Step by step guide to prepare for Cantillon.

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Duesler, Apr 11, 2013.

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  1. Duesler

    Duesler Initiate (0) Oct 30, 2012 Connecticut

    I've never had a sour beer, and I would hate to go to Cantillon (I will in August) and not know what I'm doing.
    I live in CT and I need advice about what beers to try (in which order) to get ready for my pilgrimage.
    Thanks much.
     
    Centennial likes this.
  2. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,072) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Trade for some Russian River. If you get down to Philly you should be able to get some, albeit at a decent markup.
     
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  3. MisterGrizz

    MisterGrizz Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Texas

    +1 to the Russian River. Also, Liefman's makes a Cuvee-Rene that's going to be similar to beers you're going to have there. Also, Petrus Aged Pale Ale should be fairly easy to attain. I don't know much about Philly or CT sours, so I' not much help there.
     
  4. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,072) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Also, Lindemans' offerings should be pretty easy to find no matter where you are and would probably be a nice starting point if you're interested in lambics.
     
  5. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Cuvee Rene is a good suggestion, but it's Lindemans, not Liefman's.

    I'd also go for 3F oud geuze or kriek. They'll get you ready and should be pretty findable on the east coast.
     
  6. LambicPentameter

    LambicPentameter Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2012 Nebraska

    Here are a couple of gueuze style beers that are pretty easy to get your hands on (I think) and I thought both reminded me of my visit to Cantillon:

    Oude Gueuze Tilquin a L'Ancienne:
    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25923/70745

    St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition:
    http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/212/5212

    Those are both more on the sour side, but like I said, they both reminded me of the beers I got to sample at Cantillon, so it will at least give you a good idea of what to expect. You should also try to find a good Kriek or two, but I don't have any good recommendations for easy-to-obtain krieks in the U.S.
     
    aasher likes this.
  7. MisterGrizz

    MisterGrizz Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2011 Texas

    Dammit, I was just chiding myself on typing that out right. After I looked at the BA profile and everything.. fail. I am unsure whether Cantillon will have a beer similar, but Goudenband from Liefman's is an amazing beer too.
     
  8. Sarlacc83

    Sarlacc83 Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2008 Oregon

    Tilquin uses Cantillon lambic, so it's as close to the real thing you can get without buying the actual Cantillon bottles.

    I recommend also tracking down Girardin 1882 Black Label.
     
    jbck109, aasher, LambicKing and 3 others like this.
  9. pghlee

    pghlee Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2006 Georgia

    Try not to drink any sours and let cantillon in brussels be your first.
     
    DanE, brikelly, jazzyjeff13 and 6 others like this.
  10. atomic

    atomic Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2009 Illinois

    Don't know about you, but my first sour experience was not all pleasant. I could barely drink the stuff. Now its a different story of course, but it took some time and some testing the waters.
     
  11. atomic

    atomic Initiate (0) Sep 22, 2009 Illinois

    If you get the goose island belgian beers, Lolita, Madame Rose, and Juliet (in that order) would be awesome. All aged in wine barrels with berries.

    And if not, I second Petrus Aged Pale. hell get it anyway. Its not expensive (relatively)
     
    mjshearer1 likes this.
  12. Krebsy

    Krebsy Initiate (0) Oct 3, 2007 Connecticut

    I second this motion. Go there blind. Start with the Bio Gueze and work your way up from there. Also as a first timer the second sip is much better then the first. When you work your way up to the fruit and grape flavored ones you will be blown away.
     
    BAstoutsNsours likes this.
  13. kell50

    kell50 Pooh-Bah (2,272) Jul 25, 2007 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I went to the brewery last year with my wife having only ever had the original gueuze. After many taste later, all I can say is.. Prepare for you head to explode (in a good way).

    Step 1: Complete bliss.

    Step 2: repeat!
     
  14. KeKeKumba

    KeKeKumba Initiate (0) May 5, 2011 Canada (ON)

    I mostly agree with going there blind. Though perhaps if you end up not liking anything you'll be bummed out. On the flip side, if you do like it they have a nice bottle list for on-site consumption and you'll be having a hell of a time pretty quickly. Do the tour when you get there. That'll get you a sample of some unblended lambic straight from the barrel, as well as a sample of either the Kriek, Faro, or Iris. From there you can get some 2 euro glasses of various things. I was there 3 weeks ago and they had Fou Foune and 2010/2012 Zwanze in bottles for on-site consumption. Make an afternoon out of it. Sitting around Cantillon drinking their beer all afternoon is magical.
     
    Jnorton00 likes this.
  15. RblWthACoz

    RblWthACoz Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2006 Pennsylvania

    Disagree. My first sour was a Cantillon (Gambrinus) and I absolutely hated it. My continual exposure to the style has created a serious appreciation. Your time is limited. Get your ass in the deep end, and leave the floaties off.
    I wouldn't let romanticism potentially ruin, or shortchange, a wonderful opportunity to experience something so unique as a visit to Cantillon.
     
    Adamdc likes this.
  16. Danny1217

    Danny1217 Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2011 Florida

    I'm going to go to Cantillon next month actually and I have never had Cantillon, but I already know that I am, in fact, in love with sour beer.
     
  17. StoutSnob40

    StoutSnob40 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,467) Jan 4, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    What would you say is the closest Russian River equivalent?
     
  18. SpeedwayJim

    SpeedwayJim Pooh-Bah (2,753) Jun 19, 2009 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    A couple of these are close to what Cantillon will taste like and shouldn't take too much effort to find:

    Lindemann's Cuvee Renee
    Tilquin Gueuze
    Drie Fonteinen Oude Gueuze
    Drie Fonteinen Oude Kriek
    Drie Fonteinen Scharbeekse Kriek (expensive)
    Oude Beersel Oude Gueuze
    Girardin Black Label Gueuze
    Boon Mariage Parfait
    Hansen's Oude Gueuze
    Hansen's Oude Kriek


    As for what order to try them, I would open a couple side by side and see how the differ, what flavors you like/don't like. I think the order's not too important here. Just try the fruited lambics with the fruited lambic and the gueuze with the gueuze. You just want to get an idea of what you're dealing with in terms of traditional Belgian spontaneously fermented sour beers.
    To those recommending Russian River, I personally would respectfully disagree. While RR makes incredible American Wild's, the flavor profile is really not comparable to any of the Belgian Gueuzes. It's just very different. The innoculation with wild yeast creates a flavor profile that really doen't resemble anything Cantillon makes IMO.
     
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  19. stupac2

    stupac2 Pooh-Bah (2,031) Feb 22, 2011 California
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Beatification, but you're going to have a harder time getting that. Tilquin Gueuze is really your best bet for closest, but any of the real gueuzes/lambics will get you there (so Lindeman's Cuvee Rene, Hanssens, De Cam, 3 Fonteinen, Tilquin, Beersel, Girardin, some more I'm forgetting).

    Also, sour appreciation just comes to some people. I think being used to wine helps a lot, but I went right into sours without ever really trying wine and was just fine. It all depends. Going in blind might be fun, but I think trying to find Tilquin or 3F would be a good idea.
     
  20. JuliusCaesar

    JuliusCaesar Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2013 New Hampshire

    Well, I don't know how they compare to Cantillon but since your in Conn. you should be able to get your hands on some Allagash.
     
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