Brasserie Cantillon

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.86/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $

I've visited Cantillon several times, and plan to return whenever in the Brussels area. A very short walk from Brussels Midi station, maybe 10 minutes. The neighborhood has decayed somewhat from what I understand, it looks a little sketchy but I still feel safe walking to it.

For 5 euros you can take a self-guided tour (or sometimes guided) of the brewery. This includes the grain room, the brew kettles, the koelschip where wild yeast are introduced to the wort (Cantillon has the most beautiful one I've seen), the barrel aging cellars, and the bottling line. And you get a glass of gueuze or kriek at the end, a VERY good deal overall!

You can try several Cantillon beers while there, I had Pinot d'Aunis on my first visit which was great to try. The souvenir shop sells Cantillon bottles at the cheapest prices I've ever seen, and if you're visiting from the States I'd say it's worthwhile to pick up several bottles to bring home.

Highly recommended, a great brewery that really opens up for their customers to see everything.

04-10-2011 06:06:32 | More by TurdFurgison

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.73/5  rDev -18.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | $$$

Been twice, had a brewery tour both times, the second one guided. Very basic tasting room (although upstairs is a posher one, for invited guests or pre-booked parties) with a small bar area as you walk in and a larger bottle and bits counter for taking away further into the room.

As you walk in the serving area to your left is where you get your tasters after the brewery trip, or if you wish to try any other beers they produce. I was unhappy on both visits to find few beers on offer, both for drinking in, or taking away: although what I had was fine.

I am not a fan of Cantillon's style of brewing, but that didn't stop me enjoying others around me pontificating about how wonderful they are to them!

This isn't the sort of place normal tourists come, beer geeks only (and friends).

03-11-2011 14:11:32 | More by BlackHaddock

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.73/5  rDev +3.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

This is certainly a must see while in Brussels. Most beer tours are just, kind of, well...boring. When my tour was over here, I wished it could have gone on at least just a little bit longer. I think they have professional tour guides who come in and do the whole spiel, so you aren't going to be getting a typical beer nerd/brewers talk. This is probably why every time I answered a question right that the guide asked, he would pretend like I was wrong, and just keep on talking as if whatever I said didn't make sense. (We know how to deal with these beer nerd types!!)

The interior of the brewery is magnificent, providing you with a glimpse back into far gone days. You see everything here from kettle to cellar. I really don't think I need to elaborate on this too much. If you love beer and love lambics, then you love Cantillon. And if you love Cantillon, you know why you need to come here. And when you do, you'll have your experience and smile as much as I did.

08-30-2012 16:58:34 | More by RblWthACoz

jrallen34

Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | $

Located in a part of town that certainly isn't the nice we drove here and found a place to park a couple blocks way. Walked in a non-descript door and went back in time several decades. Very old but well kept wharehouse like atmosphere. To left as you walk in is the bar where you can purchase bottles of on sight consumption, further ahead on the left a quaint tasting room complete with a wood burning fireplace. Across from that is shop, here you can pay for a tour of brewery, and buy glassware, bottles to go and shirts. The tour is 5ish euro and is basically a pamphlet with numbers that as you walk through the brewery gives a brief description of the equipment and what it does. The equipment is so old but in pristine condition. When we were they had just finished brewing because we got to see the coolship with steam still rising being exposed to the open windows. Besides the brewing stuff, barrels galore, very cool to see them checking barrels, and seeing barrels oozing over with yumminess. Another cool thing was the endless bottles, especially really old ones they seemingly forgot about. Beers available were mostly standards but they had Pinot D'Aunis and Mamouche.

This is a most stop if in Brussels. You can see a piece of brewing lore and try some good stuff as well. Looking forward to coming back some time soon.

02-28-2011 00:44:38 | More by jrallen34

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -9.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

This is the Mecca of the Lambic world. Many have made the pilgrimage and few have been dissapointed. Finding the place was part of the mission. The neighborhood is not fantastic and somewhat industrial. But dont let this stop you. Once you enter the establishment, its like being transported back in time. Very friendly and inviting they were happy to answer questions and suppliment the information from the self guided tour.
The atmosphere is totally awesome and heading into the barrel aging room was nothing short of humbling.

I'd say we were a bit unfortunate as Jean was busy with a tournof students. (appeared to be high school age) This had this massive group of approx 25 kids literally blocking the way through several parts of the brewery. We managed and still had a great time. The rooms with the bottles stacked for aging were so cool.

Beer geeks must enter. Hit this before that statue of the little goof!!

04-20-2012 04:18:37 | More by Reagan1984

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

Chincino

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I visited the Brasserie Cantillon on a recent trip to Belgium. It is located on a quiet street in Brussels and it seemed like you wouldn't find it unless you were specifically looking for the brewery.

The trip was a very pleasant and informative experience. You received a guide map of the brewery upon entering and you are allowed to tour the brewery on your own with the different rooms being marked with numbers. At the end of the tour, you are given two samples of the brewery's beers including a Lambic. There is a nice sitting area in which to drink the beer and there is a shop where you can purchase beer and merchandise. The prices of the beer and merchandise were very reasonable.

It was a great place to tour/visit.

03-16-2011 09:24:46 | More by Chincino

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $

Stopped by on a recent trip to Brussels. Its in a bit of a strange neighborhood, but easy to get to. You really step back in time walking in to the brewery. Its a very hands-on kind of place. You are free (encouraged) to tour the place on your own, take pictures, as questions whatever you want. Afterwards, you choose a few of their Geuze or lambics and just chill. Its something like 6 euro for the tour and tasting. You can also purchase additional tastings. You can buy any bottle for sale, at a great price - like 3euro for an 11oz bottle, t-shirts, glasswear, posters..etc. Super friendly service, super chill, very reasonable prices, considering how expensive they can be in the states, and just all around very unique and fun. Like most of belgium, they really take pride in what they make and it shows in the product and atmosphere. Do not leave brussels without having been here!

09-14-2012 20:37:20 | More by DrinkSlurm

drtth

Pennsylvania

4.56/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $

When you enter the front door be prepared to step back in time to the way things were once done by all breweries, back before Pasteur, back before refrigeration, back before you were born. The building is a short walk from a main train station. As you walk towards it the front only stands out from other buildings on the same street by a hanging brewery logo over the door. The tour is self-guided, costs 6 Euros, and includes your choice of a glass of gueuze or kreik at the end.

Before being turned lose to wander the building on my own there was a guide who did a brief information overview in English of what we would be able to see while wandering around. The tour booklet in English makes both a good guide to the brewery and a great souvenier to help keep the memories active and alive once you leave the brewery. The stations on the tour are clearly numbered and the booklet explains what happens in each room and what the purpose is of each piece of equipment. (While there are a few infelicities in the English used in the booklet you should be able to "get" the sense without any difficulty.)

The stations of the tour follow the steps in the brewing process, and the true highlight involves the "attic" room where the koelschip is located. A huge shallow copper lined container, this is where they put the hot wort to allow it to cool overnight and be "innoculated" with the wild yeasts and bacteria that are carried through by the evening breeze. These yeasts and bacteria are local to the region and responsible for the fermentation and the flavors of the Cantillon lambic. I have to agree with the booklet description of the copper liner being a masterpiece of the coppersmith's art.

I think of the dozen or so brewery tours I've made this one is the highlight for me. This is a traditional brewery that follows the cycles of the seasons and nature. And with the booklet as a source of information, I was able to take my time and trace my way through the brewing process without having to worry about keeping up with a guide or a group just going through the motions.

If you get a chance to visit Brussels I strongly urge you to make the time to visit this brewery. An all around fascinating experience, a journey back in time, and a chance to develop greater understanding of a traditional style of beer.

04-12-2011 10:24:21 | More by drtth

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