Cantillon Bruocsella (1900) Grand Cru - Brasserie Cantillon

Jon

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled in 2002.

Decanted and poured into a 500ml wine goblet. Hazed goldenrod color with extremely little carbonation. Looks flat, like apple juice in the glass but carbonation is not expected in this beer.

Extreme nose has the ability to permeate an entire room with notes of acrid, acidic must. Further investigation yields notes of dried apricot and apple slices, citrus, wood and a touch of leather. Eye-watering acidity is dominant.

Sour, dry, and a real treat. Lemon and lime pulp, smoky oak, trace notes of residual vanilla imparted by the wood aging, and vinous characteristics. Mid-palate is expansive and the finish features a relatively bitter hop twang and gushing acid. Granny Smith apple and wood persist on the wonderfully dry finish. Incredibly deep.

Lack of carbonation limits the mouthfeel from being truly spectacular, yet it is still a bit viscous, almost oily and the acidity provides a lively element to the entire Cantillon Grand Cru experience.

Refreshing in an unparalleled fashion, this is the only unblended straight lambic I've had the pleasure of sampling in bottled form. Truly remarkable, Grand Cru actually paired quite well with baked escolar in a mango-chardonnay marinade. The acidity of the lambic balanced out the oiliness of the fish and the sweetness and tanginess of the marinade. This is one fantastic beer, aged for almost two years in the bottle. It could go much longer, and for some folks' tastes, probably should. This will no doubt frighten the unenlightened.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2004 03:47:47 | More by Jon

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

05-22-2013 19:44:38 | More by randylangford

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

05-22-2013 04:47:44 | More by Kmat10

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

05-19-2013 16:51:38 | More by tom10101

Fubar1453

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

05-19-2013 14:15:38 | More by Fubar1453

Danny1217

Florida

4/5  rDev +2%

05-12-2013 08:26:32 | More by Danny1217

ckeegan04

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

05-10-2013 20:45:48 | More by ckeegan04

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +2%

05-08-2013 04:06:38 | More by dalepryor

chippo33

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-06-2013 23:21:21 | More by chippo33

Archemedies

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-05-2013 13:30:54 | More by Archemedies

DruRho

Maryland

4/5  rDev +2%

05-04-2013 00:51:00 | More by DruRho

CanisMajor

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

04-28-2013 19:27:58 | More by CanisMajor

BeerHunter76

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

04-22-2013 15:41:42 | More by BeerHunter76

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2%

04-15-2013 16:34:16 | More by starrdogg

beernads

Florida

4/5  rDev +2%

04-11-2013 05:52:40 | More by beernads

Atomicskis5

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

04-11-2013 00:44:52 | More by Atomicskis5

beergorrilla

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2%

04-09-2013 05:30:42 | More by beergorrilla

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%

04-08-2013 13:25:57 | More by callmemickey

Zaphog

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2%

04-07-2013 19:42:21 | More by Zaphog

montrealbcr89

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

04-07-2013 16:23:46 | More by montrealbcr89

Caudalie

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

04-05-2013 20:54:47 | More by Caudalie

heavenlyStash

California

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

04-03-2013 19:53:31 | More by heavenlyStash

IanSpindler

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

03-30-2013 19:12:02 | More by IanSpindler

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

750ml corked and caged bottle poured into 5oz taster

A slight haze in a golden yellow body, very fine suspended particles and dead flat as expected, interesting

S pear, apple, lemon and cheesy funk, some earthy woody notes and some dry cereal

T matches the smell fairly well, sour and dry with mellow funk, lots of citric lemon notes and less woody notes then the nose but that still leaves plenty

M dead flat but I suppose I shouldn't consider it a fault seeing how its intentional, slick and has some tannin to it, sour but my not turning my mouth inside out, strange funky aftertaste lingers for ages

O interesting stuff for sure and I can't think of anything like it so that's always nice

I like it but don't quite love it, seeing how I don't think I've had Un-blended lambic before so personal taste may weigh in here more then normal. Cheers Ian for bringing it over

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 03:19:27 | More by wordemupg

jeonseh

Indiana

3.14/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3

Bottle at Local Option

A - Dark golden with brown hues and a frothy white head. Looks flat. There is a small frothy white head that settled down

S - Dark fruit and figs. Reminds me of an English Christmas pudding as there is a slight booziness to it as well. There is a slight tartness that comes up in the back of the nose as well

T - Musty with light nutmeg, dates, and oak. Slight tart presence to it as well. However, the musty aspect really takes over for me.

M - Tastes watery and flat. From what I can tell this is intentional but that doesn't mean I think it's good.

O - Not a huge fan of this one. It reminds me of a flat gueuze with a mustier and dark fruit aspect to it. Worth trying but I'll pass going forward

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:22:22 | More by jeonseh