Steeped in history and tradition, Cantillon is held in the highest regard among beer connoisseurs worldwide. Cantillon produces Lambic beer, but unlike other Lambic brewers, does not sweeten or modify their beers in any way. Cantillon beers are sour, funky and unique - they are the traditional style sour beers brewed as they were when the brewery first opened over 100 years ago.
Lambic beers are made from a blend of malted barley, raw wheat and debittered -3 year old- hops. The wort is exposed to wild yeasts and natural bacteria by cooling in an open vat. The beer is matured in oakwood or chestnut barrels, which also harbour the wild yeasts and bacteria, and left to naturally ferment in the brewery’s cellar for up to 3 years.
The wild bugs cause the beer to ferment natural (spontaneously) - that is without the addition of any commercial yeast strain. The result is a light bodied but intensely sour and complex beer with a tartness reminiscent of a hard cider or white wine.
Lambic brewers often add fruit to the casks mid fermentation. The beer then takes on intense fruit flavours and colours, though interestingly the fruit does not add much sweetness to the beer.
The beer is commonly bottled in 750mL corked champagne bottles - fitting due to the vinous character of this style. We are lucky enough to have 375mL corked bottles also.
Click on any of the above images toi view the world renowned beers of Cantillon Brouwerij
