Am I missing something with the Cantillons?

In general, few beers more than $15 for a bomber or 750ml or 25 dollars for 4 or 6 pack is worth the price. There are very high quality beers that are available for that price (the exception might be sours which are intrinsically pricier, but even so, properly aged "shelf" 3F or Cantillons especially the Lou Pepe's are as good as many of the one-offs). However, it's not just about how the beer tastes. It's also about the journey it takes, whether you have to travel to Akkurrat to try some of the wine grape Cantillons, waiting for a box coming from overseas and the excitement when it arrives and going to open it, and the cachet of owning something very rare and sought-after by others, but that you now have.

 

I traded a Fou Foune for a Vanilla BCBS, and I will admit I felt a tinge of guilt about it. Not that it wasn't a fair trade, but because Fou Foune was pretty easy to get for me (and yes, I bought it at my local beer store). I think some people are lucky with having access the 'loons, and some people never see them (hence why they trade so much for them). Plus I think the fact that stores only get about 6 bottles every few months has a lot to do with it.


But am I going to sit here and say I wouldn't trade Cantillons away for wales? Hell no!

 

Rarity + ticking most likely is what drives those looking for these from what I can tell. The quality may or may not be there, but I can assure you that if the beer was complete shit then large chunks of cellars more than likely would not be traded for a single bottle.

 

You shouldn't feel the least bit guilty about that trade: Fou Foune costs far more than BCBVS did and there was more BCBVS released in that one batch than in probably 5 years of Fou Foune releases. Remember, whoever traded you that BCBVS probably just picked it up at his or her local store, just like you did with Fou Foune.

There's absolutely no way I'd let my Fou Founes go for BCBVS, not even 2-1.

 

To answer the OP, when it comes to one-offs it's absolutely all about rarity.

The regular lineups of Cantillon and Drie Fonteinen are already so spectacular (especially with some age) that there simply isn't much room for improvement: I don't believe for a second that the $1000+ Loerik I just bought (jk, sadly) could possibly be 50x better than Classic Gueuze, because nothing could be 50x better than Classic Gueuze.

That said, if I ever do have the disposable income to drop a grand on a bottle of beer, you can bet your ass it will be either a Drie Fonteinen or a Cantillon.

 

I think you unintentionally just made him feel more guilty (*hint* re-read his post)

 

It's the thrill of the chase to some. The crazy thing is many won't even drink it - they'll just toss it in their cellar and bust it out for another trade in a few months...

Many believe that "regular" Cantillons are better tasting than the rare ones.

 

The way it sounds to me is he felt guilty because it was easy for him to get the Fou Foune and he felt that he was turning an easy, off-the-shelf beer into a hard-to-trade-for, limited-release one-off. Right?

Why would he feel guilty for being overly generous in a trade? That doesn't make any sense.

 

You are absolutely right. Apparently it is my reading comprehension that needs some work!

 

The key to acquiring Cantillons is not giving up too much. It's better to trade for some that someone was ale to buy off a shelf as opposed to trading with someone who bought them online via Belgiuminabox or Etregourmet or received them in a previous trade.

 

I doubt it. What I've been wondering is why no one jumps down the throats of those expecting huge rare beers for the likes of Jean Chris Nomad or Framboos like they would for people trying to max the value of their CBS or Beatification. They're new releases or re-releases just like the stuff that comes out over here. No one seems to mind when you have to pony up the whales for the Belgian stuff, but don't ask the world for your Beat.

For the record, I've never played around with any of those big boy beers. This is just an observation.

 

I see your point, but in those examples, Jean Chris Nomad was around 1,000 bottles as a one-off release. Framboos was re-released with a similar number (give or take 25%) of bottles. Both first/recent releases of CBS and Beatification respectively had 12,000 bottles...so a lot less of the Belgian bottles to go after.

 

No, I get it, but you can insert whatever American limited release you want and the point remains pretty much the same.

 

I'm thinking, in theory, if Deviation was re-released towards the end of this decade with under 1000 bottles, it would be a better comparison of a US limited release to Framboos than say Beatification or CBS. I also don't think you'd see a lot of criticism of what traders would be seeking. Of course, all hypothetical. But it would be a case of a small re-release of a very highly regarded beer after an absence of around a decade or so.

To the OP, definitely a case of diminishing returns, especially when you see that some of the top 10 beers on here goes for around $5-$6. But it's a hobby and from most hobbies i've been involved with, rational thinking tends to go straight out the window and you do whatever you do to derive enjoyment from it. Chasing hard to get beers can be a thrill, so can drinking them. Are they exponentially better than easier to get stuff? Probably not, but it can provide kicks.

 

Everyone is loony for Cantiloons... /thread

 

Will turn this around. Is it worth giving up Cantillons for limited/ rare US stuff??? Yes.
I am not a big sour fan, more of an RIS fan and if means I can get some limited stuff from home I am all for it.
All being said Classic Gueze is pretty tasty

 

Just a reminder Fou'Foune was never considered any more rare than any of the other seasonals until somebody on this very forum claimed it would never be produced again. Even after this rumor turned out to be false, the desperate hoarding of this beer that commenced has never stopped.

 

Loons are overrated. Gimme your big barrel aged stouts!!!