Zwanze Day (2022)

Note to self. Book off September 24th.

 

Definitely an interesting blend this year with black pepper that I'm looking forward to trying.

I'm also hoping to get another pour of last year's Parasol which I really enjoyed, along with whatever other Cantillion goodies I can get my hands on. Really excited for Zwanze, and my only regret is that I have to forego Live Oak's Oktoberfest celebration which is the same day (which happened last year as well -- I love you Live Oak, but just pick literally any other day!).

Tough sacrifices must be made. Santei!

 

I love the idea behind the blend this year. Gueuze often has natural peppery notes and the black pepper saisons I've tried have been mostly wonderful. I know most folks enjoyed the orange blend from last year more, but I preferred the beet lambic blend that was intended for 2020. Whenever Cantillon tinkers with completely off the wall flavors, I usually dig it.

 

How does one buy tickets for this?

 

Each venue will have their own process but you purchase them through the venue you want to attend. It's centrally orchestrated by cantillon but each particular event is it's own thing run the way the host venue chooses

 

Yeah, to echo @unlikelyspiderperson, reach out to the venue you are interested in to see how they are handling the event.

 

Anyone going to Zwanze day in Brussels? It will be my first time!

 

That’s an awesome tradition.

 

Happy Zwanze, BA! Hope those of you attending an event today have a great time!

If you do attend, let us know here A) what you think of this year's blend, and B) your favorite Cantillon Lambic (or non-Cantillon beer if you're a heathen) from today.

Personally I'm looking forward to trying Magic Lambic again today!

Santeï!

 

I’m planning to head over to Birreria Volo in Toronto a little later today once my wife is home from work. I’m hoping to get there before the bottle pours of Menu Pineau and Sophia kick. Otherwise, I’m looking forward to trying this year’s Zwanze beer. Cheers all!!

 

Well, I am far away from any official event, but I wanted to participate. I live in the Ft. Lauderdale area so I headed down to The riverside Market because it is the only place in the county I knew of that had Cantillon. Two to choose from and I went for a Gran Crue they have.
So as to not drink by myself, I turned the bartender on to some and explained to him the occasion along with a internet presentation.
Beer advocacy!

 

I arrived - finally - about 5 hours after opening. Most of the bottle pours were finished, but I managed a nice pour of Drogone. I’m liking it. I’ve got a Zwanze ‘22 on deck and plan to get a few more before I head home. Cheers!

 

I really enjoyed the 2022 blend even more than I expected to. I was very interested knowing that I enjoy black pepper in my food but unsure how it would work in a Lambic, and I guess, kind of unsurprisingly, Cantillon blended it fantastically into the beer. I also suspect that the specific black pepper used "poivre de Gorilles" played a role in the excellent smell and taste profile as well.

Also appreciated the DK glasses as a play on the theme with the Cantillon pose.

 

Opened at 10 AM at the Slow Boat Tavern in Seattle, no Cantillon bottles but St. Lamvinus, Vigneronne, Cuvee St Gilloise, Magic Lambic, Sang Bleu, on tap. Tried a couple of other things, and of course the actual Zwanze beer itself. I think Zwanze was one of my favorite. Prices felt atrocious at $15 a pour for a 330ml glass for any of the Cantillon's, but looking back, that's because the serving size was smaller at E9 last year.

Really enjoyed it, then had an excellent late Ethiopian lunch and a long walk before going home.

 

I really, really liked the 2022 Zwanze. It might be my favorite one to date. It's at least on par with Magic and that's saying a lot. You definitely have to enjoy black pepper to be a fan, but I love the stuff. I've had several black pepper saisons over the years, but none of them carried the flavor (and especially the nose) of this one. All the folks around me seemed to really like it a lot, too.
Crooked Stave also had Sang Bleu/Camerise, Magic Lambic, St. Lam, Vig, Brettrave, and St. Gil. All were a treat, except Sang Bleu. That one tasted "off" and finished with slickness and buttery notes I'd guess were diacetyl. I've gotten the same thing from certain Nath years. I know some folks don't care for Brettrave, but I still like that one, too. Personally, I'm hoping to encounter a bottle of Poivre De Gorilles in a couple years. I'm really curious to see where this one goes with time. I'm also hopeful it might become a regular thing. People seem to really like it, and we've seen several other Zwanze offerings become seasonal/regular offerings.

 

It was C$13.50 here for a 8oz as glass. They had Menu Pineau, Drogone, Racine, Sophia in bottles along with a couple Zenne y Frontera and the Tilquin Anniversary bottle.

Taps were Zwanze, Gueuze, Kriek, RDG, GCB, Saint-Gilloise, Magic, Fou Foune, Sang Bleu, Nath and Vignerrone. There were a few other things as well from locals and some stuff we don’t see here very often from Jester King and Oxbow.

I loved the Zwanze beer. I enjoyed Magic for the first time. Funny enough I just acquired a bottle about three weeks ago after years of wanting one. Glad I did. Drogone was very good as well.

They had bottles to go too (Nath, Saint-Gilloise and Fou Foune were still there when I was leaving).

I was surprised by how sparse the crowd was. Mind you I arrived late. That said, I stood at the bar, and only about every third or fourth purchase was Cantillon. A few years back it was much busier all day. I’m guessing that other than the Zwanze which kicked around 6 PM, you could go back today and get the rest, minus the bottle pours.

 

My 7th time going to Novare Res for Zwanze, and it was the best so far. Excellent draft list, and the atmosphere as always is so relaxed. Zero stress event. Really can't say enough on how well they run the event.

The nose on the Zwanze beer was incredible. So much pepper.

Basically the same stuff on draft everyone else is listing here, but was pumped to be able to get 2020 Friendship Blend and the glass that goes with it too.