Cantillon Lou Pepe Framboise

Brewed by Cantillon
Style: Lambic - Fruit
Brussels, Belgium

750, 2003. capped and corked. cloudy dark pink with loose white head. huge poopy raspberry nose. creamy medium body with plenty of tight carb showing. dense, creamy, super fizzy body with tons of raspberry, acid, cherry, and wheat notes. long tart tangy finish.

2007 vintage, bottles in September 2009. Ruby red with a small pink head that leaves some lacings. The smell is a bit mild with notes of raspberries, grass and mild funky notes. Not a whole lot of acidity. The taste is tart with muted but clean raspberry flavors. Somewhat acidic. Notes of grass and raspberry seeds, and funky notes of mud and hey. Wood. The finish has a mild grassy bitterness to it and notes of minerals and dry raspberry notes. Surprisingly full body (still moderate though) with very sparkling carbonation. A good one. Very drinkable. However, it seems to lack complexity and is slightly to clean in character. It seems "young", which isn’t that weird since this bottle was only a couple of months old. Would probably be way better in a year or so. Serving type: bottle (Copy of old Beer Advocate review)

Blood-orange, thin quickly disipating white head, little to no lacing. Aroma is intensly acidic and sour, lots of raspberries, strawberries. Flavour is incredibly tart, acidic, very dry, lots of raspberries, underlying sweetness. Acidic and bone dry mouthfeel, medium body, high carbonation. Finishes very long, very dry, acidic.

Wow, this is pretty damn tart and dry. Another outstanding lambic from Cantillon. This really packs a punch.

750ml bottle purchased from Premier Gourmet in Buffalo, New York.
Opened on March 15, 2009.
Vintage 2001.

2006 Vintage
I really like the fact this is a single vintage blend. Beer needs more of these nuances to compete with fine wine. I’m used to some pretty rough and intense lambics from Cantillon but this is relatively soft and mild. Looks awesome - a glowing raspberry red. Pretty raspberry fruits on the nose, quity fruity. Tart, lean , salty and sour very early to taste. The raspberry fruit lurks right through the palate but never becomes obviously. A subtle yet complex touch. Some acid burn as well, but of course this is to be expected. Won’t be a super long keeper but I would defininately like to see again in 3 years.

Bouteille verte de 750 ml, au Bières et Bouffe (merci Fred!). Arômes de levure sauvages et de framboises bien mûres, légère touche boisée. Magnifique robe rose foncée, mousse rose disparaissant rapidement. Très acide en bouche, les framboises mûres sont bien présentes, mais tout le sucre est bien disparu. On remarque également une touche boisée. Finale lactique très très tranchante. Vraiment très bon et intense.

2006 vintage.Pours hazy reddish orange. Raspberry aroma with some woody tones. A lot of acid notes as well. Some rubber and diesel. Fruity undertones. Full, full acid sour flavour with notes of raspberries, other berries and wood. Fruity, tart and dry. Medium body.

Sample #30 at 1st CST, 2004 bottle. Pours a lighter pink/red glowing with a small wispy fine white head. Nice raspberry seed pool water aroma, really beautiful. Great tart acidic and bright raspberry flavor, again, like the Kriek, it’s not too abrasive, fairly dry. Thinner feeling body in a delicate way, fine soda carbonation, nice.

750 ml bottle
Thanks to buffalohead for sharing a 2005 vintage of this at a tasting. Even after a dozen other beers the Cantillon goodness shone through. This made it the clear winner of the night and one that reminds me just how great Cantillon beers can be. If they didn’t cost $20+ each I would certainly be drinking them more often.

Aroma / Appearance - Tart and strong with raspberries as the key player the sourness dominates from the start. The body is a wonderful glowing red with light pink head. Fluid it crawls around the glass.

Flavor / Palate - Sharp raspberries break through the dull fatigue of a dozen IPAs and stouts. Like fresh cherry pie the acid refreshed and reawakens the palate. Making it sit up and beg for more it was a sad time when this bottle finally kicked. I look forward to a week in Belgium and the chance to some day try a whole raft of these without the high cost associated with buying them stateside.