Saint Lamvinus
Brasserie Cantillon

Just sitting on a shelf in the best beer shop in Baltimore, The Wine Source. Did a double-take as I walked past.

Moments before, I had suffered one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.

It was a Friday in the early afternoon. I get to "work from home" every other Friday, meaning I answer some emails in a relatively serious fashion for two hours and then do so in a not-so-serious fashion between noon and the rest of the day. This seems to be a popular setup, because when I went to the gym it was unusually busy for a 1 PM weekday session.

The deadlift and squat area, a relatively small cutout, was packed. By "packed," I mean there were 5 other guys in there, when usually it's only one. The room isn't that small. Compare it to a room in an apartment, it's large. But for a room where you're supposed to do the most challenging things your body can do, it felt absolutely catastrophic.

I only did cardio the day before. Good night sleep. Felt great. Slowly worked by way up to my personal best deadlift. Felt like today was the day.

Loaded 425 lbs onto the hex bar. That's 4 plates on each side plus two ten pounders. Been, jesus... 15 years since I did this much? I'm old, now. So old that thinking about doing deadlifts is enough to be the main thing getting me out of bed.

I'd toyed with the idea of going this high for a few months, but never went above 365. I'm in my 40s. I'm short. I can't go doing the hero stuff I did when I was a kid.

But, fuck it. Let's try it.

I loaded up the extra plates. I made grunt noises, to ready myself. And then, dear reader, I summoned all my mental and physical strength and I executed that lift.

But while doing so, I shit myself.

Not a little bit. Not a "shart." A full pantload of runny mess.

Walked like a duck up into the locket room, clutching the bottom of my shorts. Threw them out. Showered. Changed back into street clothes. Wondered if I'd ever be welcomed back. Never been more embarassed in my life. Never wanted to die more, at least not out of shame. I wished, I hoped, I sincerely hoped something would come down and kill me, that the gym personnel would come over and say "hey, sorry, but you have to put your head beneath the leg press machine right now and let us crush it, that's the only way you could restore honor to your family."

That didn't happen.

Poked my head into the room. Everything seemed fine. No visible stains. That made the incident even worse in my head, though, as I had nothing to scrub.

I then averred to get drunk. Forget about this. Forget it.

At the nice liquor store, I see this beer on the shelf. I grab it. 40 dollars for a wine bomber. I grab two. The first one is definitely mine.. but two? I move it back and forth from my arms to the shelf a dozen times. Decide to leave it, not be greedy,

The next day, the shame has not subsided. Am I am rotting-but-animated corpse. A joke. A shit sprayer.

Pour it out... jesus. Take a sip... double Jesus. Jesus Christ is Lord.

Being alive is often horrible, but being dead is much more horrible. I am so glad I am alive. I am glad I am alive so I can enjoy something like this. If I keep hanging on I will sometimes get to encounter things such as this.

At long last! I was able to find a bottle from the most celebrated of Lambic producers, at a nearby bottle shop no less. I had thought they were a myth, much like Sasquatch or Nessie. Poured from a 750 ml bottle, packaged 9 December 2025, into a beer flute.

Pours a dark ruby or cherry red color, good clarity with perhaps a slight haze to it, about a half-inch light cherry-tinted head with fine bubbles. The head settles to a ring and a thin film on the surface, with no lacing.

Strong notes of oak, and a funky sharpness on the nose. Some notes of red grape in the background.

Nice flavors of grape and tart cherry. There is a light tartness that starts at the beginning of the sip and lasts into the finish. There is a slight sweetness initially, then slightly sour and then dry on the finish.

Medium to light-medium body. There is a texture left on the palate with a bit of a woody note that I believe comes from aging in oak.

A delicious fruited Lambic. I like how it is "laid-back" with a light touch of sourness, allowing the fruit notes to come forward a bit.

 

 

I drink fewer lambics than I should. They are often complex and I prefer simple ales. But when I venture into master lambic territory, I don't need a roadmap. The best ones are simple, also. This is one of those.

On tap at London's Beer Merchants in Hackney Wick. St. Lamvinus Looks a pretty ruby in this snifter. Smells are not particularly distinct except for the grapes and that is moderate. Also a tad of funk. Tastes start with a sweetish attack and, in a very disciplined way, finishes amazingly dry. This is the tour that lambics take me on, but Lamvinus does it particularly well. The grapes help dry it out. Full in my mouth; chewy, grapey, with the bubbles bringing that out further.

Even for a lambic-shy guy like me, I'd have this again on tap. (The magnums cost so much!)

Review: 2486
Name: Saint Lamvinus
Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Style: Fruit Lambic
ABV: 7%
Canned: December 2021
Date: 10 September 2025
I picked up this beer in Barcelona during my visit. I was elated to see that I could buy Cantillon. I am using a tulip glass, and the serving temperature is 48 degrees. The pour created a light pinkish tan, airy one-fingered head with poor retention. The quick dissipation left no lacing on the glass or any semblance of a head on the liquid. The color is a reddish pink and clear. The appearance is what I would expect from a lambic.
Nosing the beer, I detect notes of light toasted malts, grapes, vinous, terroir, funky barnyard, yeasty, musk, and acetic acid.
Sipping the beer, the wine used in this lambic is vinous, jammy, light wood, earthy, and vinous. A few more swallows, I notice funky barnyard, yeasty, musk, acetic acid, lemons, light toasted malts, and light minerality.
The mouthfeel is mouth puckering, finishing tart and dry. The body is light, with lots of carbonation.
Final Thought: Thus far in Cantillon's journey, which is limited due to access to the beer, this is my favorite one. It sings with flavor and is anchored with a lovely balance. The wine pairs beautifully with the lambic, an outstanding beer.

 

2023 Bottle

Pours a deep purple color with a one-finger pinkish head that has good retention before settling into a ring. Smells of vinous red grapes, slightly acidic, some barnyard notes, hay, slightly musty. Flavor is a showcase of grapes, almost jammy with just enough complimenting acidity. The finish gives some light oak with more grape and light yeasty funk. Medium body with moderate bubbly carbonation, foamy mouthfeel and finish. This one lives up to the hype, perfectly balanced fruit and acidity.

Pours an amber color with a slight head and lacing
Aroma has generous grape and yeast hints
Taste has a well balanced and complex tart grape flavor
A light bodied well carbonated beer
A great Lambic

 

Bottled November 2024. Took me ~20 years to find it.

Look: Cloudy cran-grape juice (not in a bad way).
Smell: Typical lambic funk with some meatiness I get from some natty wines. Blackberry, green chile.
Taste: All over the place in the best way possible. Cereal graininess, underripe berries, berry jam, lemon, and a strong salinity finishes it out.
Feel: Carbonation is very gentle and is prickly enough to elevate the flavors.
Overall: As someone who has shifted over to wine in the past years (but who still loves lambics of all stripes), this is the perfect marriage of beer and wine. Would be the perfect crossover wine to bring wine lovers into the beer fold (especially if they’re fans of natural wines). Worth the decades long wait.

 

2022 vintage. Stored in a wine cooler at 55°F until it was uncorked. Bottled 11/07/22, consumed 04/20/25. Poured into a Spiegelau wheat beer glass. Drank a year after 2024’s Zwanze Day (wish I could claim that it was on purpose, but just an odd coincidence).

A&S: As with most lambics very nice look to it. Evolving head and look. Initially, the beer is ruby red and lively with carbonation, but turns opaque deep purple. The head initially is fuzzy pink and doesn’t retain much. At most, it was a small ring and is able to be conjured by a swirl. On the second pour, it retains well in a thin layer. The aroma contains red wine (and white wine too), oak, grape must, red wine vinegar, tart cherries (later on)

T&M: They said don’t drink this beer cold, and I would add even the 55°F recommended serving temperature is too high. Initially mildly tart, not very sweet. The funk comes out more in the taste than the aroma. As it warms, softer floral and fruity flavors: rose hips, tart cherries, apple skin. I have seen other people describe this beer as soft or delicate, I think that is a fitting description. Mouthfeel is pretty superb, smooth but bubbly. Light body and sneaky drinkable (I say this because initially I didn't think I would finish it so fast, and then all of a sudden it was gone).

Overall: This beer almost needs to breathe like a wine does. For the price (at least $50, probably more like $65), I wouldn’t buy this one again, but it was a fun way to spend the morning drinking a beer, writing a review, and enjoying the fresh air.

 

2019 on the cork.

Bottled in a big old green glass bomber bottle and purchased from hearon Hops as a carry out
Pours a naturally clear red wine coloured body with very little head
Aroma is red wine vinegar
Flavour is Burgundy and soda

 

 

Maceration of different grape varieties in two-year-old Lambic. Beer with a taste evolution. Bottled 7 November 2023.

Surprisingly restrained; vinous, mildly funky grapes with soft carbonation and fairly low acidity. Dangerously approachable, and so delicate.