Cantillon Suggestions Wanted

I could certainly list off my favorite Cantillons in order, but since you claim not to like 3F Oude Geuze I have to assume our palates are diametrically opposed and therefore my recommendations would be worthless.

Since you're not sure you even enjoy traditional, super-sour Lambics, perhaps you should try drinking a 375 of either Classic Gueuze or Rose de Gambrinus to see whether or not you enjoy Cantillon's particular brand of funk. If so, then by all means keep drinking whatever you can get your hands on.

 

If you have to pick two from your list, get Classic and Gilloise...

 

For Cantillon..

 

My strategy would be to use the Ave for sampling and start with half of the large bottle of the Classic Gueuze as the base (keeping the other half for later), and then move on to the small Rose or the Kriek, followed by the other. Then I'd finish off the rest of the Classic while having an order of the Mighty Mussels. I'd then use what I could of my remaining cash at Stein's for as much Classic in the small bottles as I could afford/carry home. If by chance any cash remained I'd go back to the Ave to try the De Cam Oude Gueuze. (But I already know I enjoy the Classic.)

 

I thought this after reading the first sentence... And if they did you just made everyone in the south drive there to beat you by posting this .

 

Try them, but keep the memory of the Tilquin in mind as you do. IMHO you will find you enjoy the Tilquin as much or more than Cantillon Gueuze. For what Cantillon makes better than all others Saint Lamvinus is what comes to mind. You don't post price for it but I bet it is over $50 for a 750. Iris, Rose, Bruoscella, and St. Gilloise are all excellent beers, but as davolebomb pointed out making them part of an etregourmet shipper would end up a cheaper alternative.

 

Are the bottles take out at Ave Pub?

 

Dude, first rule of loon hunting is dont alert other hunters to the whereabouts of any loon packs. You have failed at winning the hunt. Most likely another advoca...err, hunter, has already pillaged the supply at said store, with only this thread to blame.

 

Etre ain't much better these days. Their Cantillon prices are out of control on everything but the classic gueuze. Something like St Gilloise or Iris is $18-$20, and that's before the requisite $10/bottle or so in shipping costs gets added on. $35 at a bar isn't much markup beyond the $30 you'd pay to order overseas.

I certainly don't blame them, as beer geeks have driven the prices up themselves, but it's a tough pill to swallow when they're charging literally double the prices they did only two years ago.

 

To echo others, don't get your hopes up too much. Bars/stores frequently list Cantillon in their old/online menus, but rarely have it in stock. Perhaps there just aren't many beer geeks down in that area, but I haven't seen a store with that kind of Cantillon stock in 5 years.

 

If you didn't like 3F Oude Gueuze you probably won't be crazy about Cantillon's take on the style.

Based on what you've told us about your taste - I'd say go for the Rose and LP Kriek.

 

Have to agree with this comment. Was having a tasting with some buddies of mine and we all agreed it was flat. If it were me buying I'd probably opt-out and venture on something. Sounds like a great time though! Have a brew for all of us BA.

 

If your GF gets unhappy with you buying 'Loons, perhaps your cash isn't the only thing you should be dumping.

 

my experience with loons at steins went like this:

i ditty bopped around the selection for a good thirty minutes making decisions. it's not a big selection, think like, three racks. it was pretty obvious i was being deliberate... then i grabbed a box or two and started loading up on tilquin, 3F OG and golden blend, fantomes, some other goodies i can't get locally... the owner (i guess?) came by, saw i was about to drop a few hundred bucks (i was muling a bunch too), and asked if i had interest in cantillon. "why yes of course that'd be awesome"... and he went to the back and came back and put a few bottles of classic right into my box so it wouldn't be out in view of some of the other shoppers i suppose.

so basically, don't expect to just see it on the shelves.

 

Even if you find that you do NOT care for Cantillon (heresy, but always possible) dont give up forever. It took me awhile to fully get into sours of their nature and I almost drain poured my first Rose because I was uneducated as to what to expect. Let your palate develop and come back in a year or so. Once you start to appreciate them, you will always wonder why it took so long. Good luck.

 

Make sure you have an frozen, slightly dirty, over-sized Oktoberfest mug to drink them from.