 FlacoAlto (2473), Tucson, Arizona, USA
| 4.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 |
Oct 19, 2009
2008 Cork Date; Sampled September 2009
A steady pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip produces an almost three-finger thick, pale tan colored head. The beer is a murky, light amber color that shows a hazed, orange tinted, gold color when held up to the light. The aroma has a nice sourness to it that I find deeply satisfying; a bit lactic acidity is followed by a backdrop of urea, ample butyric acid notes (a big musky note, ample mustiness that turns into a damp, almost moldy earthiness). Other funky notes of woody mushroom aromatics, a touch of acetone, some rubbing alcohol are also found in the nose. There is a grassy grain note here too, as well as some nice fruitiness that contributes notes similar to grapefruit, a touch of sour pear and some sour apple aromatics. Structured oak notes provide a solid woodiness as well as some light spicing. The nose of this beer is fantastically complex, exquisitely intriguing and exactly something that I really want to spend time breathing in.
The beer is bracingly tart as it first hits my tongue, but it is not among the most aggressive Cantillon beers. There is also a nice, though soft, fruitiness here, especially in the finish, that one doesn’t usually associate with a Lambic; I am tasting flavors reminiscent of star fruit, touches of green, unripe apple and a grapefruit note (this last can often be found in Lambic). The oak character is big here (at least for a Lambic, and it was even more defined in the nose than usual), it is not dominant though; it provides lots of tannic structure to the body, a light spiciness and a definite woody flavor. The oak character, for some reason, really reminds me of the oak notes found in a tannic red wine (though I can’t quite place my finger on why). There is a definite urea note here that lingers just underneath the more dominant notes; it pairs with a musty, earthy flavor that then moves into a musky, signature Brettanomyces funkiness that lingers on the tongue in the finish. The body here is nice and light, but still has a nice structure / framework due to the oak tannins; it is not at all watery and is about as good as I could ask for in a Lambic.
I wouldn’t have guessed that the two interesting barrels that went into this blend (the cognac and Bordeaux barrels) were in this beer without first knowing that fact, but there is a definite fruitiness to this brew that one doesn’t usually find in a Lambic fermented in a often used barrel; notes of green apple and a not ripe fruit character are definitely found in the flavor profile and provide a unique touch to this Gueuze. As the beer warms the fruitiness only becomes more apparent.
This is an absolutely fantastic Lambic; it is not the hardest, most sour version out there, and it is very well integrated in each of its component characteristics. The touch of fruitiness from the barrel character is quite a nice addition, as is the fresh oak character that is not found in the typical Lambic. This is one of those beers that remind me that the complexity and integration of the top Lambic producers is so much better than can be found in all but a select few of the American Sour producers. Just simply an awesome beer that I have thoroughly enjoyed drinking.
deflagro (68), Lund, Sweden
| 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 5/5 | 19/20 |
Dec 7, 2009 Bottle purchased at the Alvinne bottleshop. Pours a cloudy, brownish golden liquid with a white head. Aroma is acidic, fruity and very musty and funky. Taste is rich, acidic, fruity, musty and incredibly well balanced. Some notes of oak and vanilla. A small residual sweetness. A very good and perfectly balanced gueuze.
wetherel (1627), Encinitas, California, USA
| 4.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 |
Nov 22, 2009 Tried at PP bottle shop. I think Ryan brought it. Thanks! Cloudy yellow color. Medium lasting, white foamy head. Nice medium sourness. Classic funky Cantillon nose. Mellowed as if aged for some time. Very easy to drink. Very good.
BrotherGrendel (587), San Diego, California, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 |
Nov 14, 2009 Bottle at PP Carlsbad. Cloudy light orange hue, modest layer of sustaining white head. Nose is full of sweet tartness, light fruits, hints of Bret funk, amazing. Flavor is also solid with tart lactic acid up front with a transition to light fruits, Belgian yeast and Bret in the middle, finishes om the sweet side. Light-med body, medium carbonation, thin texture. A top-line sour with a great acetic-lactic balance, good supporting malts and esters, delicious!!
DJMonarch (6845), Northwich, Cheshire, England
| 4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 |
Nov 13, 2009 From the Bottle at the GBBF, Earl’s Court 06/08/2009 (Thanks to Mes for this gem!)
Some sour aroma. Golden coloured hazy in appearance and a little sour. Smooth on the palate with a little dryness in a lasting finish.
Guerde (705), Welcome, Minnesota, USA
| 3.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 14/20 |
Nov 10, 2009 (bottle, thanks Tyler and Levi!) Pours a hazy light orange with a white head that retains well. Aromas of manure, hay, rubber, must, and funky cheese. Not as pronounced or pungent as I would’ve expected. Flavor is equally low-key for Cantillon with some peach skins, lemon peel, salt, and funky cheese. Mouthfeel is medium and carbonation is lively. For me this was underwhelming, as I really enjoy the sharp tartness of gueuze, but I’m sure this will most likely achieve that acidity with a few more years on it.
TampaBrew (824), Tampa, Florida, USA
| 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 10/10 | 4/5 | 18/20 |
Nov 9, 2009 POured a hazy yellow. Nose is extremely tart, lactic sourness, sour fruits, unripe berries, big funk, wet earth. Flavor is a sharp sour, grape skins, old wine. Perfect sour beer.
Fin (3421), Merton, Oxfordshire, England
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 5/5 | 16/20 |
Nov 4, 2009 Bottle shared by the ever generous Jan and Charlotte (cheers you two) at Borefts Beer Festival, De Molen Brewery, Bodegraven, Netherlands 30-10-09 This pours light amber with a white rim for a head. Wonderful soft lemon, its like cooked preserved Moroccan lemons that I use in cooking from time to time, soft acidity, sourness is much blunter and therefore much more appealing to me than some of the Cantillon beers, its just bloody lovely nuff said really. A8 A4 F8 P5 Ov16 4.1
cgarvieuk (4183), Edinburgh, Scotland
| 3.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 3/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 14/20 |
Nov 2, 2009 Bottle with Friends During weekend of De Molen festival ... Ok as we all know these are not my thing so HUGE thanks to Fonefan for still being ever so generous and letting me try this ... S its hazy yellow golden ... light fruity funky nose ... zezty sour tart lemon ... crisp. drinkable if i had to
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