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Brasserie Cantillon set to expand and double production

Jean Van Roy released some big news today: Brasserie Cantillon has found a space where they can add lots of extra barrels and increase production by double over a four year period. The building is just 300 meters from Cantillon, and was the site of another lambic blendery, Brasserie Limbourg, which closed in the 1960’s.

Jean Van Roy, Brasserie Cantillon, moving a barrel from one floor to another.
Jean Van Roy, Brasserie Cantillon, moving a barrel from one floor to another.

Jean told me during my Bomb Shelter Beer Cellar visit in April that he had been looking for another place to add more wooden barrels since last year, so that production could be increased, and that he thought he had found a fine spot near the brewery. But he wanted to keep it a secret until a final deal was made on the new locale, and now that has come to fruition.

Jean Van Roy in the Bomb Shelter Beer Cellar.
Jean Van Roy in the Bomb Shelter Beer Cellar.

Cantillon will continue operations as normal at 56 Rue Gheude. Wort intended to be put in barrels at the new location will be brewed as now, and taken the morning after it has cooled in the koelschip to the new space, where barrels will be filled.

Brewmaster Jean Van Roy filling barrels with Iris.
Brewmaster Jean Van Roy filling barrels with Iris.

“The new space is big enough to double Cantillon’s production. Because we can’t disturb the balance between the new and old Lambic in our blend, we will increase the production each year to finally double it in the next four years,” Van Roy said today.

The pitcher is used to fill the barrel to the very top without spilling much of the lambic.
The pitcher is used to fill the barrel to the very top without spilling much of the lambic.

He added: “The wort, brewed at the Cantillon brewery, will be transferred the day after the cooling and will mature for years in the new location. As you know, we need at least two or three years to produce a beer. In this way of working, the next production increase will take place during the 2016-2017 season.”

I look forward to seeing the “new” space and to the increased availability of Cantillon beers in a few years!

Brasserie Cantillon 50 N 4 E
Brasserie Cantillon 50 N 4 E
Brasserie Cantillon Fou' Foune.
Brasserie Cantillon Fou’ Foune.
Some of the goodies available in December 2012. Oh yeah.
Some of the goodies available in December 2012. Oh yeah.

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2 responses to “Brasserie Cantillon set to expand and double production”

  1. Chuck Cook Avatar
    Chuck Cook

    Hello Jaime, It was between 1,500 and 2,000 U.S. barrels per year. Not a huge number, so this increase is great news!

  2. Jaime Vetter Avatar
    Jaime Vetter

    To you happen to know what there current capacity is now at the brewery and how/if it has ever been increased in the past? Having been to Cantilion, I’m would be curious to hear how much they have been able to brew yearly on that system and what the limits might be before there maxed out.

    Cheers,
    Jaime

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