Cantillon Don Quijote

Description

Cantillon Don Quijote is a grape lambic from 2008 made with Italian table grapes. This beer was produced for Franco Fratoni (Livingstone Club, Florence, IT) and Umberto Xebeche Santi (Goblin Pub, Pavullo Nel Frignano, Italy).

History / Other Notes

The back label indicates that 120 bottles were made for each location. However, many of the bottles were never labeled, and most of the labeled bottles were never numbered, and it is unclear how many of these were 37.5cl or 75cl.

The numbered bottles include either a letter after the number (e.g. "70L" or "G65" - Label images are below). The L/G indicates whether it was for the Goblin Pub or Livingstone Club. At least two kegs were also filled for the Goblin Pub.

Unsubstantiated Stories

There are a variety of unknowns related to this beer:

Online beer sites often indicate that this beer is made with Vitis Labrusca (Fox or Concord) Grapes. This is an American grape variety and while they do grow in Europe, it's not clear if that is the grape that was actually used.
A second Don Quijote batch has been discussed, potentially for [Cantillon_[Zwanze_Day|Zwanze Day]]
Table grapes from Italy are not permitted for use in wine and cannot be exported. The origins of the grapes used in Don Quijote are unclear but are rumored to come from the countryside near the Goblin pub.
There is a photograph of a different, white label on a Don Quijote bottle that occasionally appears online. All photos of this label appear to come from the same bottle and the legitimacy of this label cannot be confirmed. It is possibly a homemade or limited run label, particularly as Umberto's Don Quijote bottles were never formally labeled.

If you have any additional information about this beer, please contact Bill or Adam.

Bottle Log

Bottle date (mm/dd/yyyy)	Cork Date	Bottle Size	Label / Notes	Image Link
11/20/2008	2008	750mL		N/A
N/A	2008	375mL		N/A

Photos

Livingstone Club Bottle
Goblin Pub Bottle