Tag Archives: zwanze

Two new Florida locations announced for Zwanze Day

The list of locations for Zwanze Day 2016 has been posted by Brasserie Cantillon of Brussels and it has a few surprises.

Florida has a history with Brasserie Cantillon of Belgium, as Orlando’s veteran craft beer bar Relight Redlight has hosted Zwanze Day since 2012.  In 2016, the Belgian lambic brewery seems to be more geared towards breweries hosting their annual celebration of beer.  The list of host spots around the world for Zwanze Day 2016 was posted today, 10 August 2016, and has two new spots in central Florida playing host to this once-a-year lambic release: Green Bench Brewing Company and Playalinda Brewing Company.

The entire list of locations for Zwanze Day in the United States includes:

– Anchorage Brewing Co. — Anchorage, Alaska
– Armsby Abbey — Worcester, Massachusetts
– Avenue Pub — New Orleans, Louisiana
– Bagby Beer — Oceanside, California
– Beachwood BBQ — Seal Beach, California
– Crooked Stave Barrel Cellar — Denver, Colorado
– De GardeBrewing — Tillamook, Oregon
– Fool’s Gold — Manhattan, New York
– Green Bench Brewing Co. — St-Petersburg, Florida
– Hill Farmstead Brewery — Greensboro, Vermont
– Holy Grale — Louisville, Kentucky
– Jester King Brewery — Austin, Texas
– Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales — Dexter, Michigan
– Mikkeller Bar — San Fransisco, California
– Monk’s Café — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
– Novare Res Bier Café — Portland, Maine
– Playalinda Brewing Co. — Titusville, Florida
– REAL a Gastropub — Honolulu, Hawaii
– Russian River Brewing — Santa Rosa, California
– Schera’s — Elkader, Iowa
– Side Project Cellar — Maplewood, Missouri
– Slow Boat Tavern — Seattle, Washington
– Spuyten Duyvil — Brooklyn, New York
– The Sovereign — Washington D.C.
– Thin Man Brewery – Buffalo, New-York
– Trillium Brewing Co. — Canton, Massachusetts
– West Lakeview Liquors — Chicago, Illinois
– 1 more place to be confirmed

Zwanze 2016

About Zwanze Day
Zwanze Day is the annual celebration of Belgian beer, especially that from Brasserie Cantillon. The celebration originates when Cantillon founder Jean Van Roy found bottles of his very limited beer, Zwanze, on sale on eBay for massive amounts of money. Van Roy decided that he wanted to get his beer to as many people as possible and not only the fortunate few who would then sell his beer, so he transformed Zwanze Day from a bottle release at the brewery to a draft-only release in a limited number of very select bars around the world. Hosting Zwanze Day involves an application and being selected by Van Roy.

Redlight Redlight to host Zwanze Day 2014

One of Belgium’s most revered brewers of sour and inspired beers, Brasserie Cantillon of Brussels has announced the list of bars that will receive kegs of their once-a-year released Zwanze. Once again, Orlando’s Redlight Redlight has risen to the top of the short list of host establishments for this uber-rare Belgian beer.

Zwanze Day 2014 is September 20th.

About Zwanze: Zwanze is released once a year by Brasserie Cantillon of Brussels, and prior to 2011 the beer was released in numbered bottles. Cantillon owner Jean Van Roy was content to sell his bottles of Zwanze out of the brewery for about 6 euros, but then he logged on to his computer. His jaw dropped when his bottles appeared on eBay, he noticed that the bottle that he worked so hard to make and sell at a reasonable price was selling for 80 euros. Then and there he made a command decision: he would not sell a bottle of Zwanze in the same way again.

From Zwanze Day 2011 onward to today, Brasserie Cantillon selects a handful of bars around the world to pour Zwanze, thus making it an international liquid outreach, instead of a limited bottle sale. Since the brewery would have to select bars, they could exercise control over those who want to sell the beer on eBay. The release of Zwanze has since become an opportunity to meet and enjoy drafts with fellow beer enthusiasts instead of simply a chance to resell a bottle to those who cannot get one.

Fast forward to 2014, and for the third year in a row Brent Hernandez and his crew at Orlando’s Redlight Redlight (2810 Corrine Drive Orlando 32803) will be 1 of over 50 worldwide tappings of Cantillon Zwanze. The only such tapping in Florida, the next closest tapping being in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Details emerge on Zwanze Day 2013

Since the July announcement that Orlando’s venerable craft beer bar Redlight Redlight will be a part of Zwanze Day 2013, momentum has built toward the September day when Zwanze will be available from Brasserie Cantillon. Only 46 craft beer bars in the world have been selected to host this event, all on the same day worldwide.

Now Redlight Redlight has posted initial details on Zwanze Day:

We are honored to host Zwanze Day once again! Once a year, Belgium’s Cantillon brewery releases a limited number of kegs of a one-time-only beer called Zwanze. Redlight Redlight was chosen along with 45 other beer bars & breweries across the globe! We are excited to share this special keg of beer with our fine patrons!

Each bar receives only 1 of these coveted Zwanze Day
kegs. We will be pre-selling these pours which will allow 1 pour per person.

$6 for a 4 ounce pour of
Cantillon Zwanze (Abbaye de Cureghem)
Cantillon Iris

*You must purchase your ticket to reserve your pour in advance. Only 1 ticket per person can be purchased. You can come in during operating hours or call from 3pm-5pm Monday thru Friday to purchase tickets over the phone.

-$8 for a 6 ounce pour of Cantillon Classic Gueuze will be available on a first come first serve basis.

-Bottles by the glass from Cantillon and Drie Fonteinen will be available.

-Commemorative glasses and t-shirts for sale

-Special beers available on tap from Cigar City, Cask & Larder, Funky Buddha, and 7venth Sun!