Brasserie Cantillon

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.8/5  rDev +4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $

Along with Drie Fonteinen and Moeder Lambic, this is one of THE places to visit when you're in Brussels. When we were there, we tried to go to Cantillon nearly every day and ended up going 4 or 5 times.

The atmosphere is quite nice. When you walk in there are some older gadgets and maps to the right, with barrels and a pouring area on the left beside the beer menu. Further along are the shopping counter and seating for about 50 people. The decor is old and the seating area is quaint. Quite the place to sit for a beer.

The selection is unparalleled. There were perhaps 10 different Cantillon beers to choose from, including young unblinded lambic and plenty of Cantillon's bottled offerings. All the beers are of course served in the appropriate Cantillon glassware after being served out of either a lambic basket or ceramic jug, depending on the beer.

The service was fantastic. Each time we were there, we were greeted by Julie (Jean Van Roy's sister) greeting people with the phrase "Bonjeur-Hello.". She was quite helpful and friendly, and Jean himself was also great when he wasn't otherwise preoccupied. My only minor complaint is that it would be nice to have someone more available for questions about things on the tour -- which is self-guided and otherwise excellent -- though I can't really complain considering how small the staff is.

Overall, this is a magical place, even if you aren't a big lambic fan. There's just so much history that one cannot help but be in awe. I can't wait to go back.

02-27-2012 22:44:54 | More by Thorpe429

Danny1217

Florida

4.39/5  rDev -4.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Cantillon is located in a simple warehouse and as you walk into it there is a funky smell, thanks to all the wild fermentation that goes on in there. What makes the atmosphere great is how traditional and welcoming it feels. The service was pretty good, but there is only a very small staff and they can only do so much.
The self-guided tour was informative and interesting. Plus it came with two free samples.
The selection for drinking there was pretty good. They had bottles of Fou Foune, 50N4E, and Zwanze (the last two we didn't get around to trying due to them being higher in price and I ran out of time.) We also got to drink Vignerrone, Iris, and Lou Pepe Framboise, as well as a tasters of Cuvee Saint Gilloise, kriek, and the young, unblended lambic.
When we were done, we took home several bottles. Unfortunately they were out of most of their more special bottles for off premises consumption. No Fou Foune, Lou Pepe, 50N4E, Zwanze, Vignerrone, or even Iris. We did take Classic Gueuze, Kriek, Cuvee Saint Gilloise, Rose De Gambrinus, and Saint Lamvinus.

Overall it was an amazing experience drinking some of the best lambic in the world, and I would love to visit again whenever I am in Belgium again.

06-19-2013 04:57:36 | More by Danny1217

spoony

Colorado

4.51/5  rDev -1.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | $$

A-Cantillon is located in a nondescript building not far from the Gare du Midi in Brussels. Upon entering, you realize that this is a working brewery, and not just a show for tourists...some men are labeling bottles, others are fixing machinery during the summer down-time, and palates are ready for shipment. Cool. We took the self-guided tour, which was fun, marginally instructive, and pretty quick, although I imagine you could make it longer if you were there when they were brewing. The tasting room towards the front of the house is a bit make-shift, but (aside from being quite chilly) it works for hanging out and it does nothing to detract from the working-brewery feel. We had a great conversation with a Swedish brewer who was visiting.

Q-Obviously, the quality of the brews is good at the source. Temps are cool in the building and they have all of their tasting bottles in the fridge behind the counters.

Ser-The employees working the front of the house were courteous, but not terribly engaging. They poured sample beers, but were not interested in discussing matters. The employees working in the brewery, however, were friendly and ready to answer questions about their craft.

Sel-If you like gueuze and lambic, the selection is a perfect five, because you are in the mother ship. I tried the base lambic, the Kriek, Iris, Fou Foune, 50 North, and Vigneronne. The only missing component was the Lou Pepe line. They did not have any guest beers, but when you have a big selection of Cantillon to choose from, guest beers aren't really an issue.

V-You get a couple of free samples with your tour, which is nice. The bottles for take-away were reasonably priced and mostly in-line with the rest of the city. The bottles for drinking on premises were slightly expensive, but that could have just been because I bought Fou Foune and shared 50 North and Vigneronne, which aren't cheap to begin with.

06-13-2013 03:21:37 | More by spoony

Dreizhen

Georgia

5/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $

I'm in love with this place.

First, I want to talk about the neighborhood. Everyone says it's in a sketchy part of town and I suppose I can understand why, but it's really not. It's just a Moroccan neighborhood that doesn't look as nice. Everyone I've encountered here has been amazingly friendly and helpful (I'm living on the next street over for the Summer) and I've never had any issues. I will say the brewery seems out of place, though. But on to the good stuff.

Once you open the door (look up for the sign as it's easy to miss) you're immediately hit by the smell. I've been to a number of breweries but this smell is something special. It's hard to put my finger on whatever it is, but I promise it will make you salivate, especially if you visit multiple times.

The tour is worth it. Do it. Don't ask any questions; just do it. Try and go on a brewing day, if possible. Drink everything available. It's ridiculously cheap, even compared to what you can buy in Brussels are stores or bars. DOn't even get me started on the challenge of acquiring some of this in the States.

Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Family owned and somewhat family run. They'll talk to you all day about beer. Also gave great suggestions for other places to go in Brussels. They're used to beer nerd pilgrims of all different ethnicities and languages. Every time I go I have a very pleasant experience and it's usually with a different person each time.

It would be a crime to go to Brussels and not visit this wonderful establishment. I'm honestly about to go calculate my food budget for the rest of the summer to figure out how many times I can go here. After that, it's on to figuring out how much I can take home.

Go here!

06-06-2013 18:48:13 | More by Dreizhen

DoubleJ

California

4.36/5  rDev -4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $

One thing I've taught regarding museums is to show up early. Cantillon is not only a brewery, but also hosts a musuem of its gueuze. Fitting how I showed up at 10am before my journey to Waterloo. You can feel the history in the building the moment you walk in. Open the large wooden door and just walk a little further into the brewery. On the right is brewery merchandise for sale, from T-shirts to bottles of its beer, and on the left is a tasting area complete with a menu of available beer and several wooden barrels used as surfaces.

14 different varieties of its beer were available to taste. However, just 5 of them were offered by the glass (at a mere €2 per healthy pour!) The others, may it be Zwanze 2012, Iris, or Saint Lamvinus, are only available by the 750 ml bottle. At least the beers are more affordable at the brewery than at stores in Brussels.

It's amazing how small the tasting area is despite the fame of Cantillon to sour beer geeks. I'm glad I got a chance to take a peak inside before the crowds invade by the afternoon. It's also amazing how the brewery is still in operation despite its dirty interior and the European Commision's fetish for overregulation just around the corner. This is a part of the Brussels beer scene that's not to be missed.

05-23-2013 22:22:22 | More by DoubleJ

Compton25

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +7.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | $$

Visited 4/13/13

Showed up in the afternoon to a packed tasting room. We were able to jump on an English speaking tour with 30 minutes. Afterwards we wandered through the brewery on our on, taking our time and pictures. Loved seeing the vintage bottles lined along the walls.

We sampled Zwanze 2012, LP Kriek, Classic, and St. Lam. Indulged on 2 extra bottles of Zwanze to have in the tasting room. The prices on the bottles to go were outstanding, much cheaper than some of Brussels' well known beer shops. Picked up some nice glassware for a few euros also.

Really enjoyed our time at Cantillon, it seems a world away from downtown Brussels. We spent roughly 3 hours visiting and drinking, only leaving when the closed the doors. Definitely a must do anytime in Brussels.

On a side note, I found it much easier to spend a few euros on a cab than walking from the city square... especially on the way back!

05-10-2013 23:02:55 | More by Compton25

backbaybrewer

Massachusetts

4.73/5  rDev +3.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Visited 4/23/2013

Mecca for lovers of sour beer. Took a day trip from London to Brussels for the sole purpose of visiting this gem.

A fantastic brewery with a self guided tour. The really let you go deep into the brewery and poke around. They only ask that you don't touch. Wish I could have gone during the brewing season (late September to late April). We just missed it. Otherwise a fantastic experience.

Sampled the standard tour samples: the straight lambic and the kriek. Then we just started buying bottles. A bottle of fou fone, zwanzee, rose de gambrinus, and Lou peep kriek later and we were in heaven. Prior to coming here I had oly ever had the gueze.

Then things really got interesting. This is when I busted out my suitcase and loaded it up with four and a half cases of 750ml bottles to pack out. Got a few funny looks when I started packing the bottles with my daughter's diapers. But I think the staff enjoyed watching. All told I brought back 26 bottles. 6 st lam, 6 iris, 6 rose de gambrinus, 4 50nx4e, 2 grand cru and 2 vigneronne. Had to break it into two suitcases because of the airline baggage restrictions, but for those considering a similar move, it can be done.

Anyway. I don't regret going all the way to Brussels and seeing basically nothing but cantillon. That's how great this place is, if you are a fan that is.

05-01-2013 02:01:32 | More by backbaybrewer

khwheel

South Carolina

5/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

Visited 4/20/13

Self guided tour around premises. Free samples. Exceptionally priced bottles in tasting room. Happy people in abundance.

Sampled bottles of:
Gueuze
Kriek
Rose de Gambrinus
Vigneronne
Iris
Lou Pepe
Grand Cru Bruocsella
Cuvee Saint- Gilloise

04-27-2013 13:44:05 | More by khwheel

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.83/5  rDev +5.5%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.75 | $$

Visited the brewery on 4/8/2013 - first in the door at 9am. By far, the highlight of my trip to Belgium. The self-guided tour was amazing. I felt like I was going back in time the further I went through the brewery, from the coolship to the to the oak barrels to the racks of aging bottles scattered throughout. The vibe of the tasting room was wonderful - very rustic with a wood fueled stove and pendant lights made out of vintage Cantillon bottles. I purchased a Zwanze 2012 and my friend and I were served by the lovely Julie Van Roy who patiently answered our questions and generously offered us a second sample of gueuze as well as a pour of Cuvee St. Gilloise. Just a wonderful and memorable experience.

04-19-2013 23:51:56 | More by Jwale73

Beerstorian

District of Columbia

4.93/5  rDev +7.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | $$

Visited there last spring while touring Brussels. They do a great tour of the brewery and then leave you in a tasting area. The tour is one of the best I've had. Walking in from city center is a bit of a hike, but stepping into the brewery is like stepping back in time. There are dusty bottles all over the place, aging and waiting to be labeled. The staff is friendly, service is great.

It's a must-see for beer lovers in Belgium.

02-16-2013 13:50:28 | More by Beerstorian