Cantillon Bruocsella 1900 Grand Cru

Brewed by Cantillon
Style: Lambic - Unblended
Brussels, Belgium

2005 bottle.Poured a lightly hazy orangey-yellow, no head, virtually no effervescence. A ton of funk in the nose, barnyard, wet horse, wet straw, with less prominent fruit notes such as persimmon, apricot, peach and something tropical like mango. Still, as in uncarbonated, which I’m not too keen on, but I suppose thats to be expected for unblended lambic. Flavor is nicely sour/acidic, with a drying tannic finish which lingers just about forever, along with something vaguely floral. Moderately sweet up front, with a mild fruit showing, but the acidity quickly takes over. Regardless, its not an overly hard acidity, and it remains easily palatable. Curious, interesting specimen, and a difficult rate.

This grand cru is 100% old beer, mine from 1997 - four years old. Headless, flat, sour and near hopless, this is a beer only it’s mother rather than a beer drinker should love. It’s taken me over an hour to get through the bottle and I must say it’s gotten better as it (and me) have warmed. The color is a shining burnt orange with a sour and grassy nose. The flavor is a complex sour grapefruit, and acetic acid with a slightly astringent finish. Though a brutal first bottle, I will definitely return.

Cuvée 1996, Bottled 1998, 8 years old
As promised, it's almost flat, looks like wort in the beginning, but gently forms a thin white cap; golden color. The usual wonderful aroma; sour and sweet, light fruitness and flowers; very light nitrates. Very nice the mouthfeel, lacking almost completely of carbonation; the resulting smoothness helps to more easily stand the sourness; strong grapefruit and pink grapefruit, young woods as well. Quite bitter. You should not miss this one!

hardcore. headless, tan colour, scooped out of a bucket. tasty barnyard stink. really really sour and slightly fruity, with fat cheesiness on the palate. recommended for those who like stinky cheeses

Hazy golden. Soft, tart aroma, lemons, and capers. Nice mouthfeel, its a bit thinnish, but thats expected as it is a lambic, and nice carbonation. Fairly acidic, mostly acetic, but quite balanced. My first taste of an unblended lambic, surprisingly drinkable. In my mind it lacks a bit of the roundness of a blended lambic, but that doesn't mean I don't really like it!

bottle. most of the first pours are very clear deep golden/orange, almost still with zero carbonation, and no head obviously. Aroma has a traditional characteristic "cantillon" unique quality to it- sour, tart, acidic, lemon juice, and moderately funky with hints of old musty wood. Nice grapefruit tart flavros with some moderate acidity and tartness throughout, so it doesnt get as sour as some of thier other lambics/guezes. Orangey flavors as well along with some funk, dust, wood, earth, fruits like peach and apricot, and plenty of lactic acid. Sharp finish and moderately easy to drink. This was a nice traditional unblended lambic.

Bottled: Orange light hazy coloured. No head. Aroma is sour, woody, earthy and has some light fruitnotes. Flavour is very sour, almost citric. This is good stuff. Lots of earthy notes and in the end a sharpe grapefruit sourness.

Virtually still, dark lemon body, flat in the center with a thin surrounding rim of white carbonation. Aroma of hay, musty barnyard, and bitter grapefruit. Dry, whole grapefruit flavor with nice strong sourness and some unexpected bitterness for a lambic. Some noticeable musty oxidation with strong wood and cork qualities. Nice, distinct change of pace. This is roots beer.