Fresh Cantillon vs. aging

It's true with every beer. You won't know what to base your tastes and opinions off of if you don't have it fresh. What if you love a fresh one and hate an aged one, or vice versa? It's best to try it both way. If you hate Cantillon fresh or aged, you should probably see a doctor, though.

 

If it's a beer you've never had, drink one now.
If it's a beer you've never had, and you only have one, drink it now anyway.
If you've had it before and it's one of their fruit lambics, drink it now.
If you've had it before and it's not one of their fruit lambics, drink it anytime between now and when your grandchildren are born.

 

Honestly considering where you're at either drink them or seek out vintages to side by side with the contemporary examples. It's a really fun way of drinking any beer.

 

Those of you that don't like to age fruit lambics, do you feel that way about St. Lamvinus & Vigneronne? I feel like those might age better since they're brewed with grapes, but maybe wine is just giving me that illusion.

Although I did have a Malvasia Rosso earlier this year, which was retired, what, 9 years ago? That one's brewed with grapes and it was one of the most amazing beers I've ever tried. I bet Don Q is holding up well too, and that was brewed with grapes.

 

I much, much prefer the Lou Pepe Kriek and Fou'Foune with age, so YMMV when you take advice on that one. Best to experiment for yourself and see which way you prefer. I can offer that the most change takes place between 8-16 months when it comes to LP-K/FF.

 

I personally usually prefer non-fruit lambics anyway, so aging fruit lambics may give them less fruit flavor and more funk, which I will most likely prefer.

 

I prefer all Cantillon with age, except for Fou' Foune. It's an abomination not to drink that beer fresh imho.

 

Soo being in Texas sucks cant get Cantillion anywhere. I would give up the naming rights to my first child to whoever could get me some

 

Age the gueuze... drink the fruited stuff now.

 

I've found it gets less balanced and more on the acidic side with age. Fresh draught cantillon is much more rounded out than anything I've ever tryed bottled. Personally I found Fou Fonne slightly sweet (so good balance) yet I wanted it to be more soured. So I'd give that beer a bit of time to sit. For the regular series Bio Lambic, Kriek and rose they get pretty puckery after about a year and continues from there. So experiment and decide for yourself!

 

Agreed that if you've never tried them fresh, drink them fresh. That being said there are VERY few Cantillon beers I prefer fresh. The only ones I can think of that I prefer fresh are 100% Kriek and LP Kriek. Fou Foune at 2 years is an excellent beer and I prefer aged Rose and LP Framboise over fresh also.

 

anyone see the Cantillon post on facebook today? Opened up a 35 yr old gueuze for lunch

 

I disagree with the "drink it fresh if you've never had it" train of thought. Either way you still need another bottle to try it both ways...

I prefer to tuck away beers like this and hope to find another down the road, at which time I can do a side by side, fresh vs. aged. If I drink it fresh I might not come across another bottle for awhile, and then it still needs to be aged.

This only applies to beers that I already know are popular cellar candidates.

 

Gotta be nice when your lunch break involves three decade old gueuze.

 

If you have enough....drink some now and age some for later.