Hard to say if it was legendary. On tap when I was there was also Gueuze, Saint Lamvinus & Vigneronne IIRC. There were also a number of bottles that people were clamouring for (I remember Lou Pepe, as that ran out while I was standing at the bar).
Personally I don't think Zwanze needs to be coupled with a crazy list that amplifies the excitement to unreasonable levels. I kind of like that the event has matured a bit where it's a special night, but not one that is so nutty that there are lineups (and in turn disappointments). If there was a line last night I would have just walked on right by. Since it was calm I went, which is something I enjoyed and made it unlike previous years - in a positive way.
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Zwanze
We got there early and lined up pre-opening, which we apparently didn't need to do. We had a great time, had a very chill afternoon and enjoyed a bunch of beers, a tuna sandwich and some fried chicken! I feel like the no ticket thing may have back fired - people just assumed it would be crazy and stayed away maybe? They kind of can't win - The previous Cantillon even sold out super fast and people grumbled about the price or not getting a ticket. No tickets for this and people complained about it! 
I enjoyed the Zwanze beer but enjoyed the Cantillon Geuze more. The change to try sample pours of some of the Oxbow and Cascade stuff was also nice rather than commit to a bottle. the Oxbow 3 Barrels Deep was excellent. Some nice Ontario offerings as well.
Anyways, my two cents. Had a lovely day of it.
I enjoyed the Zwanze beer but enjoyed the Cantillon Geuze more. The change to try sample pours of some of the Oxbow and Cascade stuff was also nice rather than commit to a bottle. the Oxbow 3 Barrels Deep was excellent. Some nice Ontario offerings as well.
Anyways, my two cents. Had a lovely day of it.
Bottles have always been available by the pour at this event.
So... I can maybe rearrange some planned travel to Europe in late September to be in Brussels for Zwanze 2018. Anybody have any insight/experience on whether it's worth the effort? It would mean extending my trip by about 4-5 days, which isn't negligible from a budget/vacation time perspective. I certainly love the idea of being there for Zwanze day, but is the area and associated events a shit show?
Just circling back to this, Zwanze at Moeder Fontainas was aweseome!! Busy but service handled it fine. Burlesque performers, insane Cantillon tap list, great night!! And the 3 days of drinking at Cantillon and 3F leading up to it were incredible.
2024's now biennial Edition will be held on Saturday April 20th at Birreria Volo on College.
This edition's Zwanze is sea lettuce.
2022's menu saw 5 oz(?not certain) pours priced at $14.
From Cantillon's Facebook,
A little over a year ago, we were in Brittany to submerge a few dozen bottles of Gueuze in the sea as a collaboration with Sylvain, an abalone farmer in Finistère. These bottles are still fermenting at a depth of 10 meters in the company of his charming creatures.
Once a month, Sylvain brings up the cages to add various types of algae for the mollusks to feed on. We tasted these same algae in tartare during our visit, and the idea came to us to try them in maceration with Lambic to create a partnership between the brewery and Sylvain's company. After several attempts, it turned out that seaweed, specifically the sea lettuce, gave the best result.
The beer is, of course, very different from the fruity, vinous, or floral tastes traditionally found in our products. This Zwanze 2024 exudes aromas of exotic fruits; it has notes of iodine with a slight salinity reminiscent of oysters. In short, a very different beer from what we are used to discovering at Cantillon - a true Zwanze!
My addition: There is a joke in here, but it was disguised enough to remain classy, but still very much planned (in my estimation)
This edition's Zwanze is sea lettuce.
2022's menu saw 5 oz(?not certain) pours priced at $14.
From Cantillon's Facebook,
A little over a year ago, we were in Brittany to submerge a few dozen bottles of Gueuze in the sea as a collaboration with Sylvain, an abalone farmer in Finistère. These bottles are still fermenting at a depth of 10 meters in the company of his charming creatures.
Once a month, Sylvain brings up the cages to add various types of algae for the mollusks to feed on. We tasted these same algae in tartare during our visit, and the idea came to us to try them in maceration with Lambic to create a partnership between the brewery and Sylvain's company. After several attempts, it turned out that seaweed, specifically the sea lettuce, gave the best result.
The beer is, of course, very different from the fruity, vinous, or floral tastes traditionally found in our products. This Zwanze 2024 exudes aromas of exotic fruits; it has notes of iodine with a slight salinity reminiscent of oysters. In short, a very different beer from what we are used to discovering at Cantillon - a true Zwanze!
My addition: There is a joke in here, but it was disguised enough to remain classy, but still very much planned (in my estimation)
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El Pinguino
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Sounds interesting!
I rarely drink lambics anymore, because of the insane pricing.
Regular beers are getting pricey as it is.
I rarely drink lambics anymore, because of the insane pricing.
Regular beers are getting pricey as it is.
This is why I really wish Boon's geuzes would come back to Ontario. 3 Fonteinen's version is better, but sometimes you would rather save some money and get a pretty good one.
In a nearby, slightly higher priced jurisdiction, 3 Fonteinen's geuze is 75% more than Boon's. Using some rough math, a geuze Boon in Ontario would be around six to seven dollars. I like Loons as much as the next guy, but this would be the beer I would want in the LCBO more than any other.
In a nearby, slightly higher priced jurisdiction, 3 Fonteinen's geuze is 75% more than Boon's. Using some rough math, a geuze Boon in Ontario would be around six to seven dollars. I like Loons as much as the next guy, but this would be the beer I would want in the LCBO more than any other.
https://birreriavolo.com/pages/events#c ... t-luifcxy4
On Saturday, April 20th from 11am-2am Birreria Volo (612 College St.) will be one of the 85 locations in the world to host Zwanze Day, an annual release of a limited one-off lambic beer made by Brasserie Cantillon (Brussels, Belgium). There will be no advanced tickets, reservations or door admission fees. Regular food menu will be available. The following beers will be available on tap until supplies last:
TAP LIST
Cantillon Zwanze ‘24 (Lambic w. Sea Lettuce)
Cantillon Rosé de Gambrinus '24 (Lambic w. Raspberries)
Cantillon Grand Cru Bruocsella '24 (Unblended Aged Lambic)
Cantillon Magic '24 (Lambic w. Raspberries, Blueberries & Vanilla)
Cantillon Gueuze '24 (Lambic Gueuze)
Cantillon Nath '24 (Blend Of 1 & 2 Year Old Lambic w. Rhubarb)
Cantillon Cuvée Saint-Gilloise '23 (Dry Hopped Lambic)
Cantillon Kriek '24 (Lambic w. Cherries)
Cantillon Sang Bleu '24 (Lambic w. Cameras Berries)
Cantillon Vigneronne '23 (Lambic Aged On White Wine Grapes)
Cantillon Saint Lamvinus '23 (Lambic Aged On Red Wine Grapes)
BOTTLE POURS
Antitoot Artemisia Absinthium (Farmhouse Ale w. Wormwood)
Auval Arriera Pays (Farmhouse Ale)
Auval Cuvee Madeleine (Farmhouse Ale)
Auval Espinay (Farmhouse Ale)
Cantillon Fou Foune (Fruited Lambic w. Apricot)
Cantillon x Radikon Racine (Fruited Lambic w. Wine Grapes)
Cantillon x Cantina Giardino Sophia (Fruited Lambic w. Wine Grapes)
Tilquin Pechè Jaune (Fruited Lambic w. Peaches)
Tilquin Gueuzerable (Lambic w. Maple Syrup)
Tilquin Reinette Toile (Fruited Lambic w. Apples)
Tilquin Lambics Vieillis en Fûts de Cognac (Lambic Aged in Cognac Barrels)
Tilquin Cuvèe Jean-Paul (Lambic Gueuze)
On Saturday, April 20th from 11am-2am Birreria Volo (612 College St.) will be one of the 85 locations in the world to host Zwanze Day, an annual release of a limited one-off lambic beer made by Brasserie Cantillon (Brussels, Belgium). There will be no advanced tickets, reservations or door admission fees. Regular food menu will be available. The following beers will be available on tap until supplies last:
TAP LIST
Cantillon Zwanze ‘24 (Lambic w. Sea Lettuce)
Cantillon Rosé de Gambrinus '24 (Lambic w. Raspberries)
Cantillon Grand Cru Bruocsella '24 (Unblended Aged Lambic)
Cantillon Magic '24 (Lambic w. Raspberries, Blueberries & Vanilla)
Cantillon Gueuze '24 (Lambic Gueuze)
Cantillon Nath '24 (Blend Of 1 & 2 Year Old Lambic w. Rhubarb)
Cantillon Cuvée Saint-Gilloise '23 (Dry Hopped Lambic)
Cantillon Kriek '24 (Lambic w. Cherries)
Cantillon Sang Bleu '24 (Lambic w. Cameras Berries)
Cantillon Vigneronne '23 (Lambic Aged On White Wine Grapes)
Cantillon Saint Lamvinus '23 (Lambic Aged On Red Wine Grapes)
BOTTLE POURS
Antitoot Artemisia Absinthium (Farmhouse Ale w. Wormwood)
Auval Arriera Pays (Farmhouse Ale)
Auval Cuvee Madeleine (Farmhouse Ale)
Auval Espinay (Farmhouse Ale)
Cantillon Fou Foune (Fruited Lambic w. Apricot)
Cantillon x Radikon Racine (Fruited Lambic w. Wine Grapes)
Cantillon x Cantina Giardino Sophia (Fruited Lambic w. Wine Grapes)
Tilquin Pechè Jaune (Fruited Lambic w. Peaches)
Tilquin Gueuzerable (Lambic w. Maple Syrup)
Tilquin Reinette Toile (Fruited Lambic w. Apples)
Tilquin Lambics Vieillis en Fûts de Cognac (Lambic Aged in Cognac Barrels)
Tilquin Cuvèe Jean-Paul (Lambic Gueuze)
Interesting, it's typically been a September thing
They switched to the spring biennial format. They said harvests and timing were the issues. I think they were overworked for that time of the year.
Thanks for the update. Nice to see Volo keeping things chill with the no ticket thing.
Banger of a Cantillon tap lineup!
Banger of a Cantillon tap lineup!
Great lineup, but some of the rarer stuff was $19 for 3 ounces.
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El Pinguino
- Seasoned Drinker
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That's just silly pricing.
I wonder if that is hyper inflated markups or actually reflective of the relative cost of importing and selling some of the harder to get variations.
I wonder if that is hyper inflated markups or actually reflective of the relative cost of importing and selling some of the harder to get variations.
The $19 was only for two specific ones IIRC. Most of the bottle pours were more like $10-12 per 5oz, which works out to around $52 per 750ml/26oz which is a lot but not crazy given that the bottles started at around $35 per bottle retail. Some of the rarer ones were significantly more.
Lots of people seemed to be choose the bottles to go option as I saw a lot of people walking out with boxes in hand. (Including me... It was an expensive day out!
)
Lots of people seemed to be choose the bottles to go option as I saw a lot of people walking out with boxes in hand. (Including me... It was an expensive day out!
)