Lambic Discussion Thread

[andrewdrinks]

Heads up for anyone who lives near a One World airport (Seattle/Dallas/Charlotte/Philly/JFK), there are some excellent deals on flights to Brussels (and Luxembourg) at the moment for January/February. Prime lambic brewing season if you want to see the magic for yourself, plus the advantage of having the place to yourself at 3F/Cantillon compared to the summer. I just booked for $371 round trip from Seattle - if you get creative you can work in a day stopover in London for the same price.

 

[iong516]

Wow I ****** up not doing this when I lived in Philly

 

[Shrimp Store]

Australia received a Vig and St Lam drop. Managed to land 3x Lam and 2x Vig

Make that 3x Vig

*I do realise I am adding very little to the conversation

 

[ExPimp]

It was until 2010! I remember places like Capone's and Foodery having several varieties of loons available. LPG and LPF could even be found at places like Canal's in NJ. One day, they just all dried up. Had I known, I would have stocked the **** up.

It was the great lambic scare of 2009 that all started when Cantillon mentioned they might cease production of Fou Foune b/c of low crop yields... It ended up being released, just a smaller batch, but scare caused everyone to finally go out and spend that $17-20 on a bottle of Gueuze or $30-35 on a Lou Pepe and clear the shelves of the vintages that just sat around the country.

At least that's the way I remember it... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[SeaWatchman]

It was the great lambic scare of 2009 that all started when Cantillon mentioned they might cease production of Fou Foune b/c of low crop yields... It ended up being released, just a smaller batch, but scare caused everyone to finally go out and spend that $17-20 on a bottle of Gueuze or $30-35 on a Lou Pepe and clear the shelves of the vintages that just sat around the country.

At least that's the way I remember it... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

That’s exactly what happened. I remember it well

 

[2plums4one]

The beers all survived just fine. Thankfully the USPS worker that taped up the box didn’t give any care about the contents cause they could be clearly seen.

I assume this is for the cantillon box? Did he send you an invoice? How did you pay?

 

[jbdpsu82]

View attachment 1377 So my beers arrived today via BiaB. Was never sent any tracking information, just that my beers would be sent soon. I think Kirt is a great person and has always been wonderful to me, but this one was pure luck.

And here I sit waiting for an email to even acknowledge that he received my ticket, or picked up the beer, or to pay for shipping... I wonder how much of a problem it would cause to switch to Etre at this point.

 

[NClambicguy]

I assume this is for the cantillon box? Did he send you an invoice? How did you pay?

It was a combination of Cantillon plus the OBDs bottles that a buddy picked up for me. Kurt sent me an invoice for the packaging and shipping. Was 45€ to pack up the box of 18 bottles and around another 100€ for shipping

 

[BadJustin]

View attachment 1377 So my beers arrived today via BiaB. Was never sent any tracking information, just that my beers would be sent soon. I think Kirt is a great person and has always been wonderful to me, but this one was pure luck.

Nope. Etre, take my money.

 

[beerinnv]

Nope. Etre, take my money.

*Jonathan likes this

 

[user 308679]

Nope. Etre, take my money.

Etre took my money and just received a shipping notification this morning. Now the [gulp] wait begins......

 

[BadJustin]

Etre took my money and just received a shipping notification this morning. Now the [gulp] wait begins......

Same. Last order took less than a week.

 

[user 308679]

Same. Last order took less than a week.

Counting on it. Had it shipped to relatives on the east coast who just happen to be visiting next week.

Naturally the box weighs 54lbs so they'll have to remove a bottle or two to get it under 50, but that's the price of no LAX.

 

[iong516]

Been studying for an exam for months... thanks to Macenson I have this to celebrate the end of it! Excellent interplay of young bright character with some developing maturity. A lovely beer.

 

[jbdpsu82]

For anyone waiting on BiaB to send shipping links for payment, I received a response on Facebook messenger. I asked if they had any idea when we could expect to be sent the links. The response was that they have no idea when they will be sending out the links, and that they also need to wait for Cantillon to get sets together. I find this slightly disheartening. I get it, they're swamped. I didn't have realistic expectations of the one week turnaround. The same thing happened last online sale, and that was way fewer sets. But what started with a goal from BiaB of shipping links within a week of the sale has now reached 2 weeks with little to no communication and no idea of fulfillment. In some cases I know people that have not even received acknowledgement that their email with tickets was received. I'm patient, but I also value communication or some sort of timeline.

FWIW, Etre responded to a message yesterday and stated they just did a bottle pickup on Wednesday, and that it would probably be another 2 weeks before they went to do another.

So, the waiting continues.

 

[daniel1]

For anyone waiting on BiaB to send shipping links for payment, I received a response on Facebook messenger. I asked if they had any idea when we could expect to be sent the links. The response was that they have no idea when they will be sending out the links, and that they also need to wait for Cantillon to get sets together. I find this slightly disheartening. I get it, they're swamped. I didn't have realistic expectations of the one week turnaround. The same thing happened last online sale, and that was way fewer sets. But what started with a goal from BiaB of shipping links within a week of the sale has now reached 2 weeks with little to no communication and no idea of fulfillment. In some cases I know people that have not even received acknowledgement that their email with tickets was received. I'm patient, but I also value communication or some sort of timeline.

FWIW, Etre responded to a message yesterday and stated they just did a bottle pickup on Wednesday, and that it would probably be another 2 weeks before they went to do another.

So, the waiting continues.

Etre picked up last week and told me on Wednesday morning (10/17) my set was being picked up the following day.

 

[jbdpsu82]

Etre picked up last week and told me on Wednesday morning (10/17) my set was being picked up the following day.

Wait, you're right. They said they picked it up Thursday (yesterday). My mistake. But either way, no pickup in the immediate future.

 

[JBP]

BiaB...

....communication

 

[BelgianChris]

SeaWatchman you're right about this one. It sure has got a special smell and taste. Goat cheese is what crosses my mind first.

 

[SeaWatchman]

SeaWatchman you're right about this one. It sure has got a special smell and taste. Goat cheese is what crosses my mind first.

Probably my least favorite Cantillon I’ve ever tried.

 

[Saind]

Probably my least favorite Cantillon I’ve ever tried.

Below LHD?

 

[sherm10161]

In some cases I know people that have not even received acknowledgement that their email with tickets was received.

I'm in this camp. It's been close to two weeks since my original email to Kurt. I've actually have very positive experiences with BiaB in the past, which is why I opted to go with them. But this is pretty frustrating.

I've communicated that, absent a response to my email by EOD Monday, I would like my proxy order cancelled.

 

[tosh1]

I am just happy local shelf Cantillon does still exist, and at decent prices.

 

[ggfunk]

 

[SeaWatchman]

Below LHD?

Well below

 

[matedog]

I am just happy local shelf Cantillon does still exist, and at decent prices.

View attachment 1446

That’s not reality!

 

[GetchaPull]

Well below

(Link to media)

 

[SeaWatchman]

(Link to media)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[vav1]

I recall ages ago when I first got into craft beer there were some bottles of Cantillon (Gueuze and Kriek I believe) sitting on the shelf at a bottle shop that I used to frequent for like $20. I scoffed and proclaimed, "Who in their right mind would spend $20 on a single bottle of beer". Man... if only I knew what I would become.

That’s exactly what happened. I remember it well

Accurate. I got written up at Sam’s in early 2009 for “buying too much expensive Lambic no one wants.” and then again at Binny’s the next year for buying the entirety of the Cantillon and 3F stock when Shelton switched wholesalers.

Common theme was “wtf is that, I’m not spending $35 on a bottle or beer gtfo.” My best customer for these was Greg Hall, heh.

Then one day it was like a light switched flipped and it was all gone.

 

[jbdpsu82]

I'm in this camp. It's been close to two weeks since my original email to Kurt. I've actually have very positive experiences with BiaB in the past, which is why I opted to go with them. But this is pretty frustrating.

I've communicated that, absent a response to my email by EOD Monday, I would like my proxy order cancelled.

Exactly. I've used BiaB numerous times, including having bottles shipped home from Quintessence (which was another prolonged and communication-lacking process). Kurt is immensely helpful and I give him props for doing this for people . Yes, I know he makes money, but it's not something I would have the patience to do for so many people. I have considered cancelling the proxy and going with Etre. But, because the response I got from BiaB on timing was so vague it is possible that Etre on a two week pickup plan is actually later than BiaB. Additionally, because of the lack of response, it would be impossible to know if they even read your cancellation email. Haha

Let me know if they provide a response to your cancellation email. I have a draft email ready to go for Etre, but keep giving Kurt the benefit of the doubt, mostly because of all the positive experiences in the past.