Cantillon Gueuze 100% Lambic - Brasserie Cantillon

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

poured into tulip glass by batender at the malthouse in Madison, WI.

reviewed from notes taken 12/29/12.

Appearance: golden bodied beer with a thick cap of head. Drops quickly to a small ring around the glass.

Smell: Lactic, acidic, a touch of vinegar. Moderate funkiness. Hay/straw and wheat notes.

Taste: Lemons, wheat and green apples. moderately tart beer. Touch of vinous notes, its almost like white wine. Nice oak notes and tannins. Mild to moderate dusty and musty horseblanket. Moderate tart finish that lingers for a while.

Mouthfeel: high end of light bodied beer almost medium body. Moderate carbonation level. The carbonation is fantastic! Its both soft, delicate, and its very smooth. Crisp and dry finish. The mouthfeel is phenominal.

Overall: I am fairly new to the style of Gueuze. Had a few and I have enjoyed them. this beer is no exception. I was really excited to see this beer at the Malthouse while pass through Madison on a snowy december night.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 03:29:31 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

claspada

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled March 2010.

Pours a very hazy dark golden color with a medium size eggshell head that leaves some solid lacing behind as the head recedes.

Aroms begin with that typical Cantillon funk that is really hard to describe but it includes elements of barnyard, tart apples, lemons, wet hay, white vinious grape skins and oak.

The tastes follow the nose with sour lemon and sour granny smith apple fruitiness complemented by some oak and barnyard funk. As it warms the the tart fruits and funk emerge more and more with less lemony sweetness.

The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finish is fairly mouth puckering sour, with a slight tartness.

Overall I cannot believe this is the first time I am reviewing this beer but I am not surprised by it's excellent quality. Like most Gueuzes I have experienced the aromas usually outweigh the taste but I think that is just my enjoyment of each aspect of the style. I bet these beers could age for decades and will continute to improve and develop new and interesting funky and sour components. Anyway this was super and I hope to taste older versions down the line.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 15:21:55 | More by claspada

vonnegut21

New York

4.63/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Armsby Abbey, a leftover from the Zwanze Day event.

A: Pours a hazy gold, with a finger and a half of billowing white head.

S: Super tart, lactic, bright acidity. Slight wine-like character, tart apple and citrus. A small amount of brett funk and make a hint of tannin.

T: Puckeringly sour. Bright acidity, tart fruits and slightly vinuous. Mouth watering on the back palate. There are delicate layers of tartness and funk. Extremely tart, but not overwhelming. Dry, but refreshing.

M: Again, puckering. Nicely carbonated. Light and drinkable. A hint of sweetness up front, but mostly dry. Each sip makes you anticipate the next.

O: My first Loon was not a letdown. This is an excellent beer. Probably the best gueuze I've ever had. If only I could drink this one more often. Absolutely delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 20:02:21 | More by vonnegut21

cfrances33

Illinois

4.66/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle, 2012 vintage, poured into a Hill Farmstead stem.

Pour: Mostly clear golden orange, with a finger of soapy white head that hangs around for a solid bit of time. No lacing.

Smell: Lactic sourness up front, followed by some pear skin and green apples. Some white wine must. A light amount of funk, but this fresh loon is more lactic on the nose than anything else.

Taste: Super lactic tartness up front, followed by some funk and hay. More pear skins, and a lemony bite. Layers are woven very well, and no particular part stands out other than the lactic sourness. Some wheaty sweetness. Finishes sour with pear skin.

Mouthfeel: Quite sour, and it lingers through the end of the palate. Not as dry as I was expecting, which is surprising, and for some reason I really enjoy it. Lightly juicy.

Overall: My first fresh loon and it shows. Funk is turned down, but the lactic sourness still shines. Great!

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 16:45:15 | More by cfrances33

cps98

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A – Super clear no haze what so ever. Light yellow in color. Carbonation was light and crisp. Very nice lacing in my snifter.

S – A lot more brett funk in this beer than the regular 2-year lambic.

T – Lots of wheat and lemon.

M – This was a strikingly dry beer, I thought it would be sweeter given that’s it’s blended. Carbonation was really nice. Had a really nice medium body to the beer not light and watery at all.

O – I really enjoyed this but I liked the unblended 2-year lambic much better.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 18:33:40 | More by cps98

yemenmocha

Arizona

4.78/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Simply stunningly smooth creamy head from my pour that hides the gorgeous pale body of ale beneath it. Laces beautifully and retains rather well. Nose is rich in aromas with sour fruits and barnyard, but barnyard with mostly animal aromas and not so much the stuff that comes out their rear ends that can exist in a barnyard aroma. Palate is decadent with flavor - sour fruits such as peach and lemon, silky smooth carbonation is a joy on the palate too, and more of the barnyard-Brett qualities appearing in an extremely pleasant way. So sour, so tart, and lacking in any substantive flaws. A delight to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 00:01:05 | More by yemenmocha

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The classic example of the style. Review bottle was about 1.5 years past bottling date. Cloudy, dull gold colored body; minimal head and retention; no real lacing to speak of. Lemony sourness and prominent oak dominate the aroma and flavor; green apples, moderate lactic notes and bretty funkiness starting to emerge; hints of hay and barnyard characteristics. Moderate wine-like tannins and other similarites, particularly in the prominence of the chardonnay-level oakiness and white grape flavor. Medium-light bodied, medium, crisp-feeling carbonation; clean and bone-dry despite a gentle sweetness in the initial tasting. Slight teeth-squeaking but hasn’t reached an extreme level at this point. Lots of complexity and just plain tasty. Wish I had a case of these to sit on.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 02:06:33 | More by tobelerone

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle at Churchkey on Zwanze Day 2012, poured into a pint glass.

A- Pours a light golden color, topped with a finger of creamy white head, leaves a bit of lacing.

S- Lots of lemony citrus, lactic tartness and funk, wood, faint grape smell, and tannic, vinous aroma.

T- Powerful tartness, lots of fruity flavors of lemon and white grapes, which contribute to the nice sour character. Has a nice barnyard funk with a bit of earthiness to it. Vinous, dry finish.

M- Light-bodied, nice carbonation and a smooth feel that finishes with lots of dry astringency.

O- One of the best gueuzes you can find, seek this out.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 00:43:04 | More by WillCarrera

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Armsby Abbey for Zwanze Day.

A: Beautiful straw golden yellow with a big fizzy white head.

S: Incredibly funky and barny and some sour fruit.

T: Perfect amount of dry funk with hints of super tart fruit. Slight white wine qualities.

M: Dry, fruity, sour deliciousness. One of the best I've had. Everything balanced to make a nearly perfect gueuze.

O: Everything I expect in the style. It's difficult to describe these beers but I know its one of the most delicious on the planet.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2012 20:00:44 | More by Gatch

merc7186

New York

4.38/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 Bottling. (Also did side by side with Classic Bio 2010)

A: Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head Ring, Mild Lacing

S: Sour Mash, Earthy, Hay, Apricots

T: Apricots, Hay, Sour Mash

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Sour

Overall, solid Gueuze, the gold standard (preferred this classic over the Bio)

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 02:38:28 | More by merc7186

BigCheese

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ML Bottle that I personally bought at brewery and transported back to USA. Dranken on Thanksgiving.

Pours a super hazy orange/yellow with thin white head. Minimal Lacing. Smells of sweet fruits with some barnyard funk. Taste is tart, sour, salty, complex, refreshing. Very drinkable, smooth but rich body, high carbonation. A great meal beer that isnt to heavy and compliments a variety of dishes, maybe a bit over hyped but quite different from a typical AIPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 02:37:27 | More by BigCheese

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: cloudy gold to straw colored pour with minimal head that leaves quickly, to return only in small bits with a sip.

S: very bright and citrus-like, along with a bit of that barnyard funk.

T: bitterness surprised me a bit, but it also has very nice sourness and that bright character. It opens up even more as it warms, giving earthy flavors with some more funk.

M: light carbonation and fairly smooth feeling with a light body.

O: mmm...Cantillon Classic. Everything I thought it would be, and for an amazing price (I think $7 for a 375ml at Whole Foods in SFO). Excellent - could drink this every day.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 02:52:59 | More by Holland

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

2.99/5  rDev -33%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Not sure when/where I first had this. This review is for a recent tasting on cask at Teresa's, Wayne, PA.

Much like the normal tap version, this was a slightly hazy golden-yellow liquid, served in a stem glass; a small fizzy white head quickly dissipated leaving a few stray bubbles on top. Aroma was distant, hints of barnyard funk, grass, light citrus. Lots of lemon rind in the taste, more bitter than tart, very woody, unpleasantly so actually, barnyard funk and horseblanket, moldy cardboard, cobwebs, and stale Champagne; sourness factor was not very high, leaving the finish dry but bland. Very unbalanced. About medium bodied, mellow carbonation. I'll probably never get this again...see past the hype.

I've had several vintages of this, most notably, 1978. While I'm sure others would go ape over such a beer, I found it very unnecessary.

Serving type: cask

10-22-2012 13:31:02 | More by Rifugium

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-hazy golden yellow color with a nice white head and minimal lacing

S-lemon, grassy, funk, musty

T-lemon, yeasty funk, grass, earthy, hint of orange

F-medium body with nice crisp carbonation, tart and acidic

O-my favorite gueuze thus far, nice body and flavor

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2012 20:04:01 | More by MDDMD

Tnudish

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle provided by Baron whilst watching football. Thanks for bringing the Loons bro, I love drinking dis shit. 2011 vintage poured into a New Belgium tulip.

A-Poured a golden brown in color with about a fingers worth of tight white head. It’s hazy in clarity.

S-Nose is comprised of lemon and a ton of dirty funk. It’s surprisingly funky for this stage in its development. There is must, horse blanket, wet hay, and some cat piss.

T-Flavor is less funk focused, there is still some sweetness accompanied by the lemon rind. There is some funk on the finish, but not a bunch.

M-Mouthfeel is light, carbonation is low, gentle acidity, and a moderate finish.

O-I love Classic Gueuze/Gueuze BIO/etc., so I always think its a treat to have. I prefer 3F Oude Gueuze in terms of standard gueuzes, but this is probably a close second. Thanks for bringing this Baron.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 20:13:55 | More by Tnudish

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.23/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this is a delicious and wonderful example of the style. it appears cloudy and lemon juice colored, with a small white head comprised of big round bubbles the rise pretty aggressively on the pour. acidic citrus peel and tart lactic acid are what i smell, almost stings my nose to breathe this in deeply. the flavor is also very tart, and lemon seems to be the predominant flavor, although some wild sour yeast is also doing its part to keep this tart. its wheaty, but not heavy. the mouthfeel is in fact really light, and if it wasnt so intensely acidic, it might come off as quite delicate really. the carbonation is good, but thats the biggest critique i have with this. i like my gueuze effervescently bright, and this one seems a little flat to me. not flat flat, but just less bubbly than i know the style to be. maybe my bottle wasnt the most fresh, but it lacked that sonic carbonation. overall though, this is, as the label says, the classis gueuze. famous for a reason.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 19:59:25 | More by StonedTrippin

cnbrown313

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml 2011 bottle

A - Pours golden straw colored, with a hint of orange. A very small off-white head forms, but that fades quickly and leaves a small amount of lacing.

S - Smells of sour vinegar, sweet citrus, and a bit of funk.

T - The first taste you get is that sour, acidic vinegar taste. But, surprisingly the sourness isn't overpowering at all. Next you get an smooth oaky taste and finally it finishes almost like a sweet champagne. After the first sip I immediately needed another. It's sour, smooth, and refreshing all at once.

M - Fine carbonation, almost champagne - like. Beautifully smooth and bubbly mouth feel.

O - In my opinion, this is the gold standard for the standard gueze style. I can't imagine it getting much better than this.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 13:03:01 | More by cnbrown313

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.85/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle date of 12-1-11.

A- Pours a very hazy golden-yellow to orange color. Small head, but very, very fizzy like champagne. Head is gone quickly with little lacing following.

S- Mild and buttery starts of the scent. Moves right along into prominent oak flavors and a fair amount of sourness. Acidity and mild fruit flavors are among the sour notes. Hints of spiciness are also present.

T- Complex, slightly sour, and somewhat buttery, just like the scent. Sour profile is the first flavor that comes through. Similar to the sour qualities of citrus, but not overwhelmingly sour like some geuzes are. Definite notes of barrel wood chime in after the initial sour pang. Transitions from sour and barrel flavor to a few more hints of fruit, right into a nice buttery/bready flavor. Hops clean up with a brief and mild bite right at the end.

M- Spritzy and light, just like a champagne. Sour level makes it a little harder to drink, but not nearly to the level of some others. Sour level is definitely tame compared to others of the style that I have had. This is a beer I could drink all the time if it was more readily available.

Overall, this is probably the best sour I have had to date. The only beer that is close would be Cantillon Iris, but that was aged a year or two more and on tap.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 01:21:07 | More by boilermakerbrew

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2010 bottling.
Light straw colored body.

Funky nose, tart and with that unmistakable Cantillon vinegar smell.

Heavy citrus, sour apple, and fruit as it opens up. A bit buttery(?). More power, but also more balanced at room temperature.

Sparsely carbonated.

I guess I don't 'get' Cantillon. Take this review with a grain of salt. If you love Cantillon, you'll probably love this too. If you don't, don't expect this to convert you.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 19:35:40 | More by zaphodchak

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

375 mL bottle poured into an Allagash chalice. Bottled 12/30/2009.

Appearance - Hazy yellow-orange with a nice pillow of foam. Doesn't yield an impressive head, but sticks around long enough to compensate.

Smell - Citrus acidity. Orange is the best descriptor. Grainy wheat with just a touch of funk in the aroma. Straightforward, but maybe lacking in some complexity.

Taste - Sour-forward citric flavors. Orangy and lemony. Oaky and a little bit of a white wine flavor. Definitely lacking in the complexity of some of the great gueuzes, but what it provides is exemplary.

Mouthfeel - Sweeter than other gueuzes. Not as dry. Very tart, but too much sugar to be spritzy.

Overall - I know it's the standard for gueuzes, but I'd take Drie Fonteinen any day over this. Not many other things I'd take over it, though. To complain about it is splitting hairs.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 04:20:12 | More by Alieniloquium

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

4.15/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – Cloudy golden orange color. Pours a thick head that recedes to a thin layer and stays with the beer. Leaves a light lacing.

Smell – A very pleasant light citrus, hay, and FUNK. I love the smell.

Taste – Taste is much more sour than it smells. A little vinegar, lots of funk, and maybe some champagne.

Mouthfeel – Tartness dominates the mounthfeel. Lightly carbonated.

Drinkability – This smells amazing, but it’s a bit sour for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 04:54:03 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

scottfrie

California

4.38/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle. 09 cork, 11/20/2009 label. Poured into matching Cantillon gueuze glass.

A: Pours a deep lemon iced tea golden with a fizzy short lived thin white head.
S: Dry smelling with notes of citrus, tart acid, earth and stone fruits. I get a hint of apricot or peach as well.
T: I get tons of stone fruits, citrus, straw, light peach, horse shit, and earth. Finish is full of citrus juice acid and the aftertaste is drying with a solid earthy must. Very lemony, lightly peppery.
M: Drying mouth, lightly acidic, medium body, slick, tingly but low carbonation.
O: The archetype of the style. Wish I could have left it in my cellar even longer, but I couldn’t resist.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 00:40:33 | More by scottfrie

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12.7oz bottle dated 8/31/11 (pretty much exactly one year old). Split with one other person. Poured into HF tulip. A lot softer cork then I'm used to, I think it's the first time I've personally de-corked a Cantillon.

A- Pours a translucent golden orange, not really any head, lacing recedes fairly quickly, minimal carbonation with a few carbonation bubbles rising here and there.

S- Light funky smell of vinegar, a little bit of oak, some lightly sour green apples, maybe a tiny bit of aged cheese lurking in the background.

T- Light lemony citrus with a very light tartness, some light vinegar, finishes with a hint of sourness.

M- Light, slightly dry on the finish, not too much carbonation which I like for the style, very easy to drink.

O- This was a very good gueze, however probably not my favorite. I think I actually liked Hannsenn's slightly more then this. It was very drinkable, had a nice light funk to it, and is definitely something I'd like to drink again, maybe a different vintage. I would recommend this to any geuze/sour lover.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 00:59:17 | More by jaasen64

herman77

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2008 Bottle.

A: Vibrant apricot orange/yellow. Hazy. Small white head that dissipates quickly.

S: Citrus funkiness. Mainly funk and a bit of hay. A bit of tart apple and some fresh oak. Tobacco comes out as it opens up and the citrus dies down.

T: Layers of flavor. Sour and just a tiny touch of sweetness. Citrus sourness, very tart cherries and lots of barnyard funk. Sourness develops into tangy apples. Very complex and very smooth finish.

M: Medium body. Very low carbonation, it does pick up a bit when agitated. Very slick feeling.

O: Good drinkability. A phenomenal sour. I can see why Cantillon is so sought after. Had this on tap once in Chicago and it's good as I remember it being. Wish I could get this even every once in a while.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 00:34:12 | More by herman77

jegross2

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewing the Classic Gueuze from the infamous Brasserie Cantillon out of Belgium.
Score: 95

August 31, 2011 vintage bottle served in a snifter glass and enjoyed on 06/20/12 at the Green Lady.

Appearance: Pours a clean and surprisingly unsedimenty pale/straw yellow color with a thin white ring of head around the glass. Below average lacing and retention compared to most of the beers I usually drink, but the lacing is not bad for a sour. This is a nice and clean looking gueuze. 4/5

Smell: Sweet and sour lemon, evident lactobacillus, vinegar and pepper. Also detecting some wild flower and rose pedal. This beer has a really nice and inviting aroma from which you can almost experience the tartness without sipping. There is no funk either, which is how I like my sours, but that may be because this is a relatively green (fresh) vintage. 4.5/5

Taste: Super tart on the tongue with a nice pucker effect. Candied lemon and lemon juice flavors with a touch of sweet vinegar. Some oak, green apple and grassiness. There is a very subtle residual plastic flavor in the aftertaste that just really seems to fit the flavor profile well. Plastic would not seem like a quality you'd want in a beer's flavor, but for whatever reason I am really digging it here. Incredible refreshing in the 90+ degree heat. As the beer warms up, a little pepper comes out too. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied with carbonation on the higher end of light. The tartness of the beer is really throwing off my sense of carbonation. There is a good amount of pucker here from the sourness, but it is not overpowering. The mouthfeel reminds me of drinking apple juice (albeit sour apple juice). The beer is a bit acidic, but not overly much in single-serving doses (though consuming too much lactobacillus, by say pounding back four of these small bottles, is sure to give one a stomach ache). 4.5/5

Overall: One of my absolute favorite gueuzes, right behind the 3F Oude Gueze. For it's "bar price" and rarity, just stick with the 3F.

Recommendation: For it's "bar price" and rarity, I would recommend sticking with the 3F Oude Gueze. However, if you like gueuzes and sours, I recommend that you seek this beer out. I found Classic Gueuze to be a clean and refreshing enough sour (no real funk) to potentially appeal to slightly more adventurous casual beer drinkers and the "I hate sours" beer geeks (of which I still include myself to date).

Pairings: Gouda cheese (or perhaps even a lemon-crusted aged white cheddar).

Cost: $14 for a 12 oz bottle at the bar, but a 750 ml bottle, if you are lucky enough to find one in a retail store state-side, tends to run $15.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 08:32:36 | More by jegross2