Cantillon Lou Pepe - Kriek - Brasserie Cantillon

notchucknorris

California

4.58/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap during Zwanze Day at Toronados

A: Pours an intensely hazy raspberry color with a thin pink head.

S: Rich, tart cherries, vanilla, oak and some ripe strawberries.

T: Huge wave of unripe cherry right off the bat with a big lactic twang. Some oak, raspberry and lemon peel. A champagne-like effervescent mouthfeel. Really fantastic stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 20:01:34 | More by notchucknorris

haazer

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First beer had at Blue Dog's rediculous wealth of riches. Time to see what all the buzz about Cantillon is about.

A- A very bright, deep maroon red brew. Evident carbonation but no head in my pour. I saw pink head in other's glasses. Looked like cherry kool aid.

S- Funk me!! very funky, lot of bugs in this. I also pick up on the oak, with of course healthy doses of dried sour cherries.

T- A marvelous blend of tart, sweet and sour cherries. The oak plays a role in the flavor as well as the feel of the beer. This is moderately sour but not in your face. The funkyness not as pronounced as it was in the nose.

M- Dry, crisp and tart. Tongue smacking with every sip. Scrapes the tastebuds clean.

O- Great Kriek. I'm pretty new to the lambic style but this is by far the best I've had. Well balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2012 17:11:20 | More by haazer

JimsArcade

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours bright red with almost no head. The color is so vibrant that it looks artificial, though obviously it's all-natural. Aromas of tart cherries dominate with almost no perceptible funk at all, which is surprising. Taking a first sip... wow, just wow. It's nowhere near as tart as it smells. The umami taste that cherries have (but are muted by the natural sweetness) shines through in this brew. The mouthfeel is simply luxurious: imagine the sensation of chewing cherries but somehow the experience is distilled into liquid form. I could drink this beer all day, any day.

Krieks are near the top of my favorite styles of beer. And while I've been lucky to enjoy many stellar offerings, Cantillon's Lou Pepe has surpassed them all. World Class!

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2012 17:02:44 | More by JimsArcade

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out looking like a carbonated fruit punch, the color was very bright red. It looks beautiful! The head is a bit on the fizzy side and has a very nice looking pink color. There isn't any retention or lacing on this beer. The smell is of tart cherries and some minor sweet malts in there too. The taste is actually a lot more subtle than I expected. It is definitely tart but it seems to be nicely balanced as well between the tart vs the sweetness. The mouthfeel is sharp and crisp, it feels clean and doesn't coat your mouth with any syrupy cherry flavors. Overall I enjoyed this actually. I am not a big fan of these kind of beers but I did appreciate having this one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2012 14:29:08 | More by Knapp85

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 vintage enjoyed at the Armsby Abbey to kick off their anniversary week. Poured into a Cantillon stemmed tulip.

A - Pours a glorious almost crystal clear fruit punch hue with a nice one and a half light rosey pink head that fades to leave a thin blanket. Wonderful.

S - Aromas of solid funk, light tart cherries, and subtle barrel.

T - Taste is an explosion of floral oak, light funk, and tart cherry juice. Its so floral and potpourri that it almost lends a perfumey vanilla quality to the lambic. So delicious.

M - Mouthfeel is quite nice for a lambic. Again the floral and oak qualities dance around with the lighter carbonation.

O - Overall this beer is just as good as everyone says. Love having it on draft, works wonderfully with the raspberry and espresso tarimisu.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2012 22:04:46 | More by rudzud

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Deep Ellum for their pre-Festival Throwdown. One of the beers I was most excited to try. 2009 Vintage. 10oz serving served in an oversized wine glass. Consumed right after the event was supposed to start, so I'm guessing very freshly tapped.

A- Appears a fairly opaque dark red almost blood red in appearance, some translucency towards the bottom of the glass. No head, just a very thin foamy ring of reddish white bubbles around the edges. Small carbonation bubbles appear around the edges of the glass, slightly below average carbonation.

S- Very aromatic smell of tart/sour cherries, maybe some raspberries, a tiny bit of wood, and acidic aromas. Most predominate by far is the sour cherries.

T- Tastes of sour/tart cherries, a tiny bit of raspberries and other berries, definitely plays with the palate and leaves a sugary sour cherry aftertaste that lingers in the mouth and around the lips for longer then I've ever experienced in a beer (I finished the beer about a hour before writing this review and I feel like I can still taste it). I feel like I can lick the taste right from my lips.

M- Fairly light, perfect for the hot summer day today (90+ degrees), the carbonation perfectly complements the sourness and adds a great dry, sour, slightly bubbly finish to the beer.

O- I don't drink sours too often, I've always been more of a stout and DIPA person but I definitely enjoyed this beer. I started off the night with this beer and craved the taste of it so much that I had to order it again before I left (also considering I knew this beer is fairly rare). At $13/10oz serving this is saying something- I very rarely order $13 drinks, never mind twice in a night. I thought the beer was great in almost every way and I wish I could order it more often. I can definitely see why this is considered one of the best krieks/sours in the world.

Serving type: on-tap

06-22-2012 00:37:41 | More by jaasen64

SkiBum22

New York

4.5/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a light red with a quarter of pinkish head.

S - The aroma is full of cherries, slightly on the tart side, slightly sweet, with a little bit of straw and barnyard funk in the back.

T - Big fresh cherry taste along with some cherry juice. Really flavorful, woody and musty.

M - Foamy light body with high, fizzy carbonation. An obvious cheek puckering sour finish.

O - Another great beer from Cantillon. Really wish there beers were easier to get.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2012 22:13:46 | More by SkiBum22

dirtylou

Washington

4.28/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on-tap, brouwers

appearance: short-pour in an unbranded snifter during the big wood festival, bright cherry-red body, fluffy pinkish-white head

smell: lots of red cherry, vinegar, nice tartness, earthy

taste: seems like the standard cantillon kriek is a bit oakier/tarter while the lou pepe delivers a bigger dose of cherry and balsamic - moderate tartness, lots of funky and earthy flavors - cherry skin, wood, berry, red wine

mouthfeel: a bit acidic, light carbonation, moderate tartness

overall: not a weakness in the cantillon arsenal

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2011 01:58:15 | More by dirtylou

jale

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap for Zwanze day at West Lakeview in Chicago.

A: Pours a light red with a quarter of pinkish head.

S: Cherry fruitiness and nice mild funk.

T: Cherries up front with the tartness coming in late. This tastes just like a Brut sparkling cherry wine. The carbonation is tighter like a champagne.

M: Light body with good carbonation.

O: I would drink this again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 15:36:48 | More by jale

spdyfire83

Ireland

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

24th Review
Draft at Monk's Cafe - served in flute glass
Vintage 2008

L: Hard to say as it was quite dark in Monk's at the front bar; however, I'll go with V8 Splash-esque color (i.e. mix between cherry, raspberry, and strawberry swirled together). No head.

S: Mixed basket of fresh berries. Nice and different, but in a good way.

T: Combo of cherry and raspberry tartness mixed together with dramatic sourness. Hidden vanilla that tries to accent some type of wood character, but I cannot make it out.

M: Light and smooth. Not what I was expecting based on the appearance of this beer, but good nonetheless.

O: Tasted quite fresh and I really enjoyed this beer. I will definitely seek it out again going forward!

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2011 19:18:35 | More by spdyfire83

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 vintage on tap in a Cantillon long stemmed flute at Zwanze Day.

Appearance: The pour is a hazy cherry color, hazy enough that I can't see through the narrow glass. The head is a pink ring that never bubbles up or really fades.

Smell: The aroma is full of cherries, slightly on the tart side, slightly sweet, with a little bit of straw and barnyard funk in the back.

Taste: Up front, light toasted grains roll into sweet cherries. Gradually the flavor turns sour. It never becomes too acidic, and the sour is more tannic and dry as opposed to vinegary. The finish is somewhat sour but fairly clean.

Mouthfeel: For a lambic, the carbonation and body feel to be right in the middle of the spectrum. Moderately sour, slightly dry. This does not really cause salivation or puckering.

Overall: This is my second time having this vintage, and although I really appreciate the quality of the beer, the lack of intense funkiness or puckering sour keeps me from loving it. I was definitely in the minority of people who did not enjoy this as the favorite of the day.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2011 21:46:39 | More by KickInTheChalice

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Zwanze Day Chicago. Served in a Cantillon glass. I easily drank fifty dollars worth of this yesterday. So amazing. 2008 vintage.

Appearance – Pours into my Cantillon stemmed glass with an utter radiant cloudy red color. This is the type of liquid you don’t want to spill on any clothes because you know that bright stain will never come out. Just a hint of pink head that dissipates almost as soon as it is poured.

Smell – As expected, loads of ripe and tart cherry aromas. Earthy notes sidled by barnyard funk, mixed with vanilla and oak.

Taste – Just fantastic. This is in my opinion leaps and bounds above Zwanze 2011. While the tart cherries do come through, there are also the wonderful overly ripened cherries right behind it so add a subtle sweetness to the beer. Throughout the sip there is a somewhat strong oak and vanilla flavor. A nice acidic quality with musty hay to finish it up. The mixing of flavors is fantastic.

Mouthfeel – Medium bodied, prickly carbonation, exactly what I would expect.

Overall – What can I say. This was a fantastic beer and I was able to purchase one too. I will probably never consume as much of this ever again as I did yesterday. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 01:50:14 | More by SpdKilz

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.35/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage per Zwanze day sheet. Poured into a stemmed cantillon glass

Pour was a bright pinkish red. Lots of head with a similar color. Very murky.

An onslaught of fresh cherry with a hint of old musty oak and vanilla.

Lots of tart cherries. Very bold and fresh. Lots of oak in this, really balanced out the bright cherry.

Nice mild carbonation an quite smooth. Bits of dryness in the finish. Oak residue on the teeth.

Having 2008 both draft and bottle, i prefer the bottle. Bottle had less oak and more cherry

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 02:20:49 | More by hooliganlife

waltersrj

Washington

4.22/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pour: Ruby red with flecks of deep dark brown and a one fingered frothy pinkish head.

Nose: Sweet yet tart cherries, oak, vanilla, musty barnyard funk and slight lactic acid.

Taste: More tart cherry than the nose, lactic acid, slight vinegar, drying oak, hints of vanilla and funk from the classic Cantillon yeast.

Mouthfeel: Light, refreshing and slightly drying in the end.

Overall: An amazing Cantillon...as usual. The nose, taste and mouthfeel are amazing. Great stuff from Cantillon as usual.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2011 01:20:38 | More by waltersrj

Agold

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got this beer on Thursday at monks after the outstanding Monday event they held. Poured a beautiful red hue with a minimal amount of head that dissipates quickly leaving a nice little ring around the glass. The aroma is huge tart dark dried cherry. There is a mild funk, but I didn't detect it here nearly as much as some of the other cantillon they had there. The flavor is eerily like cherry pie. Cooked cherries with a tartness and a little too much sweetness, but only a little bit. Mouthfeel is nice and light with lively carbonation. I really enjoy this beer. Outstanding beer by cantillon.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2011 22:50:17 | More by Agold

victory4me

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

'08 vintage poured into a 6oz wine glass at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia.

Bright bold beautiful red color. Spritzy bubbles come to the surface with little head, but ample carbonation. Aroma is a smorgasbord of ripe juicy cherries and acidic tart sourness.

Taste is excellent and mirrors the smell quite well. Beautifully complex cherry flavor that rides the line between cherry pie, sour cherries, and fresh picked cherries off the tree. Biggest disappointment would be the lack of depth beyond these flavors as I'm struggling to find the barnyard flavors that I love from most Cantillon vintages. I'm finding that I may prefer the regular Kriek with a few years of age.

Mouthfeel is pretty standard. Prickly carbonation and slightly puckering. Pretty much what I expected.

Another amazing beer by Cantillon. Not the best Kriek I've had, but really delicious. Interested in seeing how my '07 bottle compares when I open it in a few weeks.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2011 15:21:52 | More by victory4me

yeahnatenelson

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Imbibed during the Belgian Independence Day celebration at Bavarian Lodge in Lisle, IL. The proprietors indicated that they believed it was the 2008 Vintage.

Appearance -- Pours a vivid rose red hue with a tuft of fluffy mauve head. Handsome.

Smell -- Highly acetic with wet oak and a bold tart cherries being the most pronounced. Dank basement-like funk also in attendance. A top-tier aroma for sour heads.

Taste -- Deep, penetrating sour from the onset - high acetic tartness paired with tart cherries. Again, musty basement funk in solid quantities, which adds some contrast to the unrelenting sourness. As it warms, the acetic qualitiy relents slightly to reveal a pie cherry sweetness. Very much a roller-coaster ride.

Mouthfeel -- Medium-bodied with tight fluffy carbonation. Incredibly drying.

Overall -- I struggle to think of a kriek that stands up to this one, even amongst the Scharbeekse cherry krieks. Great depth of flavor, and nicely tuned sourness. World-class for certain.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2011 00:37:25 | More by yeahnatenelson

glid02

Georgia

4.55/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Brick Store. 2007 vintage.

Pours an opaque bright crimson color with a half off-white, half pink head that leaves decent lacing.

Smells of robust cherries that are crisp and tart. Also present are medium malts and good amounts of funk – wet hay and leather. There are multiple layers and each is well represented.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though not quite as complex. Moderately dry medium malts up front are joined almost immediately by bright and lightly tart cherry flavors and hints of raspberries. Midway through, the funk really comes into play, carrying through to a mildly tart ending. Mouthfeel is good, with soft carbonation.

Overall this is a phenomenal beer and one that I’d like to have regular access to. Well worth a shot if you see it around.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2011 23:58:04 | More by glid02

ChadQuest

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was super excited to see this one on draft, it was at the Bavarian Lodge is Lisle, and it was my birthday. That place is too good.
The color is a deep red with a slight purple tint to it, with a head that is a pinkish hue. Pretty hazy throughout.
The aroma gives notes of the cherries used to create the beer, a sweetness plays through those flavors along with the funk you expect.
This one has a strong acidity to it, the tartness and sour dryness is remarkable, leathery tannins are just outstanding. The cherries come through to make an outstanding tasting beer in every right, and the funk adds alot of complexity.
Finishes so very dry, makes you want to take such small sips, and sip again a few seconds later, and i accept.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2011 03:15:37 | More by ChadQuest

ATLbeerDog

Georgia

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

2008 on Tap at the Brick Store Pub’s Sour Christmas in July. Pours a dull deep cloudy as hell red with tones of deep brown too. Compared during tasting to a bottle of Heinz ketchup that was sitting on our table. Smells of sour cherry tartness with notes of sweetness peaking through. First sip is mouthwater puckering that hits both the front and back of the mouth. Cherries and wood dominate. Lightly bodied.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2011 20:54:48 | More by ATLbeerDog

petacutlasaurus

Maryland

4.9/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2008 vintage had on-tap at ChurchKey. Practically sprinted to the tap when I saw it was offered. After trying the standard Cantillon Kriek for the first time, it instantly joined my nebulous top-five-of-all-time-that's-probably-more-like-15-or-20... So I knew that the beer that was three years its senior and probably more complex from the get-go likely wouldn't disappoint.

Well, it was probably one of the best beers I've ever had. No question. Take the standard Cantillon Kriek, add some sweet spices, tone down the yeast activity and grow it three years in the tooth, and here you are. I usually think of BFM's tea-brewed beers when using words like subtle, understated, and complex, but this beer takes that delicacy and may leave BFM's best in the dust.

It's an opaque, ruby red with a shocking amount of carbonation considering the complete lack of head. Cherry funk, barnhouse flowers, and a raw, boozy citrus that seems to magically dissipate the longer it stays in your mouth. There's no really great way to describe this beer; it's pretty much sublime, so go out and grab one when you can.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2011 18:30:17 | More by petacutlasaurus

smakawhat

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured on tap at ChurchKey first into a small snifter, then into a tumbler. Vintage 2008. Shared a pint with other BA drabmuh!!

An absolute gorgeous ruby color and clear. That is it. No head, no lacing. Just a gorgeous dripping red and glowing with perhaps a slight puck. Love this color.

First nose is a hint of heat and lambic like sour. But then gets more interesting and diverse. Lemon, a distinct wood smell (can't pinpoint) even some white hot pepper. Cherry with minor chewy sense. Just incredibly complex nose just wonderful and one that you can just bury in without being overwhelmed by tartness. I am just blown away by this nose just flat out amazing.

The first thing that hits me on taste though is an incredible tight fizzy carbonation. Sour jolly rancher candy of cherry taste and body.

If it wasn't for this tight carbonation I probably would have rated this much higher and may very well have been the best lambic I ever had. This an exceptional fruit lambic period, just fantastic.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2011 01:20:54 | More by smakawhat

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.63/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Max's. I missed out on bottles, and figured if I could get two glasses at Max's for the price of one at Church Key, I would.

Pouring a turbid cherry color with a dense, pink head that recedes to a thin ring, this looks pretty good for a kriek. However, I shall dock half a point because it looks so girly that this chick asked me what the sweet, fruity beverage I was drinking was. The nose, OTOH, was fantastic. Rich, deep cherry character, with a wonderful schaerbeeks cherry character with a blend of leather, cherry pie and a little less cocoa (than the 07 vintage, at least) present. Fresh, tart rhubarb, bright and piquant, are noticeable, along with a strong, lactic sourness with a subdued vinegar character. Not much vinous or oak character are present.

The palate opens with a brilliant blend of bright cherries, a little leather and a dense, complex parquet of cherries and lambic. I can't really describe it better than saying that that's what I want a kriek to taste like - intensely sour but never wearing on the palate, incredibly fruity but never "girly", pleasantly oraky and moderately tannic with an illustrative blend of oak tannins and skin tannins. Soft, frothy and fluffy on the palate with a mildly fruity and pulpy character, this beer is a masterpiece on the palate. I drank about 25oz, and could have gone for another 25 if I didn't have to go home. A stellar kriek, I'm being stingy here only because I think the 07 was the best possible kriek there is, and this isn't quite there yet.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2011 03:32:22 | More by DefenCorps

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 Lou Pepe - Kriek served on-tap at Max's Taphouse during their "Rare and Obscure" event.

A - Pours murky red, bordering on pink, with a small film of pinkish tinted head leaving spotty lacing down the glass.

S - Smells of tart cherries, horse blanket funk, light vinegar, and a good bit of sourness. This is one nice nose, lots of things going on but not to the point of going overboard.

T - This was a bit of a letdown after that nose. The tart cherries this beer is known for where there initially but they are quickly swallowed by the overwhelming sourness. Some dry wood and light sweetness creep in toward the end but they fade quickly. The finish is more sourness, lingering for some time.

M - Medium body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Very tart feel with plenty of sourness lingering throughout the finish.

O - Overall this beer is very good. I have had it multiple times out of the bottle and it has always impressed me. I would have liked a bit more out of the taste department but these things can be a bit hit or miss. Glad I have a few bottles of this stuff in the cellar.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 18:27:45 | More by orangesol

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 Lou Pepe kriek on draft at Max's today.

The beer pours a gorgeous reddish pink color with good head retention and light lacing. The nose, of course, is off the charts... there's nothing quite like the aroma profile one gets from Cantillon. In this case it consists of white vinegar, wet blanket, moldy socks (seriously) and bright cherry. In combination, the aroma profile is nearly indescribable. The flavor profile isn't quite as interesting, as it's completely dominated by the sour funk. The fruit peaks through on the mid palate, and there's some wood and vanilla on the finish, but the dominant flavor in this beer is sour, sour and more sour. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, with a fairly long, sour finish. The alcohol is completely unnoticeable in this beer, which enhances this beer's drinkability (such as it is).

Couple of thoughts.... obviously, this is a beer for sour lovers, but really, I think a bit more fruit would benefit this beer, giving it more of a sweet tart flavor as opposed to just flat out sour funk... but that's just me. Sour beers are just not my forte. Still an impressive effort and a very interesting beer to sample.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 12:40:24 | More by johnmichaelsen