Cantillon Saint Lamvinus

Brewed by Cantillon
Style: Lambic - Fruit
Brussels, Belgium

In Stephen Beaumont’s Premium Beer Drinker’s Guide, he says of Cantillon’s St Lamvinus "It was a beer I could have spent hours tasting, and still never have been fully satisfied with my notes" - So I’m in good company in that respect. Cloudy purple with a hint of brown, and quickly disipating pink head. Toasty, musty, slightly metallic barnyard aromas (I know everybody says "barnyard" in reference to lambics, but I can’t think of any other way to put it). The broad overview of the taste is like this: Tart up front, of course, that blends seemlessly into dry red wine flavors. But really, that’s woefully inadequate to describe all the subtle changes and nuances that happen in every sip. I can say that as it warms, the wine flavors become more prominent, and occasional notes of lemon and oak pop up, as well. I wish i had a bottle to age a bit, but this was really great. Big Thanks to Secret Santa.

Bottled. Hazy red coloured with a fast disappearing pink head. Acidic aroma with lots of fruits and notes of wood. Acidic flavour of fruits with notes of red wine and wood.

Bottle shared courtesy of egajdzis (thanks!). Poured a dark ruby red color with an averaged sized reddish head. Aromas and tastes of grapes and wine. Very vinous in nature. Medium sour and tart with some sweetness in there as well.

This one takes a bit to get used to. If I had more I may have opened up to it more. Pours a hazy pink with a think head. Sour aroma and taste. Sour grapes coming through for me. For sure some wine characteristics on this one. Overall a little too sour for my taste. Thanks to egajdzis for this one. 5-3-6-3-13 I first had this from a bottle early on in my rating history. Before I really knew and appreciated the style. Had it again on tap at a Capone’s tasting and re-rated. Pours a deep cloudy raspberry purple with little to no head. Aroma of barnyard, musty, vineous, rasberry and some sugary sweetness. Flavor was vineous, tart cherry, sour grapes, sweet hints and sweet tarts!

Bottled. Deep dark red coloured. Fruity and rather vinous aroma. Sour, woody and dry flavour with notes of blue grapes.

Pours with a deep rose body topped by a thin head with some lacing. It’s tart and sour with a nice barnyard note, a touch of fruitiness and a great vinious note. Light to medium bodied, crisp and dry.

light puple/reddish in color with no head at all. Very refreshing with a not so suble hint of berries and carbonation. I enjoyed the contrast of slightly bitter with very sweet.

2002 cork date. Pours a shade or 2 darker than a rose, slightly pink hued head, beer actually takes on a sort of copper color as I meditate on it. First thing I smell is sulphur like...goaty cheese, its nearly repugnant...but fascinating...and as it breathes it opens up a bit. Lots of acid, a touch medicinal, wonderfully balanced with a touch of fruitiness, earth, tannin, and....pretty wonderful.