Cantillon Bruocsella 1900 Grand Cru

I was shocked I liked this, because I wasn’t a true lambic fan. But man was this nice. Forget where I got the bottle, but it was bottled Jan 07 and I had it July 08 (it was the Organic). Pours even with no head or carbonation - the best color I have yet seen in a sour, lambic or geuze. Brilliant flavor that is deep and not tart (I think the lack of carb. helps a lot to trim the edge off the flavor): mustard, unripe peach, green grape peels, very slight wood, and lemon peel. Only had a couple ounces, but I was impressed and will find this one again.

Unblended real lambic? One of a kind? Sounds like an essential experience for any lambic lover, and I count myself in their ranks. I’m intoxicated immediately after the pour. Once the light amber amber is out, the aroma immediately wafts into the nose without a head to impede it - just a few lurking bubbles, like sharks in an empty sea. It hit hards with a strong column of boozy vapors, along with an oak woodiness, and whispers of peach, flower petals, oranges, nectarine and a subtle potpourri. As for the taste, it’s an acquired one. At first its like drinking public pool water, sort of flat, faint and awkwardly sweet. It stays in this unpleasant state until swallowed, at which point the tongue is aglow in a sophisticated sweet and spiced alcoholic burn, and its worth the price of that initial flavor. I also catch lime and oak in this very hazy aftertaste, but I can definitely confirm it is a delicious aftertaste, and where all of the Cantillon Bruoscella’s merits are collected.

NO head whatsoever. My first unblended lambic. I have drank lake superior lambics and this is something completely different. It resembles the sour tartness of a straight lemon and has a subtle similarity to true apple cider. This drink is a unique beverage that is truly one of a kind. Every beer lambic fan should add this one to their list.

Bottle thanks to Woodsman52. All I can really say is "whoa". I first tasted a lambic style beer over a year ago and this is the first one I’ve tried since then. I forgot how intense these beers can be. Has a hazy yellow color with almost no head at all. Extremely sour, tart, flavor with some citrus backbone. Has a long lasting after taste that. If you aren’t used to drinking lambics, it’s difficult to get past the sourness of this beer. But I can appreciate the intensity and complexity.

Bottle thanks to bigmmartin. Slightly hazy golden with very little head. Sour aroma. I’m not the biggest fan of lambics or sour flavors but I’ll try to be unbiased. Slightly sweet upfront with extreme sourness throughout that lasts. Otherwise smooth on the palate. This reminds me of sour green apples. This is not my favorite style but its not bad compared to other lambics I’ve tried.

Same sample pour as Brigadier at the Beer Engine. I concur with most of his observations however, I would comment on the low to almost non-existent carbonation. The acidity/sourness of the lambic more than makes up for this in the mouthfeel.

4 oz sample

I had the chance to try this at the Buckeye Beer Engine during a special sour ale sampling. It was worth every penny of the $3 I paid. Given the cost for a full 750ml I probably won’t be springing for one any time soon even if I could find it. Even so if I happen to run across this again I will certainly not pass it up.

Aroma / Appearance - The honey colored body was flat and lifeless. The scent of dry white wine tickled the nose along with an orange base, white grapes and an oaky base. For a lambic it was very gentle.

Flavor / Palate - The tartness was not nearly as strong as I thought it would be. Sour, dry and a little woody it was chewy and dense. As expected it did dry out the throat. Reminding me of a dry white wine it was excellent all the way to the final drop.

Bhensonb shared a bottle with me. This golden lambic poured with no head at all, eliciting an acidic aroma. There is a gentle flavor - neither sweet nor sour. One is left with a slightly sour citrus taste on the tongue. This is just a straight, unblended lambic, yet it is very tasty. Thanks Bill.