Zwanze Day 2017 West Lakeview

Look to be a few threads for past years. Might be worth perusing for some details.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/chicago-zwanze-day-2016.441309/
https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/wlv-zwanze-day-15-thread.330510/

 

It's a great time, but it was really expensive last year.

Im 50/50 on going, mainly because I don't like to give my money to WLV.

 

How do they still get this event? What year is it?

 

I'm gonna say Jean Van Roy doesn't concern himself all that much with the day to day operations of bottle shops on the the other side of the Atlantic.

Christina has consistently handled the event well, and been an ambassador for Cantillion and Zwanze.

Despite the fact I don't like the business personally, and the way employees have been treated, it's tough to deny she's handled the Zwanze event well.

 

The space doesn't seem too big, with day of ticket sales is it usually hard to get a ticket?

 

Interesting. Thinking about going but sounds like the small space is an issue? Haven't been to WLV.

 

Space won't be an issue. They host in on the lawn in the back of the shop, and it used to be in a tent so weather isn't an issue.

It's a well-run event (mainly due to the volunteers), and it's all-you-can-drink/eat, which is nice considering the price. No idea how ticket sales will go since the last time that I went they sold them online. I would expect a crowd early considering the impressive Cantillon taplist and the likelihood that the owner sells some of her hoard of vintage beers/whisk(e)y.

I won't be going because I'm against giving WLV money or business of any sort since the owner has a proven history of being a pretty repellent personality.

 

Have they ever in the past announced what is being poured outside of Cantillon? I am checking the website and it still says Guest Draft List tba. I am not going, but I would like to see what I am missing out on haha.

WLV will always get some of my money because they employees rock (usually). It is the ownership that sucks.

 

The draft list outside Cantillion is always solid. Usually skews local, but stuff that's one offs and on the rare side. Last year they got bottles of fuzzy sent to them from Side Project.

If you want to get a ticket, you have to show up
early and just wait in line for a few hours, but that's about it.

 

So how do we feel about the owner, guys?

It's a shame I never made it to Zwanze before finding out the aforementioned ownership issues. Now I'll probably never check it out.

 

You can always plan next year to go to Zwanze day at a different venue like at Side Project or Jolly Pumpkin.

 

Yeah, it's just that WLV is within walking distance of my house, so was ideal!

 

Personally, I love this event. I do not know much about Christina, although I've heard plenty of stories, but the event is great. Unlimited pours, free food, bottle shares, it's 7 hours long so you can come and go as you please and the rare/limited bottle purchase is nice. This will be my fourth year in a row going. I've always arrived about an hour after it starts, walk right in, buy my Zwanze pour ticket and enjoy the day. The only downside I've ever experienced is when it rains, then it can suck a little bit.

 

Goose Block Party being the same day makes it all the easier to skip also.

That and the price jump. I think it was $75 or $80 last year.

It was $40 3 years ago.

 

The Side Project one is th best beer event I've been to. If I could have snagged online tickets I'd be driving back down this weekend

 

Blah, blah, everyone's boss sucks!! But this is a no brainer. Practically all-u-can drink BCBS variants vs 2oz pours of sours? Doing both is out of the question. That's how you get hit by a car, lose some teeth, and get into a fight at block party.

 

So many complaints about ownership. I've personally never had a problem but I guess that explains why there are always new employees there. They don't seem to last long. It's too bad they get such great beers there.

I went to Zwanze day at WLV two years ago when they sold tickets online. It's nice having tickets in hand than waiting in line although I'm sure they'll let everyone in who wants to pay. It was and probably should be a good time

 

So if I'm able to attend, I should bring a few fun bottles to the event too? Or is it sharing bottles bought from the cellar?

 

For what it's worth, the owner of WLV was never my boss, and she still sucked.

In terms of BCS vs. Cantillon, it's probably more about the style of event you wanna go to. Block Party is gonna be pretty hectic, I'd imagine, and so I'd think Zwanze would be the more chill option.