Cantillon Bruocsella (1900) Grand Cru - Brasserie Cantillon

Philabeerphia

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On Cask @ Monk's, 2/13/09, poured 13oz, it appears a golden wheat, cloudy, almost visibly saturated with bacteria. Did I mention this has absolutely no head on it. Resembles a cup of urine, sampled from a dehydrated & infected patient. I use this analogy in the best light possible.

Smell -- Grenadine & Vinegar

Tastes like sucking on a piece of birch. No wait, watered down Koolaid. Or more like the liquid whey at the top of a plain, sour Eastern European style yoghurt. wait wait wait.. more like a glass of lemon water that has been sitting for 12hrs full of toothpicks and one pickled cherry. Yes, tart... I s'pose dominated by a hint of woody cherry in the finish. the mouthfeel, with the absence of carbonation, is extremely light, almost indistinguishable from a particulated water.

D-- dit is extreem

Serving type: cask

02-14-2009 01:32:49 | More by Philabeerphia

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.2/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed on 6/11/08. On cask at Spuyten Duyvil Brett Fest, organic version. Pours a light orange with no head. Aroma is fruity, but I can't tell which fruit. Flavor of sour funk, oak/wood, cheese. No carbonation. This beer had too much funk/sweat and I was not a fan. Seems that it's better in bottle.
6/3/6/4/13 (3.2/5)

Serving type: cask

12-20-2008 15:13:30 | More by LilBeerDoctor

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

Brew33

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This beer has eluded me for some time.

2010 Bottled on Dated.

Pours a perfectly still honey, gold. A few bubbles at the surface from an aggressive pour. The aroma is excellent. Tart white grapes, earth, wild yeast aromas. A little bit muted in the nose but the aromas are stellar.

The flavor is fantastic. Beer in it's purest form. The lack of carbonation keeps this beer from moving through the mouth like a Gueuze so it drinks more like wine. Green apples, funky, earthy, mushrooms? Woody, sour but not nearly as sour as most other aged Lambics I've experienced, vinous, full. The mouthfeel is heavy and wine like. You almost need to get yourself in a different mindset when drinking a flat beer. It's not as drinkable with it's lack of carb but it makes for a longer session and more time to savor the beer.

Overall, it's fantastic. Really deep flavors.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 13:01:53 | More by Brew33

kevanb

Illinois

3.81/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

750ml bottle, 2011 dated, poured into a snifter.

The beer pours a nice copper color, slight chill haze with a few bubbles at the top of the glass, no retention or lacing. The aroma is lovely, tart apple, moderate funk, floral notes are subtle with some sweet oak at the back. The balance is great, the fruit and funk are blended perfectly. The flavors are nice, apples, fruit, nice tartness, light vinegar, sweet oak with some subtle funk behind everything. The body is flat, brewed to be still, but it hurts this beer a lot as the flavors really suffer from the lack of carbonation. The finish is nice and dry, but the still nature leaves these beer a touch syrupy and hard to drink.

Verdict: A nice unblended lambic from Cantillon, but the lack of carbonation really makes this a hard beer to drink. The flavors never really come to life and everything is somewhat muted by the still nature of the beer. Worth trying if you've never had it, but not a beer I'd seek out regularly.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 06:32:24 | More by kevanb

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.48/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

The joke was on me the first time I popped one of these. I'm used to popping the crown on Cantillon and not hearing any "psscchhht" of carbonation releasing from the bottle, until my noob ways realized there was still a cork underneath. Well anyways, I'm sure if you've had this beer already, you know where I'm going with this, but for the uninitiated, well, I was real bummed that this one was for real, it was barely/not at all carbonated. Of course I didn't know it is supposed to be that way with this beer, but what the hey.

Looks like a dark gold, flat, listless. Force pour yields next to nothing. Smell is quite nice, gueuze funkiness all over it. Tart barnyard. Substantial malted wheat. Kind of drinks like a sour white wine given its total lack of carbonation. Pretty dry for having no carbonation, you would think it would stick and be heavy, but no.

Regardless of it being traditional as a three year old unblended lambic, it just is light years beyond the enjoyability I get from drinking almost anything else in the Cantillon lineup. Toss this one and Mamouche on their rears, focus on everything else they make, because they're all world class to me when you exclude those two.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 21:26:06 | More by Beerandraiderfan

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.04/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle served in a Thumbler glass.

A: Pours an orange clear color and no head is formed. No lacings are formed or left

S: Very fruity. Strong notes of white grapes and appels. Vinegar. Notes of sweet grains, Lambic yeasts and wood

T: Surprinsing in the mouth. Slighlty sweet grains upfront. Again, very fruity with strong notes of white grapes and apples, mainly. Vinegar tartiness. Lambic yeasts, a little bit metallic. Good notes of oak and a bit of hops bitterness in the very end. An authentic Lambic but quite smooth for a Cantillon, I mean, not sour like their Kriek Lambic, for example

M: Light body. Very low carbonation. Slightly sweet and fruity aftertaste followed by mild sourness

O: Good drinkability. Not the best Cantillon I've had but still a classic. Recommended

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 20:58:20 | More by eduardolinhalis

Sourkehd

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2012 Fresh Bottle

Its a straight lambic. Pours a clear amber color. No carbonation here. Smell is mildly lactic with belgian barnyard funk mixed in. Taste is about the same. Mouthfeel is very smooth and buttery. Plenty of funk and an soft apple bite at the end. It's a little thin but that's expected from a 100% lambic. Overall I was really glad to have a couple of these. It's very one dimensional. Like a building block for doesjel or a close runner up to lambickx.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 06:02:44 | More by Sourkehd

oline73

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this at Churchkey on Zwanze Day. Served in a tasting snifter.

Appearance: The beer pours a mostly clear golden color with an orange hue. There is almost no head which is to be expected.

Smell: Just a bit tart with mild vinegar and lemon juice notes. I'm getting a mild hint of sulfur as well.

Taste: Smooth ant tart, but I wouldn't say this one is bright. The taste is better than the smell. Some mildly peppery oak with a tart and slightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: The body is medium with hardly any carbonation. The finish is rather dry.

Overall: This is nice enough but I preferred the 2 year old blended lambic that i had the same day. I'd have more.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 02:33:12 | More by oline73

cps98

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A – A very clear deep yellow, no lacing at all on this beer.

S – I got some old cheese and lots of funk in the nose of this beer.

T – A very deep roasted bread quality.

M – Medium bodied and 100% flat, very dry. No carbonation at all.

O – I was not impressed by this beer. I wish it had some carbonation, that might have changed my opinon of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 18:31:30 | More by cps98

russwbeck

Virginia

3/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Enjoyed at Zwanze Day 2012 at Churchkey

A: Bruocsella is a viscous red-orange with a small white head. The retention is good, but the head is hardly big enough to lace after very long. 4

S: The very first aroma I get out the glass is...orange, sudsy dishsoap. It is also funky, but not particularly tart. The only fruit I get smells like dishsoap sadly. 3

T: The orange comes back on the taste. This time the beer is tart, but only underneath. Overall it leaves a weird aftertaste that I'm not terribly fond of. 3

MF: Medium body with a lower carbonation than the others we've had today. I didn't find the beer to be all that drinkable. 2.5

O: Not much else to say, I just wasn't feeling this one. 3

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 19:55:56 | More by russwbeck

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a pale yellowish color with no head and no visible carbonation.

the smell is funk, wet hay, hints of lemony tartness, green apple, exactly what I am looking for.

the taste is funkty and clean with a nice tartness.

the mouthfeel is completely flat and light.

overall this beer is great, im glad i have a few bottles tucked away.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 18:24:33 | More by rowingbrewer

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.4/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle at Zwanze Day.

Pours deep yellow. A few pours had some tiny bubbles. Most were almost completely still.

Smells a bit tart with a few more Belgian spices than I normally get in Cantillon aroma.

Kind of a generic gueuze quality, which I know is probably intended, but it's nothing special. It's sour, but without a real pop. Just sort of faintly oaky and left me expecting more.

Very low carbonation level makes the mouthfeel a bit oily and doesn't really let the flavors pop.

Nothing too bad here and probably hurt my opinion that I had it the same day as Cantillon's best, but didn't really do much for me. I'd normally enjoy drinking a glass of this, but would prefer other fruited or more flavorful options when I want to reach for a sour beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 18:01:22 | More by jmarsh123

smakawhat

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass at Churchkey on Zwanze Day 2012. Three year old unblended, I think this is the right place for this review. From notes.

Body is simple light lemon gold, with just the faintest sense of little tiny bubbles hanging around the collar. Flat. Gleams like a nice yellow topaz gem.

Light sour acid aromas, a peppery yeast like angle on this, nearly sticky smelling yeast in the nostrils. Fruit angle sourness doesn't seem to come out as anything obvious.

Palate hits with much of the sourness hinted on the nose, but not much else going flavor wise. The mouthfeel though is classic solid, almost silky if a little wet. More of the pepper action comes out a bit after subsequent tastings. Taste is fleeting a bit, doesn't linger.

Overall it's a little un-varied if I could say the word, but it's a solid lambic backbone for taste and easily drinkable, but I think I am looking for just .. "more", more fruit, more diversity, more finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 14:52:44 | More by smakawhat

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Monk's Cafe for Zwanze Day 2012. I am not sure on the vintage.

Sanding right there when this was poured into a tulip glass, I was surprised to see the faintest amount of bubbles that immediately vanished as I was handed the glass. The color is a bright gold shade that looks pretty. Swirls dont bring any bubbles either, I realize this is unblended lambic. Smell is barnyard scents mixed in with some apple and pear, lazy lambic scents. Hay comes through as it comes up to temp and the oak is quite bold in the end, it all comes together. Bg amounts of oak in taste with wet wood, musty basement, sour apple, light malt build, no hops. I just like the simpleness of this beer and it is more enjoyable off the tap with just a bit of life within the light body. I could drink globs of this stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 04:16:15 | More by onix1agr

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

2006 vintage, 375ml. bottle at Beerbistro best before Dec.2028

Super clear orange, light ring of bubbly white head, zero retention, zero lace. Smell is of funky barnyard and a ton of fruit, tart apples, pear, lemon, musty oak, white wine vinous character and a pronounced acidity. Taste is quite tart, sour but less so than the other two beers I have had from them, fruity, apple, lemon, bits of balsamic, quite a bit of oak, earthy and musty flavours with a sharp acidic finish. Just about zero carbonation, medium body, drying feel. An enjoyable brew but SOME carbonation would have done wonders for this, still a nice mix of flavours here to make this rather drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 15:17:44 | More by peensteen

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.63/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle opened on 11.5.12. Bottled 7 September 2012

1000th review on BA!

A - Pours a slightly hazy, golden orange with only a few large bubbles clinging to one side.

S - Funk, lots of fruit - peach, pear, orange, lemon, candy-like, floral.

T - Dry floral, some of the fruit follows, but not much. Almost watery.

D - Lower carbonation with a light body. Dry.

O - Smells amazing, but the taste just wasn't the same.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 05:52:58 | More by HuskyinPDX

davey101

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Brewed: 08 December 2009, Bottled: 07 September 2012. 750ml bottle into a tulip glass at cellar temperature.

A - Pours an obviously still clear golden yellow color. A few tiny bubbles form around the edge but pop quickly. A swirl wets the sides of the glass and creates some minute bubbles. Gorgeous beer.

S - Lemons lead into some strong musky notes of cheese, damp basement, and vinegar. Less fruity than the standard bio/classic gueuze. Really great if funk is your thing.

T - Lemon rind, sharp acidic vinegar, musky cheese, wet hay, wood and overripe apricots.The finish is of lingering funk. Strong and bold brettanomyces clash with a still body to create a really unique offering.

M - No carbonation. Medium body. Tart and dry on the finish. Very wine like.

O - This seems to be the lowest rated 'loon but I loved this beer. The lack of carbonation works so well as the tartness and funk don't get lost in a wave of spritzy carbonation like in a gueuze.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 01:42:34 | More by davey101

tobelerone

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 750ml bottle.

I found Bruocsella to be a tremendously tasty and interesting beer and enjoyed it somewhat more than the BA community as a whole, it seems. Pours cloudy lemon yellow with a smallish head and minimal lacing. Nevertheless some level of natural carbonation is evident.

The aroma packs lemon, green apple, musty funkiness, sourness and acidity. The flavor is tremendously complex, balancing sour lemon and fairly assertive barnyard, horse and hay funkiness with a lesser apple note that's almost cider-like. There's a good degree of oak character as well. Teeth are left squeaking.

Medium-light bodied with low but present carbonation. Easy to drink and endlessly fascinating. an instructive look at an unblended lambic, with essential flavors deep and vivid. Would love to drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 04:52:12 | More by tobelerone

merc7186

New York

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled: 2011

Bomber into snifter glass.

A: Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Some Light, No Head, No Lacing

S: Sour Mash, Apricots

T: Sour Mash, Apricots

M: Poor Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Sour

Overall, too bad the carbonation was crap because the beer was good without it, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 02:27:10 | More by merc7186

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Label calls this a 2006, although it was brewed November 2005 and bottled October 17, 2008. Not sure what the 2006 refers to!

Beer is a clear golden orange. No head and no lace.

Smell contains barnyard funk, hay. Some fruit scents, but they are hard to make out- lemon and green grape, perhaps. Tart. Smells like a Cantillon, certainly, but not as inviting as many others.

Taste is very funky and very dry. Bitter barnyard flavours, with a bit of fruit in the back but no accompanying sweetness. Sour. Lemon, wheat.

Medium bodied, very low carbonation level. Tart and dries the mouth.

Overall, pretty good but easily the worst Cantillon beer I have had. Does not compare with the rest of the roster.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 01:09:19 | More by jrenihan

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.23/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A. Poured a flat deep yellowish color, no head, no bubbles, just still as can be

S. Horseblanket, lemon zest and citrus on top some Earthy notes

T. Initial hit of barnyard and citrus in the way of some lemon zest and orange peel, then more and more barnyard appears leaving a stale mustiness on the palate. There is also an underlying old apple juice like note I can't get past. The finsih is flat, dry, funky.

M. Flat, light bodied, clean

O. Not to bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 15:46:27 | More by barleywinefiend

spdyfire83

Ireland

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

278th Review
75cl poured into a Loon tulip
Bottled: 28 August 2010 (2007 vintage)
BB: 12/2020

A: Bright golden hue. A few bubbles, but no real head on vigorous pour.

S: Classic Loon lambic funk here - must, aged cheese, dry/cracked wheat. Touch of lemon and maybe a hint of vinegar too.

T: Rounded notes of barnyard funk, slight citrus zest, and sharp acidity. Rather bold with regards to the oak character her, but not too overpowering either. Soft white grape and hints of lemon towards the end. Good, but not great.

M: Light bodied and flat. No carbonation.

O: An okay Loon, but the lack of carbonation is too distracting for me at the end of the day. I envision this being a great beer if it were carbonated. I'll definitely seek out some other vintages of this though.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 13:53:54 | More by spdyfire83

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle poured into a Kuhnhenn snifter. Bottled April 30, 2010.

Appearance - Pours with a few big bubbles, but otherwise flat. Slightly hazy orange body.

Smell - Orange citrus. Acidic and a little musty. Very oaky.

Taste - An acidity lingers in the periphery, but doesn't become prominent until the very back end. Fairly straightforward flavor. Lemony. A little bit of hay. No real funk or pepper to it. Simple, but pleasant. Sharp oaky lactic bite in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Flat, but it's still nice to drink, which surprises me. Light enough body to handle the lack of carbonation.

Overall - It's tasty, but simple. I haven't had many other straight lambics that I can compare, though, so I still think it's good.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 23:53:35 | More by Alieniloquium