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Cantillon?

Discussion in 'Trade Talk' started by BigGene, May 10, 2012.

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  1. cbutova

    cbutova Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2008 Massachusetts
    Trader

    2009: Cantillon would sit on shelves endlessly in many markets. I used to find bottles from 2005-2007 quite regularly at many stores. Also, St. Lamvinus and Lou Pepe varieties sitting on the shelf of a very popular store for the whole year because of the price tags ($25-30).
    2010: Cantillon would sell out from most popular stores quickly but could still be found at the stores where bottles would collect a bit more dust. (Found 2005 Lou Pepe Framboise in NY, 2006 St Lamvinus NY/MA, 2007 Kriek in CT) If you knew when a store was getting a shipment, it wasn't hard to get a bottle or two.
    2011: The last time I saw any Cantillon on a shelf and haven't since. Checked many of those dusty bottle stores and it all disappeared (trips in NY, VT, PA, CT). In MA, stores get 1/2-2 cases at a time and it sells out usually in hours. For example, my local stores announced on Twitter they got 3 varieties, it was gone in 45 minutes.
    2012: Haven't purchased or even had the chance to purchase any Cantillon. Beer store employees seem to be much more aware of the Cantillon hype and hoard many bottles for themselves.

    This might be skewed from a MA perspective but getting this beer has just become too much of a hassle. Some stores seem to be doing raffles/giveaways because they get so few bottles with the 3-4 shipments per year. The prices don't bother me because I know I might only get 0-2 chances to actually buy bottles. The beer is very good and worth buying if you have the chance. Compared to many other sours/lambics, Cantillon just seems to be in a realm of their own. There is the problem, I have just given up on actually being able to find the beer. I would have to leave work immediately at 2PM (assuming a store announces online) with no previous knowledge that day and still might not get bottles 30 minutes later. That is how bad it is in this market. When I make it back to Europe I am going to spend 2-3 days in Belgium and make up for the lack of Cantillon over here. My body's pH will probably drop a few levels during that time.
     
    Lucular, DangleBerries, palma and 3 others like this.
  2. Kaydogg

    Kaydogg Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2011 Pennsylvania

    as Foster said Lambics and gueuzes...much like an american sour..but much more complex with alot of differenct layers of tastes and flavors.. you can read some reviews to get an idea what people describe them as. Shelton Bros..does the States distribution.. and its a serious pain in the ass to track down and get..
    oh and Cantillon and Drie Font.. make some of the best beers Ive ever tried..

    [​IMG]
     
    FosterJM likes this.
  3. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,853) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    De Cam is amazing but I see it even less than Cantillon
     
  4. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,853) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    That is exactly what I will be doing in under a month! Im thinking of bringing a separate suitcase just to fill with beers and bring home so I can have some for a while. Ill pay the extra baggage fee.
     
    cbutova likes this.
  5. Plenum

    Plenum Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2009 New Jersey

    Not that much of a different story in NJ.

    2009: Multiple vintages available of all Cantillon products that hit the US markets
    2010: Multiple bottles of recent releases on shelves, with the exception of Fou Foune
    2011: Multiple bottles of recent releases held in back rooms, available only to "good customers" who had the sense to ask for some
    2012: Bottles sell out before arriving at the store, distributors are lying to stores about getting or sending allocations, and it's become a complete clusterf^ck. And I placed my first order to buy Cantillon directly from Belgium
    2013: Starting my own private importing company to bring Cantillon to the U.S. for local distribution to my cellar
     
    66jzmstr, jedwards, PaulQuinn and 4 others like this.
  6. tlh1005

    tlh1005 Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2009 North Carolina

    There are stores that get a case or more? I've seen it show up like twice here in 1 year and both times it was just 3 or 4 random bottles thrown in with other shipments. The distributor got one case to split between accounts. stores here don't even bother announcing it.

    Is stuff regularly available around Belgium or at least at the brewery?
     
  7. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,853) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    The impression that I am under is that there is always something at the brewery... I will be finding out soon, I would be disappointed if I went there and there was nothing!
     
  8. DSlim71

    DSlim71 Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2010 New Jersey

    I've only seen Classic Gueuze around here within the last year or so, and 2 places I know got a case. One sold out within a day or 2, and the other place didn't put it on shelves. They kept it in the back for "regulars". I have heard of places getting like 3 varieties at once, I'm assuming they got a case of each, but really don't have any concrete info on that.

    I've never been to Belgium, so really can't help there.
     
  9. MaxSpang

    MaxSpang Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    Cantillon is new?
     
  10. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,853) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    No, new to the hype train.
     
  11. AutumnBeerLove

    AutumnBeerLove Initiate (0) Oct 16, 2010 Vermont

    hype? No way. Just took people too long to get into sours.
     
  12. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,853) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Thats true. And once they did, Cantillon got the hype so now people not even into sours are looking for them! It took me a while to get into sours as well but I am glad that there are many that fly under the radar.
     
  13. MaxSpang

    MaxSpang Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    I've always seen Cantillon hype. Granted, I think the hype has grown a lot recently but I think Cantillon has always had a big following
     
  14. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,853) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Depends on what you consider always. Couple years ago it was sitting around at many places that got it. Within the last year to year and a half its become very hyped up and as you mentioned its grown a lot recently.
     
    MaxSpang likes this.
  15. plastercasts

    plastercasts Initiate (0) Oct 12, 2010 Australia

    sucks to be in the US i could walk into a store tomorrow and buy fou' foune, mamouche, st lamvinus, kriek and lou pepe variations. but ive already got shit loads under the house. maybe i should start trading?
     
    alwaysanswerb likes this.
  16. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    I urge you to just continue to ignore the brand and go about your merry ways. You will save yourself a lot of time, effort, and money. The demand is just way over the supply in the US, and ordering overseas is very expensive with huge minimums to make it worthwhile. Consider ignorance bliss here.

    But yes, they are generally excellent beers, though their more limited releases are no better than their more regular releases. So if you do decide to start hunting, stick with the easier stuff first.
     
    Brunite likes this.
  17. JohnnyTightLips

    JohnnyTightLips Initiate (0) May 30, 2009 Illinois

    Trust me, you'll have better luck going through Etre Gourmet, Online Beer Shop
     
  18. pmoney

    pmoney Initiate (0) Apr 15, 2011 Illinois

    This is true. i just placed an order yesterday that a buddy and I are going to split. Can't wait! Anyone know how long it typically takes to receive the package after ordering?
     
    abraxel likes this.
  19. abraxel

    abraxel Initiate (0) Aug 28, 2009 Michigan

    I just placed an order two days ago and got a shipping notification today. I've heard some people have received their beer within a week, but I don't know if that's at all typical.

    Sorry for the like-unlike-like, btw... I first hit Like by accident instead of Reply, then Unliked, then decided that unliking was mean and liked it again :slight_smile:
     
  20. WillCarrera

    WillCarrera Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2010 Ohio

    This is pretty much true. When I visited they had a pretty decent selection, I bought some LP Kriek, some gueuze, regular kriek and Rose de Gambrinus. You may not be able to find Fou Foune, but you may have a shot at Vigneronne and Saint Lamvinus and will almost certainly be able to get their regular gueuze and kriek. Have fun dude, they have an incredible self-guided tour, it's really a fun place.
     
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