Chapeau Banana Lambic - Brouwerij De Troch

Brenden

Ohio

3.64/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This beer is a deep gold, somehow very bright even with quite a bit of haze in it. It develops an off-white head that reaches just a little over a finger to cap it. Retention is good, and fairly ample lacing clings mostly in spotting but with light patching as well.
At first, this beer brings the funk. When the bottle is first opened, that's the first thing that pours out of the nose. Interestingly, the barnyard/horseblanket funkiness fades to a very light note, with a pure banana sweetness pulling out strongly. There's a little bit of spiciness underlying it. The funky, yeasty notes let me know it's a lambic for sure, at least before that fades away, and the banana's definitely ample.
In the flavor, the funk only shows up very lightly underneath, though spicy and mildly phenolic notes tell the yeast's tale. The major issue becomes how cloyingly sweet the banana tends to get. Definitely a sipper, but a pleasure if you're into banana.
The body's a firm medium but on the lighter edge and carbonation is moderate, lending itself to a firm, crisp bite that's sustained well. It gets a little fluffy in the smoothness, but it doesn't detract much.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 16:21:56 | More by Brenden

rarbring

Sweden

1.85/5  rDev -41.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

A hazy straw colored beer. A low off-white head with small lacing and small curtains.

Smelling of artificial banana, sweet and disturbingly acid, a banana belch whiff.

Tasting very sweet, banana soda, no beer wibes to talk about.

Low carbonation, a sticky texture. A small body with a watery finish.

This was entirely an soda-gone-wrong experience. "Interesting".

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 20:06:18 | More by rarbring

darktower

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

If you have a woman in your life that you want to try to get them started on craft beers, I'd recommend this. My fiancee' dislikes most traditional craft beers, even most of the fruit beers, lambics, etc. However, we were visiting some friends in Liege, Belgium and we came across this little gem. She loved it! We haven't been able to find it here in Pennsylvania yet but we continue to look. I've had multiple other 'banana beers' and this is by far-and-away the best, it literally tastes like you're drinking a fresh banana. A lovely after dinner beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 18:30:26 | More by darktower

hackmann

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: honey amber with golden highlights and a thin white head.

Aroma: you know it – banana! With a honey oak background.

Flavors: candied banana but, it is not overly sweet. A light honey oak tone underneath the banana.

Mouthfeel: smooth and slightly creamy banana feel, lingering banana and honey oak. Light, very light carbonation which helps with that slightly creamy banana feel.

I am not a lambic slappy but, this is very nice. Plan to have this at your next Hawaiian party.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 22:28:33 | More by hackmann

TSJ4000

Iowa

4/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Really nice beer. I think the ratings on this beer are lower than they should be because the beer has low alcohol. This beer is delicious and the banana flavor clearly reminds me of the banana Runts. It's not terribly artificial tasting but has that nice candy quality to it without being overly sweet.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 13:56:55 | More by TSJ4000

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy dark golden yellow in color with an extremely thin soapy white head. The head reduces quickly to a ring at the edges of the glass. Very light lacing is observed.

S: The aroma is straight up banana - not the chemically fake banana but the really sweet fresh banana that you get when the peel is almost completely brown. There is quite a bit of sweetness present in the aroma of this one.

T: This beer has a real authentic banana flavor, not the chemically artificial banana that I have come to expect in beer, candy, etc. The beer is quite sweet but not cloying due to the underlying lambic sour notes.

M: Light bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: This beer is pretty easy to drink but is a little too sweet to be a session beverage for me. Kind of neat to sample and definitely not something you come across from a lot of breweries... Glad I have tried, would even have it again but not something I would go out of my way to find.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 18:57:19 | More by dbrauneis

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A bit of suds on the top, no real head, pale straw.

Smells a bit like banana Laffy Taffy, not in a bad way.

Some mild citrus character, but obviously the banana character is dominant. It's really light and pleasant, not very tart.

Mouthfeel is pretty subdued-- it's bright but not super intense.

Pretty neat-- smell is a little artificial, but taste is nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 01:28:12 | More by zaphodchak

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +28.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a small hazy orange-ish color with a small white to no head. In the aroma, it smells of banana RUNTS. In the taste, a note of tartness, but it drinks like a mouthful of banana RUNTS. A small bite and light bodied mouthfeel, with a dry to sugary banana peel. Sugary and candy bananas, with a nice mellow and small tartness.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 15:16:52 | More by OWSLEY069

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

2.6/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear yeller with a bubbly white cap. Fair retention for a lambic. You don't see banana lambics around these parts too often.

Smells like banana runts and off-putting wet paint. Sweeter than I anticipated. Really, really, really sweet overripe bananas. More lambic-y funk or sour to combat the excessive sweetness is in order.

When I bought this I figured it would be either really good or really bad. I'm leaning towards the latter but I had to try it.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 20:47:25 | More by donkeyrunner

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Very little in the way of a head, just a thin band despite a fairly aggressive pour. Totally clear, pale gold color; looks like a ginger ale. Lacing is extremely minimal – almost none there at all.

Aroma is sweet candied bananas, with faint Belgian yeast and spice notes underneath. Taste is also sweet but short of cloying; like a lightly alcoholic banana cider concoction; or a banana/apple soda. The faintest hint of tartness and tang is overwhelmed by the sweet banana flavor. Simple taste; nothing complex or subtle here.

Finishes fairly clean and dry; just a touch of lingering banana sweetness remains. Hard banana cider? Ultimately it’s tasty if you like soda and bananas but I can’t really say this is a “beer experience” in any way.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 18:33:31 | More by tobelerone

thagr81us

South Carolina

2.83/5  rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Big thanks goes out to my doppelganger for sharing this one with me at a past tasting! Served from bottle into a Mikkeller taster flute. Poured a bright yellow with a minimal pure white head. There was no lacing evident throughout the glass. The aroma was comrprised of sweet malt, banana, earth, and funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, overly sweet banana, subtle wood, and subtle funk. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this really wasn't that impressive. I had seen this one on the shelf for quite some time and always joked about trying it for the 'tick', but never got around to it. Leave it to my evil doppelganger to make sure I got the chance. And what a chance it was... Phew, this thing tasted like banana laffy taffy with some wood and funk added. WAY too sweet for me with these flavors going on as they didn't balance well at all. Worth trying though to say you have at least once, but drinker beware.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 15:33:50 | More by thagr81us

metter98

New York

3.43/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear light yellow in color and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a very thin head that quickly faded away, leaving delicate lacing covering the surface and a thick ring of large bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of bananas in the nose along with some hints of sweetness.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is dominated by flavors of bananas and some hints of sweetness. It isn’t cloying because there is some underlying tartness from the lambic.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate with a slight amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is very easy to drink compared to other banana lambics because it isn’t overly sweet and doesn’t have flavors that taste artificial.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 02:21:40 | More by metter98

Khazadum

Illinois

1.65/5  rDev -48.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1

A- Very crisp and bubbly, lots of singular entities flowing from the bottom of my snifter. The bottle gave off the barest hint of a pop when it was decorked. The head developed was very minimal, if I can even call it a head. Some lacing, maybe decent stickiness on that.

S- Sickly banana sweet. Insanely cloying, nauseating. Behind that there is a light tart characteristic. Doesn't really come off citric, I'd put it closer to lactic.

T- BLAM! Candy banana flavor. Like runts. In fact this is the closest banana flavor I've ever had to runts that wasn't a runt. Perhaps thats the secret ingredient. Laffy taffy is another good representation of it. Minor tartness comes off the back end. Again, could be lactic, could be acetic but I lean closer to lactic. Finish is artificial banana.

M- Little bit fuller than I'd like it to be, creamy at times, bit crisp around the edges. Gentle tartness hits the cheeks. Low carbonation is not so bad because of this, although maybe it could have hidden some of the overwhelmingly sweet hits.

Like laffy taffy, runts, and white grape juice all force carbonated and topped off with a bit more sugar. Dissappointingly gross. Fiance was in love with it though.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 01:23:58 | More by Khazadum

AleWatcher

Illinois

1.98/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5

375 ml bottle into tulip
reviewed from notes

bright bright clear yellow. whitish head, minimal bubbles, some spotty lacing. Not too bad looking, but not super impressive. I'll give it the 4 on looks, but that's rounding up.

smells of dried banana chips with an oaky earthy funk.

The taste is PURE banana laffy taffy. I can't believe how much this tastes like banana laffy taffy. It is ridiculous. Synthetic banana flavor is huge with some oak and earthy funk as well.
Just a little bit of tartness, but a lot of artificial sweetness.

The body actually isn't too bad-- it could use a touch more carbonation, but it still works well enough as is.

Overall-- let's just say that I won't be finishing my glass... this just isn't good enough to compete with other fruit lambics that are out there-- I'll take Lindemans Cassis please!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 18:10:32 | More by AleWatcher

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: The bottle states it is an Authentic Lambic Beer. 12.7oz into a flute. One of the lightest hued beers I've ever seen, has a dirty water appearance with a very small wisp of head.

Smell: Banana runt candy. Fruity and sweet smelling.

Taste: Interesting. Lots of banana flavor. Somewhat sweet like most of the Chapeau line, but has a hint of sour and mild tartness about it. Just a touch of oaky dryness finishes it out, but mostly sweet bananas. The flavor mimics banana candies, banana wine or syrup, though sour.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, carbonation is low. It comes off a little syrupy, and has a small lingering tartness and notes of banana.

Overall: A unique concept that succeeds in its design. A banana lambic beer, very bright, fruity flavor and alittle sourness to redeem it as beer. Would go great with waffles.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 05:02:48 | More by Stinkypuss

jneiswender

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had this beer at the Belgian Beer Festival in Boston. Poured from a bottle into a two ounce tasting glass.

A. Light yellow body with a egg white head.

S.banana

T. Banana and some faint sourness

M.light

D.as advertised. Banana with a touch of lambic sourness to let you know its beer. Cute to try once. Don't know what else I would want out of this.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 03:31:27 | More by jneiswender

RunForYourBeer

Indiana

3.58/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Light orange with a very thin white head. Shows lots of bubbles.

S: Banana with a bit of tartness.

T: Lots of banana to start out. Gives in to a bit of tartness and more banana on the aftertaste.

M: Light with medium carbonation.

D: Medium to low.

This is very unique. It doesn't taste bad but the sweetness really hurts drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 22:13:59 | More by RunForYourBeer

Tone

Missouri

3.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a clear, gold color. 1/5 inch head of a white color. Slight retention and slight lacing. Smells of slight hop, slight yeast, citrus, tart malt, and acidity. Fits the style of a Lambic - Fruit. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of tart malt, citrus, sweet malt, slight yeast, and hint of hop. Overall, barely an average example of a lambic -fruit beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 14:48:53 | More by Tone

Mora2000

Texas

2.78/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer pours a hazy yellow color with a white head. The aroma has some banana notes but there is also some lactic tartness hidden in there. Definitely not as fruity smelling as I expected. The flavor is pretty sweet with a little bit of tartness and some syrupy banana notes. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Overall, this is not a good lambic. That being said, it isn't offensive and I expected it to be worse.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2010 02:08:01 | More by Mora2000

womencantsail

California

3.08/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Bobby for sharing this one.

A: The pour is a hazy golden color with some floaters in it and a mild white head.

S: The nose is of banana candy, but it's not all that intense. I wish I had more to say, but that's really all there is.

T: This beer tastes like the banana flavored Runts candies. A weirdly sweet and intense banana flavor that I cannot quite decide if I like or note. Only a hint of sourness to this beer.

M: The body is on the light side of medium with a moderate carbonation.

D: Sort of a love hate relationship with this beer. I enjoyed the intense banana flavor, but it just seemed way too artificial at times.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2010 04:40:56 | More by womencantsail

Tballz420

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +39.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Lot's o' little carb bubbles rise up and disappear in this orange colored brew. No head after the original pour. The main scent is that sour lambic nose, banana as well. Mmmm. Very sweet tasting. Seems like there are more flavors in play than just the banana. Sourness is there but not as pronounced as the others in this style that i've had. Thin to medium mouth, somewhat acidic. Overall dank-a-lank.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2010 03:30:27 | More by Tballz420

ThaCreep

Belgium

2.73/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 4

The nose feels a bit like banana compote of fruit with a slight hint of strawberry. Very sweet, very sweet and bubbly, beer has a strong flavor of the banana in the taste of beer being present. And although the finish is slightly bitter, like the banana peel and the taste of banana blends rather well, the beer is nevertheless aimed at a market of young consumers.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2010 15:02:55 | More by ThaCreep

jwinship83

Illinois

2.48/5  rDev -22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

375ml corked and capped bottle (i hate that) picked up as an impulse buy. drank out of my duvel tulip.

A- this beer pours out a bright yellow colored body with a finger and a half of bright white head. the head fades fast and leaves behind small spots of lacing.

S- as expected, this smells strongly of banana. a very weird odor to be coming out of a glass of beer. very sweet smelling. a slightly earthy scent as well.

T- overly sweet and somehow artificial tasting banana, and lots of it. think banana popsicle. very lightly tart. slight earthy funk.

M- light bodied with a high level of carbonation.

D- i wont be picking this up again. more of a novelty than anything. i guess check it out if you LOVE bananas.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2010 15:56:49 | More by jwinship83

DrinkingAleToday

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a hazy golden straw color with little head, some lacing.

S: Banana and some funk, slight sherry maybe.

T: Heavy banana flavor, some vanilla and funk, slightly tart and cloyingly sweet.

D: Thin body but the banana is very assertive on the taste buds, champagne like carbonation.

D: You have to love banana to like this one, too sweet for me but a nice enough flavor to make it worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 01:53:47 | More by DrinkingAleToday

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

2.53/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

LCBO bottle tasting-Pours sparkling light yellow with a thin fizzy white head that diminishes quickly. Funky banana aroma, barnyard, mixed tropical fruits and a touch of yeast. The flavour profile is pretty sweet banana, with some other fruity components, sugary syrup, yeasty funk and a touch of hoppy sharpness. FInishes fizzy and acidic, sweet as hell. One per week is my max.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 18:38:16 | More by mrmanning