Craft Beer’s Most Coveted Keg Headed To Titusville’s Playalinda Brewing For Zwanze Day

By  //  August 11, 2016

ticket purchasing announced on September 1

ZWANE-2016-580
The newest beer in the Zwanze series, which will be released simultaneously worldwide at 3 p.m. EST, will be available at only two locations in Florida – the Brix Project and St. Petersburg’s Green Bench Brewing Co.

BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA –Playalinda Brewing Company’s “Brix Project” location, which is slated to open later this summer at 5220 S. Washington Ave. in Titusville, has been selected to receive the highly coveted 2016 Zwanze release from Belgium’s famed Cantillon Brewery. 

Since its introduction in 2008, the Lambic beer has developed a global cult-like following among sour beer lovers, who purchase tickets to sample the extremely limited beer each year on Zwanze Day.

The newest beer in the Zwanze series, which will be released simultaneously worldwide at 3 p.m. EST, will be available at only two locations in Florida – the Brix Project and St. Petersburg’s Green Bench Brewing Co.

In total, 28 craft beer bars and breweries across the U.S. will receive the 2016 Zwanze release as well as a limited number of venues in Australia, Europe, Japan and New Zealand.

“Everyone at Playalinda Brewing Company is beyond excited to host Zwanze Day 2016 at our new Brix Project location,” said Ron Raike, Playalinda Brewing Company brewmaster/partner.

“Cantillon produces some of the world’s finest Lambics, and the limited-edition experimental Zwanze has become an international superstar since its introduction in 2008. Kegs are tapped simultaneously worldwide on Zwanze Day, bringing beer aficionados together in a shared experience across all borders and time zones.”

“It’s an honor to be in the company of some of the highest regarded craft beer bars and breweries from around the world selected to serve this year’s Zwanze release.”

Ron Raike, Playalinda Brewing Company brewmaster/partner is honored to be in the company of some of the highest regarded craft beer bars and breweries from around the world selected to serve this year’s Zwanze release. (Image courtesy of BeerInFlorida.com)
Ron Raike, Playalinda Brewing Company brewmaster/partner is honored to be in the company of some of the highest regarded craft beer bars and breweries from around the world selected to serve this year’s Zwanze release. (Image courtesy of BeerInFlorida.com)

Tickets must be purchased to receive a glass of the 2016 Cantillon Zwanze. Details regarding ticket purchasing will be announced on Sept. 1. The Brix Project will be open to the public free of charge for people not purchasing Zwanze Day tickets on Oct. 1.

In addition to the 2016 Zwanze, several other Cantillon Lambics will be available at the Brix Project on Oct. 1 including:

  • Gueuze  (Gooze – blend of 1,2 & 3 year old)
  • Kriek (Creek – 2 year old blended with sour cherries)
  • Mamouche (Mamoosh- blended with elderflowers)
  • Iris Grand Cru (unblended 3-yr-old Iris, only pale malt used and well hopped)

The Zwanze Day celebration originates from Jean Van Roy, owner of Cantillon, discovering bottles of the brewery’s extremely limited Zwanze beer, selling for well above market price on e-bay making access to it possible for very few people.

Preferring his beer to be available to as many beer lovers as possible regardless of personal wealth, Van Roy reformatted the annual Zwanze Day beer from a bottle-only release at the brewery to a draft-only release at a select number of craft beer bars and breweries around the world.

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The first Zwanze beer bottled was brewed with tart rhubarb, but the recipe changes each year making the annual Zwanze release one of the most anticipated days of the year in craft beer circles.

The 2016 Zwanze is a throwback to the Framboise Cantillon was producing 30 years ago, a Lambic aged on raspberries with vanilla added to round it out.

This will be the first raspberry blend Cantillon has brewed since 1986, making it the only Lambic to incorporate vanilla since then.

CLICK HERE for more information about Playalinda Brewing company and Zwane Day 2016.

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