Cantillon Rosé De Gambrinus - Brasserie Cantillon

BuckSpin

Maine

3.8/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Presentation: 12oz corked & capped bottle (bottling date of Feb. 7, 07') in (what else) a stemmed Cantillon goblet/chalice!

BAside: always cool to pair up a beer with the brewery's glassware. And Mrs. BuckSpin thinks the label is quite risque!

Uncorked with an almost comical & stereotypical "pop!" and poured smooth, straight and quietly. Nose is deep and just lush with overripe, fully bloomed raspberry, perhaps even too fully ripened as tart, funky, mildly rancid sweet tones pervade it. Some creamy, mild cheese and damp, August sourdough is just discernible as well. Its ironic the color, aside from being incredibly clouded and unable to see any background thru, reminds me of the warm flesh of a grapefruit in that some of those very qualities also carry thru to the nose - tart/sour and sweet, with some acidity. A thin excuse of a island like sheen floats inside a thin, delicate edge ring.

Whoa...now THAT is tart. Yowza! There probably hasn't been this much fruity funkiness in one place since "Mirrored Dance Floor Ball Retro Disco Night" in the Golden Gate area! Sharp and very angular with strong, rancid raspberry tones, its semi-dry and nicely crisp with an odd saltiness. This is definitely a sipper, and its getting less sour as it warms...either that or my sourbuds have OD'd! I think I would start with it less chilled next time.

It is showing more character & depth as it warms. The angular, sharp qualities noted earlier are more citric (lemon rind, immature orange flesh, grapefruit). There is a most peculiar, distant creaminess that acts like a buffer to all of the above. Can honestly say without hesitation that no beer with an ABV of 5% has ever commanded such attention and demanded to be sipped as slowly as Rosé here.

It gets even drier, bordering on arid, as it reaches the palate. Uber sharp & crisp, the rotting raspberries giving way to grapefruit as it finishes sour. tart, funky, yet still with lingering bittersweet fruit, leaving a pasty, coating, slightly salty and surprisingly delicate.

Definitely one of the most unique beers I've ever had. Acquiring an understanding and appreciation for lambic like this is going to take a while. I definitely picked up on some underlying structure & complexity as it warmed, but I am sure I missed a bunch as well. Oddly, I found myself thinking this would be spectacular with a oily fish like salmon, etc., especially if done with some citrus. I still debating on what cheese might work with it? My gut is a really gooey, soft, young rind cheese with some crackers or bread. If you like da funk, definitely check this out.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2007 01:20:43 | More by BuckSpin

incubuscience

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-24-2013 16:32:10 | More by incubuscience

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy red-orange with a finger of frothy slightly pinkish head. Fades normal.

S - Sweet wheat, raspberries, oak, vanilla, barnyard funk and sour yeast, tart berries and green fruits.

T - Sweet wheat, sweet, sour, and tart raspberries and other berries, vanilla, oak, barnyard funky yeasts, tart green fruits.

M - Medium bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth with a tart, sweet, funky, and sour finish.

D - Nice balance and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 03:18:40 | More by ngeunit1

Kreko7

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-22-2013 19:56:02 | More by Kreko7

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-22-2013 19:47:51 | More by randylangford

Envelopes

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-21-2013 05:47:31 | More by Envelopes

stealth

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-21-2013 05:16:50 | More by stealth

YogiBeer

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-21-2013 04:52:14 | More by YogiBeer

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-20-2013 20:44:42 | More by ipas-for-life

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-20-2013 04:37:21 | More by Kmat10

NJB145

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-20-2013 00:46:36 | More by NJB145

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -5.4%

05-19-2013 16:52:16 | More by tom10101

Noyt

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-18-2013 22:38:19 | More by Noyt

jtladner

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-18-2013 13:59:05 | More by jtladner

DStoked

Ohio

5/5  rDev +18.2%

05-17-2013 18:31:47 | More by DStoked

smartassboiler

Illinois

5/5  rDev +18.2%

05-17-2013 14:20:14 | More by smartassboiler

raffy313

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-17-2013 03:31:09 | More by raffy313

Denoas

New York

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-16-2013 01:30:05 | More by Denoas

lucas1801

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%

05-14-2013 14:13:28 | More by lucas1801

baybassboy

California

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-14-2013 04:30:27 | More by baybassboy

Danny1217

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +12.3%

05-12-2013 21:03:00 | More by Danny1217

Rainier

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-12-2013 06:05:23 | More by Rainier

emerge077

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Seldom seen around these parts, I fondly remember picking this up years ago off the shelf and introducing friends to what traditional lambics could be.

375ml split into two goblets.

Deep rosy reddish orange color, slightly murky (likely due to handling). Thin layer of foam with pinkish white hue, it maintains a thin ring at the edge.

Farmy wet pasture aroma, leafy fresh raspberries, oaky sandalwood, authentic and fruity at the same time.

Spritzy and moderately tart, sour raspberry with a dry finish. Seedy and pulpy raspberries, wild sour ones, not at all sweet. Puckering though not extremely sour in the scheme of all things Cantillon. A nice aperitif to be sure, first time I had this it seemed more sour years ago... Chalk it up to a threshold shift in sour tolerance I guess, though batch variation is a possibility too. A classic framboise.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 00:52:01 | More by emerge077

sleuthdog

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-11-2013 02:43:40 | More by sleuthdog

ObeMaltKinobee

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%

05-10-2013 13:27:49 | More by ObeMaltKinobee