Trouble at brewery

[User169]

Got an e-mail today about one of my fave breweries, the inestimable 3 fonteinen (near Brussels) purveyor of fine geuze and kriek. Apparently, a thermostat blew in one of their packing sheds and 100,000 bottles (50k litres) were heated to 50oC for 36 hours, effectively trashing the contents.

Apparently though the beer can be distilled to gin, the only problem now being the removal of caps from 100,00 bottles - these bottles have champage-type caps with wood cork and metal cage.

On Saturday, volunteers are asked to go to the brewery to help with manual removal of the caps - reckon I might just go along to lend a hand in the hope of claiming a liquid reward.

They've already had one go at emptying the bottles - see attached.

http://www.editiepajot.com/regios/3/articles/7380

 

[Keith Oates]

Is that what they mean by a "labour of love"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[User169]

Is that what they mean by a "labour of love"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In my case Keith, a definite yes!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I hope the brewery owners sent in emergency supplies of fish and chips (or Belgian equiv.) - they'd need something to help soak up all that spare liquid!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

When you say the "contents have been trashed", does that mean they are completely undrinkable or just not suitable for sale?

If the latter, I'll happily take them off their hands free of charge. If they cover the cost of postage.

Be worth a weekend there if was free Belgian beer - hic!!

 

[accountantpete]

Warm foreign "beer" - pffft. Freddie Flintoff didn't get to where he is now drinking that muck.

 

[Headgardener]

Seems that it is being poured down the drain (what a waste) according to the one picture. I would quite happily help to consume some of the spoiled beer if it wasn't to bad.

 

[User169]

Seems that it is being poured down the drain (what a waste) according to the one picture. I would quite happily help to consume some of the spoiled beer if it wasn't to bad.

Just to clarify, it is not being poured away - they are collecting it and then will distill it to jenever (Belgian/Dutch gin).

The reason they aren't going to sell it as beer is that they can't guarantee it will be OK after the heat treatment it's been subjected too.

 

[User169]

It makes me swell up with pride that the human race - often maligned as callous and cold-hearted - can come up with the goods when required. Those brave volunteers bring a tear to my eye.

I saw them on the Ring TV news, staggering out of the brewery, clearly exhausted by their task.

Thank you.

Most excellent!

Just got to work out how to get there; looks like I'll have to get the train at 4:30 am which should get me to Brussel Noord at 7:30 am and then a taxi to Halle.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

The reason they aren't going to sell it as beer is that they can't guarantee it will be OK

Bugger it - I'll risk it!!!!