Lambic Discussion Thread

[tylerk88]

Is there much of a difference between retailers who sell bottles for a crazy markup vs. those who sell the bottles online?

Quieter, more sporadic releases seem like a possible solution. I feel for JVR & co., though. He could not give a **** and just sell all of his stock in 2-3 days, but it's clear he wants to get the bottles in the hands of people who will enjoy them.

 

[Saind]

Is there much of a difference between retailers who sell bottles for a crazy markup vs. those who sell the bottles online?

Quieter, more sporadic releases seem like a possible solution. I feel for JVR & co., though. He could not give a **** and just sell all of his stock in 2-3 days, but it's clear he wants to get the bottles in the hands of people who will enjoy them.

To be fair to the Belgians, they're pretty fair as far as retail prices go. A lot of the time it's cheaper to by in a store than at the brewery.

 

[daniel1]

Is there much of a difference between retailers who sell bottles for a crazy markup vs. those who sell the bottles online?

Quieter, more sporadic releases seem like a possible solution. I feel for JVR & co., though. He could not give a **** and just sell all of his stock in 2-3 days, but it's clear he wants to get the bottles in the hands of people who will enjoy them.

Seems that way, yeah. So a price increase to stick it to the flippers probably isn't an option. Silent, staggered releases seems the most feasible. Everything else looks like you're just trading one headache for another.

 

[Ziggy]

Isn't The Sovereign at least part owned by the Shelton Bros? They have some of the best, if not the best, year-round lambic selection in the US.

They are owned by a restaurant group that has a really really solid relationship with shelton

 

[Beerontwowheels]

I thought Zach Shelton was the general manager of The Sovereign up until recently.
http://www.dcbeer.com/news/wiz-kid-shelton-leaving-town-new-gig-avenue-pub-big-easy

Yeah, he was. Also worked at Birch and Barley as a host and barback. Bartended at Churchkey, etc. Helped open Blue Jacket. Seems NRG gave him good experience at a number of key positions. He's now set up to run a place on his own. Doesn't mean Shelton has a slice of ownership in NRG though.

 

[rmalinowski4]

What about tying on site consumption to to-go sales? Can't just come in and buy bottles to go.

 

[ggfunk]

It's a crappy position because no matter what they do, they will be "doing it wrong."

 

[2plums4one]

It's a crappy position because no matter what they do, they will be "doing it wrong."

agreed. I trust their judgement and am basically just bummed that it has come to this.

 

[duketheredeemer]

You might be relegated to Bruery Terreux.

I don't think I can pronounce "Terreux" correctly.

 

[BelgianChris]

A lot of the time it's cheaper to by in a store than at the brewery.

Which store might that be?

 

[Saind]

Which store might that be?

Sowieso bij Willems in Grobbendonk. Gisteren bij Marlou in Zonhoven ook nog de nieuwe van Cantillon en Tilquin Pinot Noir voor minder dan in Brussel meegenomen.
Bij Geers in Oostakker ook, maar dat is me te ver rijden

 

[Lamnic]

What about tying on site consumption to to-go sales? Can't just come in and buy bottles to go.

I posted this idea in the comments for them.

I genuinely think this would work. For every bottle you buy to drink on site, you can buy a bottle to take home. Cap it at a certain amount. Only tie it to special bottles, so people can still buy geuze kriek and rose as much as they want.

 

[matedog]

I posted this idea in the comments for them.

I genuinely think this would work. For every bottle you buy to drink on site, you can buy a bottle to take home. Cap it at a certain amount. Only tie it to special bottles, so people can still buy geuze kriek and rose as much as they want.

I actually really like that idea. They would waive the requirement for loyal customers that they know pretty easily, which is fine with me.

 

[Saind]

I actually really like that idea. They would waive the requirement for loyal customers that they know pretty easily, which is fine with me.

Kind of an issue concerning DUI though.

 

[Digita7693]

Kind of an issue concerning DUI though.

What public transit is for. But yeah, sucks for locals that want to grab a few beers.

 

[matedog]

Kind of an issue concerning DUI though.

It's right next to a major train station. Transit isn't a big deal. If you need to drive, plan it out so you get dinner after. Not really that hard if you know ahead of time.

 

[waltersrj]

I wish we were all living the great beer decade of 2000-2010. Lambic just hung around and you could go to Whole Foods and buy as much BCBS as you wanted.

 

[stupac2]

Kind of an issue concerning DUI though.

I've had a lot of lambic binge days in my life and never been particularly close to getting drunk off of it. Most of it is like 5% and you can't drink it quickly. I'd say this isn't a very big danger. (Not that the idea is problem-free, I just don't think this is a big worry with lambic. Now if Cantillon made pastry stouts...)

 

[jbeezification1]

Now if Cantillon made pastry stouts...)

 

[Saind]

I've had a lot of lambic binge days in my life and never been particularly close to getting drunk off of it. Most of it is like 5% and you can't drink it quickly. I'd say this isn't a very big danger. (Not that the idea is problem-free, I just don't think this is a big worry with lambic. Now if Cantillon made pastry stouts...)

Or just don't drink and drive?

 

[2plums4one]

I wish we were all living the great beer decade of 2000-2010. Lambic just hung around and you could go to Whole Foods and buy as much BCBS as you wanted.

I hear ya man. Sign of the times.
I don't usually post youtube links, but I feel like the band name and song title are kind of relevant here.

 

[RyanG1]

It's right next to a major train station. Transit isn't a big deal. If you need to drive, plan it out so you get dinner after. Not really that hard if you know ahead of time.

I saw your comment on the Cantillon Facebook page, I am greatly disappointed you are in fact not Ice Cube.

 

[matedog]

I saw your comment on the Cantillon Facebook page, I am greatly disappointed you are in fact not Ice Cube.

Nah, this is an old photo. I got rid of the jheri curl around 91. Between Kill at Will and Death Cert.

 

[jbeezification1]

I saw your comment on the Cantillon Facebook page, I am greatly disappointed you are in fact not Ice Cube.

I hope I never see this comment and have the illusion ruined.

Nah, this is an old photo. I got rid of the jheri curl around 91. Between Kill at Will and Death Cert.

Illusion restored.

 

[sherm10161]

8/31/2011. One of my last few US labeled Classic Gueuze bottles.

Nice funk and complexity that just isn’t there in younger bottles. But still very soft and well rounded. A hint of sourness, perfectly balanced against a very light cereal sweetness, some grassy notes, and funk.

I still prefer 3F OG in general, but this is fantastic.

 

[SeaWatchman]

I've had a lot of lambic binge days in my life and never been particularly close to getting drunk off of it. Most of it is like 5% and you can't drink it quickly. I'd say this isn't a very big danger. (Not that the idea is problem-free, I just don't think this is a big worry with lambic. Now if Cantillon made pastry stouts...)

I would argue that very little of it is 5%. It's usually 6-7+% despite what old Cantillon labels say.

 

[simont1]

I would argue that very little of it is 5%. It's usually 6-7+% despite what old Cantillon labels say.

I think their old OG values were from when they moved it to the coolship, but around 10-15% evaporates so the wort going into the barrels are actually higher.

 

[Maakun]

I posted this idea in the comments for them.

I genuinely think this would work. For every bottle you buy to drink on site, you can buy a bottle to take home. Cap it at a certain amount. Only tie it to special bottles, so people can still buy geuze kriek and rose as much as they want.

Then Americans will get most of the bottles as they're usually the ones ordering a whole table full of stuff to drink at once.

 

[dadavat]

I think their old OG values were from when they moved it to the coolship, but around 10-15% evaporates so the wort going into the barrels are actually higher.

10-15% evaporation in the coolship sounds like an incredibly high number. where did you read that?

 

[Digita7693]

Or just don't drink and drive?

Completely on board with this. I think way too many people grossly overestimate their abilities to drive after even a little alcohol.