Cantillon Bruocsella 1900 Grand Cru

Bottle shared with blankboy, HogTownHarry & tupalev - courtesy HogTownHarry. Hazy orange-amber with a very still body and no head. Aroma is very sour and funky, with some serious band-aid/medicinal notes - really nice. Flavour is agressively tart and acidic off the top - it was almost too much for me, and I usually really like lambics & geuzes. I got into it more after a few sips, but I found it lacked the complexity and character of the other Cantillon beers that I’ve had. I think I would’ve appreciated it more on it’s own rather than in the middle of a several hour tasting session. At least it cleared those awful Glenora beers from my palate...

Poured a still amber, withi a grainy cloudiness. Aroma of acidic grapes, apricots, some funk, and a bit of sweetness underlying it all. Taste is tart up front with farmhouse funk with some bitter dried apricot in the finish. The body is surprisingly full. Overall I’d say this is not the most pungent Cantillon I’ve had, but is actually quite easy drinking and agreeable. NIce.

Bottle (750ml). Shared with blankboy, GregClow and Hogtown Harry, courtesy of Harry. My first unblended Lambic I think. Dark yellow, with a bubbly little head - almost looks like it was poured from a cask. Intense sourness in aroma, with some burnt rubber thrown in (thanks Harry for articulating that). Nice sour taste - very citrus, even banana like. Not tartness, all citrus and very dry. Really nice to sip, but not overly complex. Thanks Harry, a real treat.

Bottle (750ml). Shared with blankboy, GregClow and tupalev - my bottle. Poured hazy orange with virtualy no head. Aroma .. ah, I’m really getting to love these funky, sour beers - this one had sour cider, tart fruit, burned rubber, funky cheese ... mmm. Taste was a bit too mild, but still nice - to much tart non-hoppy citrus, not quite sour enough, still tasted of cheese, sour fruit, old sneakers - mouthfeel very acidic, but pretty flat, I assume that’s the style, this is my first unblended lambic - overall it grew on me, but I still prefer the geuze style with its carbonation to this on - tupalev is right, it would make a good summer patio sipping beer.

Pours flat and hazy. Big stinky funky woody sour aroma. Has some fruity notes also, maybe some cherry and pear. Also a bit of breadiness. Very clear and strong in smell. Passes fast to the throat in a fleeting manner, taking all vestiges of the previous meal with it. Repetition captures the flavor. Musky and tart with something of an acidic burn in the finish. The really interesting part of this beer is the retronasal aroma. It has some juniper and dried apricot that is very appealing but quickly lost. Somewhat creamy body with a moderately dry finish. Really an exceptional beer.

A Mes rate: 75cl bottle from Dranken Geers
Shared at home with Sim and Terry Tibbs. Bottle is from 2003 and although it is only 4 years old at this point it is clearly starting to age quite nicely in comparison to the other bottles I have had of this. Excellent looking for an unblended. Very slight carbonation that is undetectable in the mouth but clear in the appearance. Especially after a swill. Dry, earthy aroma with serious barnyardy funk.Lovely citric notes and plenty of Cantillon barrel in there too. Incredibly dry in the mouth. Utterly excellent lambic. Heavily citric and sour. So very refreshing and drinkable. Almost wine like qualities. Palate cleaning attributes are nothing but superb. Prickle at the back of the throat leaves you wanting more. So bloody good.

Cloudy dark golden pour with no head. Excellent aroma of tart fruits, cheese and barnyard. Sadly the flavor is not as amazing as the aroma, there is tartness, mild cheese and barnyard, the finish is sweet and tart. The body is light with a liquorous texture and very low carbonation. One of the mellower Cantillon products, damn.

750 mL bottle (corked and capped, bottled in 2005) sampled late October 2005: pretty clear, golden hay; completely still. Lemon grass and citrus resin aroma with leather, limestone and bittersweet vanilla. Though the palate lacks all carbonation, this one doesn’t need it, because you are transported back to a time when beer isn’t supposed to be fizzy, where all of the flavours are completely natural and 100% unique. Flavours are lip puckering with bitter grapes and sour grass. Dry, acidic finish, simply splendid.