Lambics: Am I missing something?

Nope... I have been going to hot beer releases for many many years before this rush on Cantillon. 4 years ago I got shut out at Kate the Great. I showed up at 4:30 AM. A 3-4 years ago I missed out on Cueve De Castleton cause I only showed up 2 hours before the release. I had to call to 5-6 different stores to get a 4 pack of KBS 4-5 years ago. So I have been dealing with beer rarity issues for many years now. Not a fad. Just a reality of thngs when you are dealing with a product that is not mass produced on huge scale.

This Cantillon thing is a new development. I honestly think it is hype based. People are buying Cantillon based on the hype. "Everyone is talking about it so I gotta try it" I bet some people who are buying don't even end up liking it. I would also be that there are people hi-jacking bottles for trade investement and gouging down the road. Sours are the new DIPA's. Everyone's gotta have the hot one and every brewers gotta do one. Total fad here stateside in my opinion.

 

Unfortunately Fads don't necessarily set things back to where they were before the fad started. Sometimes those caught up in the fad become believers and stay on.... :-(

 

I have no care to try them.
Haven't eaten fruit since I was a wee lad, I'm sure the flavors would just mak me cringe for the cost I've spent.
La Follie is the only exception to that train of thought for me.

 

So how long does lambic/gueuze have to be popular before they lose their fad status? I mean is KBS a fad since it sells out immediately when it comes in? Or is it because it has been that way for 5 years that it means people genuinely love it?

 

Tender isn't a new beer geek. I had my first Cantillon 8 years ago at the Moan and Dove. In fact I was seeking out craft beer for about 10-15 years now. No fad here.

 

3rd person?

"Jimmy's gonna get you, Kramer! Jimmy holds grudges!"

 

lol Tender likes

 

Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the fad.

 

Demand for quality craft beers here in Boston/Mass has been happening for many many years. Yes the total number of beer geeks has increased over the years but BA fests have been selling out here for many years. 3...4..5... years of something makes it not a fad in my opinion.

 

When you're old enough and have drank widely enough through a whole range of styles from all over the world over a long period of time you will come to appreciate Lambics.

 

If anything, this "fad" is just going to get bigger.

 

no

 

I also feel very strongly that people have a misconception about lambic/gueuze over in Belgium. It's not as popular as you might think. I would say the average beer drinker isn't drinking lambic regularly. Most people would see it as a historical novelty. In fact I would say most of the beer geeks I know over there openly dislike sour beers. They are buying Cantillon but it's not for them to drink but rather to trade to us Americans. There is a reason why the lambic brewing almost went extinct recently. Belgium couldn't support the lambic industy alone without exporting the vast majority of it overseas.

 

Fad is a silly word but the whole craft beer world is certainly in a weird phase. It's becoming cool to be in to craft beer, go ask any random college student. I'm all for it as it's great for the industry that I love.

As for sours/lambics/etc, I like them occasionally but I'd take a great amber over a great sour any day. Too many of them remind me of wine. If I wanted to drink wine, I would be in to craft wine.

 

Lambic is dumb

 

Unless it's Vinnie or Jean.

 

Or Brock

 

From the old boys in the house, read the above over and over. This young man knows what he is talking about! This coming from someone old enough to be a father to most of you!

 

I know you're referring to the craft beer consumers there, but it sounded funny because the average Belgian beer drinker buys a hell of a lot of cases of Jupiler. (Which demonstrates that the craft beer industry here will not likely take a huge share from BMC.)

 

If this goddamn "skinny jeans" fad lasts hundreds of years, posion my gose now.