Zwanze Day 2014 - Vancouver

I think it's shitty to force people to buy something they don't want, just so they can have something they do want. What if someone had dietary restrictions? Tough luck?

 

Brouwers down in Seattle handled it well last year. No ticket sales, just show up and wait in line before the place opened. Employees went through the line and gave everyone a cool Zwanze Day button with a number on it. Once the doors opened, we all went in and got a table. Ordered whatever beers we wanted and food, if we wanted it. No crazy lines, no upset people, everyone that showed up got some of the Zwanze and other beers. And I ended up spending around $60 including glassware, tax and tip.

Ironically enough, Brouwers (and Seattle) got snubbed this year.

 

Found it strange that Seattle was left out for sure. I've noticed that Seattle releases are pretty mellow compared to OR and CA so that kind of "line up the morning of" deal works great there (as it would in Vancouver). Would be a complete shit show in other places I think.

 

A friend of mine spent quite a bit of time at Cantillon this summer. He said this year's Zwanze isn't better than any of their regular offerings.

 

Blasphemy.

 

...and I personally feel that Lou Pepe Kriek > Classic Gueuze > Fou Foune > Blåbær. Some of us have broken rare-receptors in our palates....

 

I'm more LPK=FF=St. Lam > the rest (which is all pretty spectacular) >>> Iris

Funny how so many people like LPK the best. They should put out an even more cherry intense beer. Superultrawhitewhaelzbruh!

 

I was gonna come up for this but bailed when it was announced to be a $125 dinner. Not to say it won't be worth it, but I'm a vegetarian so chances of me being able to enjoy all the courses are slim to none.

Anyway, last time I was up in Vancouver (April), I was able to score the Cantillon bottles pictured in my user avatar, from Brewery Creek and 16th St. Any idea if and when those guys will get more? Will it sit on shelves? I'm looking for anything other than the standards. St. Lam, any LP, Vigneronne... Fou? How often does Cantillon make it to Vancouver shelves? Did I luck out tremendously by grabbing an Iris off the shelf?

 

And this has all changed in the five short months since I've visited? Damn, who blew up the spot? I didn't tell anyone!

 

I should just try to do an in person trade some weekend. Think de Garde could land me some of those 'loons' roosting around up there?

 

LPs / FF might be a bit of a stretch unless you're offering up some of the sought after bottles (imp bus, lily, archer) but I think you'd find lots of folks interested in going $4$ with the less rare bottles with stuff like Iris and CSG (and gueuze & kriek). Just my opinion, I have no LPs / FF FT sadly! Best of luck.