Boon Discovery Box

What concept? Some details might help.

 

Belgium in a box is an online retailer you have to order from them

 

Doubt this shows up in the US.

 

Yeah, we'll probably never see that.

However, the VAT stuff does show up from time to time. I'll check with the rep this week and see what's up. Boon is imported by Latis, which is CT-based, so we get pretty much all the US releases AFAIK.

 

We're imported in the USA now by Global Beer Network (since April 2017). Plenty Geuze Discovery Boxes are on their way / have made it to the USA.

Also in the UK you should be able to find it.

 

I guess what I know what i'm buying myself for Xmas now!

 

One of my local shops in Denver has these boxes for $68. I'm pretty tempted to pull the trigger. Love the concept.

 

I also would like to try it... But the prices are just stupid IMO...

 

Lambic is pricey. It's $15 a bottle. Far from stupid really.

 

$15 for a 37.5cl of pretty standard Boon gueuze is pricey. I can't really see the reason why it's nearly double the cost of the normal and Mariage Parfait Gueuze. Even Black Label is cheaper, and better from the few Vats I've had. Not all Lambic is pricey either. Almost all standard gueuze from the breweries/blenders is actual rather cheap (Even Cantillon Classic is just 6 euro a 750 at the brewery... (or 5.40 if you buy 6!)). It's importers/distributors/stores that usually jack up the price. All that regular Boon, De Troch, Girardin, Oud Beersel, and Lindemans gueuze are pretty cheap. Heck, they are all better than any Allagash I've had (and I love Allagash, not hating) and are at worst, half the price. So no, lambic shouldn't be expensive. It's bro's willing to pay stupid $ for old cantillon/3F or rare Bokkereyeder that make Lambic seem insane. I had some really damn good gueuze from the early 90s when last in Belgium... and I didn't once pay more than 30 euro a bottle.

 

Are you really talking euros? Lambic is pricey here. Boon makes some very good stuff. It's still not cheap here. Belgium is not your local store. Factor in airfare and it's cheaper.

Mariage parfait is a fave of mine but I've had some Vat77 that was far better. I've had a lot of damn good lambic it's reasonable overseas... Not here.

I almost never buy American wilds because shelf lambic Is better than almost every one. Compared to those... Cuvée Rene is cheap. I don't see mono blends, especially in a pack of all available, for 60 being stupid expensive.

 

I guess it really depends what Lambic we are talking. Yes, Lambic is pricey here compared to Belgium, but as you mentioned, 'shelf' lambic is still much cheaper than any American Wilds. The more marked up stuff... I just either get volume deals shipped or pick up when I go to Belgium.

I'm not a huge Boon fan though, so double the price just doesn't seem like a price I want to pay. I'd rather just grab more Girardin gueuze next to the bottle of Boon vat or 4-pack. But the point still remains, why is it double the cost of mariage parfait? The only difference I can tell is it's from specific vat... How does that translate to double the price?

 

Where are you seeing Girardin next to Boon? Serious question. I'm with you on that. I'm not seeing that often.

The Vats are not as ubiquitous as MP or Boon Gueuze. There's the price difference. Black Label wasn't badly priced but still not cheap. Got Tilquin for a few bucks more. It's all relative. It may not be worth double but it's still not "stupid" expensive.

 

Fort Point Market had three of the Boon Discovery boxes on the shelf today.

 

I grabbed the box set at RSVP in Portland, $53.99. Over priced still, but much better than the $60+ elsewhere and the $18+ I've seen for the single VAT bottles.

As for Lambic on the shelf, last time I was at Redstone (Black Friday), they had all of Boon's stuff and Girardin. Yesterday at RSVP, the lineup was pretty impressive. Boon discover pack, oude gueuze, mariage parfait, and black label. Lindemans Cuvee Rene Geuze (750)/kriek, ginger gueuze, De Cam Lambiek, Oud Beersel Gueuze/kriek, Hanssens gueuze/kriek, Tilquin gueuze, etc.

And for pricing... Boon Black label was $13.59 a 750. Better beer than any VAT I've had so far, and 36% of the average cost of the VAT. That's nearly 3 times less. I understand you have to pay for the novelty/etc, and I was willing to at $13.5 per in the set, but lets not pretend it's reasonable at $19+ a bottle. Tilquin is more 'rare' - $10.99. Of course Cuvee Rene 750 at $11.99 is the ultimate winner. And in a blind taste test my friends and I did recently, it was top 3 for all of us. Better than Cantillon, Tilquin, Boon, De Cam, etc etc. And I've seen similar results in other blind tastings. Don't sit on Lindemans.

 

I have these at The Vin Bin Hopkinton if anyone is looking.