Cantillon Zwanze Sept 20, 2014

1. Beer not great.
2. Shitshow.

Why are you sucking it up and going again? Neve been myself, so just curious.

 

Probably because it is a different beer this year (which should be much, much better).

 

Because I'm a masochist? Haha, honestly because I love Cantillon beers and they're worth the hassle to drink every once in a while.

 

How do the lines typically look at Sputyen Duyvil/Alewife? How early should someone realistically show up?

 

In the past went I've gone to Spuyten, I've arrived around noon. The bar seats are already taken, and the outside (weather permitting) is pretty full with groups. Chances are you will be standing at Spuyten. There usually isn't a line. In the past they've sold tickets for Zwanze pourings ahead of time. A lot of people seemed to come in, buy a ticket, have a beer, leave, and come back for the tapping.

It was never packed to the gills until everyone came back with their tickets for Zwanze pours.

Alewife last year never got past the comfortably crowded stage. Seats were open (you had to make friends) outside on the porch until mid-afternoon, and they had people taking orders at all of the tables on both floors, so you didn't have to wade down to the bar, if you didn't want to.

 

Alewife sounds like the way to go if you don't like people, like me.

 

I think I'll be going to spuyten unless alewife lists some nice kegs. I'll follow the chance I get fou foune on tap (crossing fingers spuyten gets it again)

 

Took last year off. This year I'll have Fou Foune at snallygaster the weekend before, and then trudge back up for zwanze. Just plan on getting there early and riding the wave of awesome beer.

 

Hello,

If you don't mind I have a few questions for you.

In reading it seems like they open normally and serve the other beers other than "Zwanze" (Cuvée Florian) throughout the day until they are kicked correct?

Do they give out tickets for the Zwanze beer or will it just become available when it is tapped? I have seen that the time will be 3pm.

Was it cash only last year?

Thank you for any insight.

 

Thank you very much for answering my questions. I am indeed in NY but it just so happened I will be in Philly on Zwanze Day so wanted to do a bit of research before attending. I just had a few more questions:

When you say, "...not regular wait to get in.", do you mean that people are lined up at the door before 11:30? I suppose I should have said this sooner but I will be in town with around 7-10 other guys this year most of whom aren't fans of sours or even craft beer for that matter. I was hoping to get there grab seats, get some beer into them, try Zwanze then leave.

As for the draft beer you mentioned if they have any of those I will be more than happy. I enjoy Cantillon and RR beers so rarity is not my number one concern. Of course I will take a look at the bottle list too. Depending on what they have that cash only could be a killer!

Thanks again.

 

You'll need to be in line early to get a table. There is only one table that seats 7-10. Please don't bring people that don't like sour beers to this event... there already will be too many people for seats, let the people that actually want to be there have them.

 

We will make sure to line up early. Very much looking forward to the event and our trip to Philadelphia. Thank you for the tip and enjoy Zwanze Day if you will be attending.

 

This makes me very happy that I'm not going to Monk's. Seriously, that place is small enough, as is. Drop your boys at McGlinchey's and catch up with them later.

 

Not a bad suggestion to drop some of them off. Thank you for your suggestion. It's a shame you won't be able to attend. We'll have to drink your share for you

 

If your 7-10 friends are not sour fans, don't take them there. Seriously. They will hate you, everyone else will hate them, and they'll probably wind up drinking some beer that they won't enjoy that other people would scratch and claw to get. No one wins in that scenario. If you are there by yourself (and I manage to make it) I'll look forward to seeing you though

 

Thank you very much for the tip. While it is true some of the group who will be on this trip are not sour fans several are. We are looking forward to the trip and I thank all those who have shared their thoughts for doing so. Hopefully each of you who has expressed your opinions will be able to attend. If you are able to make it enjoy the day, I know we will

 

So Alewife posted today that they're not doing a ticketed event last year and that it's first come, first served. When someone asked about how glassware would be allocated, they said that there would be no Zwanze glassware sent to them from Cantillon. Anyone have any idea what's up with that? HF's mentions a tasting glass but not a Cantillon tasting glass so I take that as possibly just being a HF taster.

Thoughts? Insights?

 

^Yeah that was me, I've been on Alewife for about 4 months trying to find out what's going on for Zwanze. I'm surprised as you mentioned that HF is doing glasses, as are a few other locations. May just be a HF taster, I'm not sure which location I'm going to attend, I'm leaning towards Alewife just because it's easier for me to get to. Really enjoyed the ticketed setup last year though.

 

Does not seem like either of the 2 NYC bars holding Zwanze will be giving away too much information regarding which kegs they got, etc.