Brasserie Cantillon

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Brasserie Cantillon is a small, family-owned brewery founded in 1900 in Brussels, and today it stands as the only active brewery in the region that still produces lambic using traditional methods. This unique beer undergoes spontaneous fermentation, relying on wild yeasts and bacteria naturally present in the air.

The brewing base consists of two-thirds malted barley and one-third unmalted wheat, and after boiling, the wort is cooled in large, open vessels known as “coolships”. It then matures in oak or chestnut barrels of varying ages before being blended and refermented in the bottle.

Within the brewery is the Brussels Gueuze Museum, opened in 1978, offering visitors insight into the history and fermentation processes of this distinctive style. Cantillon is regarded as one of the most respected and authentic producers of Belgian sour beers, earning recognition among connoisseurs and as a cultural icon of brewing heritage.

Production continues using traditional equipment: centuries-old barrels, wooden kettles, and open fermenters - all preserved in their original, functional form. The brewery’s atmosphere, marked by age and history, evokes a near-museum-like setting that reflects continuity and deep respect for a craft passed down through generations.

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