Cantillon Gueuze (Classic/Organic/Bio)

Brewed by Cantillon
Style: Lambic - Gueuze
Brussels, Belgium

Glass sampled at Brasserie Cantillon, Brussels. Hazy golden with a diminishing head; big carbonation bubbles cling to the sides. Aroma is distinct and pleasing: oaky, some vanillin character, as well as a musty yeast funk and noticeable barnyard. Smelled like their aging rooms, cobwebs and all, - I would hope so! Taste is very, very nice both purely objectively and also from a ’nothing-you’ve-ever-had-before’ standpoint. Yeasty upfront with a slight sweetness balanced by a dry tannic character. A significant tart finish fades to a lasting, slightly acidic after that was probably my favorite part of the experience.

Really enjoyed this weird experience. "Forget all you know about beer" they said me while pouring. That’s sure. Vinegary, fruity, a little cheesy?, woody. No bitterness. Thirst quencher. Refreshing.The first of many, i think.

Bitter. Almost like a soured Arneis with a bit of raw yeast thrown in. Enjoyed in Brussels from 750ml bottle with people who had a hard time believing this was beer.

Bottle. Yellow /orange colour with a white head. Aroma is sour, yeast. Flavour is sour, yeast, venegar, wine acid. Nice.

First rqting
(375 ml bottle at The Rover, Göteborg) Bottled 2005.
Shady peach color, small white head. Sour acidic and cheese scent. Sour cheese and stable taste. A bit spritzy mouthfeel, low bitterness.
8/3/8/3/15=3.7

Second rating
(From bottle at the brewery)
On March 22, 2008
Shady golden color, small white head. Sour, stable, horse blanket, cheeze scent. Sour, metallic, lactic taste. Tart, unripe apples aftertaste. Spritzy mouthfeel, low bitterness.
9/4/8/4/17

Rerate
(37.5 cl bottle from Systembolaget)
On September 11, 2008
Bottled April 28, 2008
Shady golden color, whit ehead. Sour, acidic, stable scent. Acidic, grape, sour, funky taste. Lemon aftertaste. Mouthfpuckering dry and sour mouthfeel. Very low bitterness.
8/3/8/4/16=3.9

12.7 oz bottle / 2006 bottling. This may be the youngest lambic I’ve had. Pours orange with a generous white head. The aroma has enormous barnyard fund, sour mustiness, dull lemon, smooth woodiness and a weird earthiness that is unlike other earthy flavors I’ve encountered. Medium body with some semi-sharp carbonation. The flavor starts with alka-seltzer flavor, sharp citric presence, sour lactic, sharp clean spice, wild yeast, horseblanket and more - quite complex. The finish is very clean with mainly citric flavors. Very nice lambic. I may rerate this after I have the older 750 I have stored.

12.7oz bottle. Murky dirty golden hue. Got the funk from the pour. Total vineagar apply nose. Sour tart madness. Sour apples and lemony citrus. Fruit explosion. A whole lot going on. But well put together.Leaves a coating fuzzy sensation on the teeth. Complex and intense.

Date: 3/28/2007
Serving: Bottle shared by Puddintane.
Event: Columbus Wednesday night tasting.
Location: nolankowal’s place.

Tasting Notes
Aroma: Sour, acidic, and musty.
Appearance: Cloudy golden color with a large white head.
Flavor: Crisp, very acidic, and tart with some hints of oak and light fruits. The finish is very dry and sour. Similar to eating crabapples.
Palate: Light to medium-light body and generously carbonated.
Overall: Very good! I haven’t had too many Gueuzes before, but the style is growing on me with each one I taste...