Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Belgian Beer no.72: Cantillon

This is one of those beers you have to try, but I doubt you’ll like it. I didn’t. A cross between wine and beer, the Grand Cru Bruocsella is a lambic beer. This means a different process, the beer being kept in oak barrels for 3 years. Almost like wine, but not wine. And trust me you can taste this difference.
It can be kept for years, and is considered to be an aristocratic beer. Very Brussels beer – so indeed give it a try when here. The experience is worth it because it is very different from what you expect of Belgian Beers.

Other beers brewed by the Cantillon Brewery are the Gueuze, the Kriek, the Rosé de Ganbrinus, the Iris, the Vigneronne, the St. Lamvinus, the Fou Foune and the Lou Pepe. Prhaps a visit to the brewery will be in order to try all these beers out.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I must admit with you here on not liking this beer, even though it seems to be very traditional. The funniest thing, though, is that it is being sold over her e in Chapel Hill, NC, at our local coop store and it is very popular. They even have tastings of it all the time, it is being advertised as a 'traditional and complex Belgian beer' and people go crazy over it. Complex it is for sure, but I can't understand how people really like it.

Oh well, I usually just buy a bottle of Duvel ;-) (which, in turn, some people frown upon because it is 'light' -- referring to the color. That is, until I have them drink one. Usually, they don't even get to the second, and just waggle home...)

Fabienne said...

I taste this beer and i think it's very different than the other beers but I like it ... And the visit of Cantillon brewery is amazing ! And Jean Pierre Van Roy is fantastic, and so friendly !

Pedro Fraga said...

First time I tried a Cantillon was at the brewery. I feared I wouldn't like it, but I actually felt in love with it.

And visiting them just makes the experience even better: only fantastic people at the Van Roy family :)