There are a few exciting craft beer events happening around Seattle this weekend and I’d like to tell you about them.  I’m sorry for such late notice about them, but that darned annoying thing called ‘real life’ (perhaps you have one too) has kept me way too busy lately!  With Saturday expected to be in the 80’s and Sunday in the 70’s, this weekend will also probably be our last blast of real Summer for the year too, so make sure you pick one of these events, or some other event around town, and get out there and enjoy it.

First up is Cantillon Zwanze Day at Brouwer’s Cafe.  Gezundheit.  If you aren’t familiar with Cantillon, you owe it to yourself to get to know them.  Specializing in lambic, gueuze and other traditional style ales, they were founded way back in 1900 and have earned the respect of the entire brewing World with their delicious ales.  Starting tomorrow, Saturday, September 14th at 11:00 AM, you’ll be able to sample a very special beer from Cantillon at Brouwer’s Cafe.  That beer: Cantillon Zwanze.

Zwanze is a rare beer created by Cantillon and used to be sold in bottles – until those bottles started appearing  on ebay for truly ridiculous prices.  After that Cantillon changed things up and put tighter control on how the beer was released.  This limited release beer will be enjoyed tomorrow at only a select number of places around the entire World (just 46 places Worldwide), and Brouwer’s Cafe is lucky enough to have been selected as one of those places – which is lucky for us as well.

Here’s what you can expect from this year’s Zwanze, according to Cantillon:

The long fermentation period coupled with the presence of wild yeasts lends this beer a solid character with a dry finish that lingers on the palate, while the combined use of fresh and aged hops yields both freshness and bitterness. Moreover, the different malts used give this year’s Zwanze a coppery colour along with a touch of caramel and candied fruit that provide body. Clearly, this is not your standard “abbey” beer but, perhaps, it is representative of what these beers were one or two hundred years ago. (Read more HERE.)

Zwanze is the prize, of course, but here is the full tap list of what beers Brouwer’s will have pouring for this event:

• Cantillon– Zwanze
• Cantillon –St Gilloise
• Cantillon– Geueze
• De Ranke– XXX Bitter
• New Belgium– La Folie
• Port/Lost Abbey—Red Poppy
• Port/Lost Abbey—Frambiose De Ambrosa
• Russian River—Temptation
• Cascade—The Vine
• Petrus– Aged Pale
• Snipes– Quincenera Andrea
• Commons/De Garde—Ortucky Common
• American Brewing– Stupid Sexy Flanders
• Rodenbach Grand Cru
• Bokor Cuvee de Jacobins
• Elysian Comtesse
• Elysian Krokus
• Black Raven — Corvus Kriekus
• Bear Republic—Tartare

In an effort to reward those of you that line up before the doors open at 11am we are planning on handing out numbered buttons 1-140 (that you can keep) and a raffle ticket that guarantees you the ability to purchase Zwanze when we tap it at noon.  The first 3 people in line will receive a special door prize.

Don’t miss our biggest celebration of the year! The festivities kick off at 12pm sharp and we’ll have a bunch of great information presented by your Board of Directors as well as at tables throughout the event space. Food will be available for purchase at food trucks and nearby restaurants in the area.  We will also have plenty of co-op merch for sale, including bike jerseys and our brand spanking new growlers!Most importantly, there will be BEER!  In addition to delicious Machine House beers, this event marks the release of our latest collaboration beer, our fantastic founding member PALE ALE.  This brew is currently fermenting away at Machine House Brewery.  Each member-owner in attendance will receive one free pint.  Yep, we said it, FREE BEER! So, we’ll see you there!

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