | New label | - |
| 11/25/2018 | Season 18/19 | 750ml | New label | - |
| 02/12/2019 | Season 18/19 | 750ml | New label | - |
| 02/12/2019 | N/A | Keg | - |
Label
Label Text (translated):
With the participation of the province of Brabant
Photos
References
- ↑ Christian Laport, Gueuze d’Origine Contrôlée. Une «Brabançonne» qui ravit le palais
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Piet Sierens, http://www.wiels.nl/Opa-gids.txt
- ↑ Raymond Buren, Gueuze, Faro et Kriek, 1992