Cantillon 50 Degrees North-4 Degrees East - Brasserie Cantillon

francisweizen

Australia

5/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Fresh bottle from the Shelton shipment. I got this one in a trade with MC. Cheers!

A: Dark orange gold with a nice white head that dies down quickly and leaves nice belgian lacing on my lambic glass.

S: Fuky but subdued. Oak, cob web, spider, cognac, booze, citrus, and more.

T: Well rounded and integrated. Not as funky as most Cantillons, but I'm loving it all the same. Citrus, oak, a bit of boozy, some orange peel, and the nomral bready and bretty funk notes.

M: Thicker and less spritzy than most Cantillons. Reminds me of draught lambics had over in Belgium itself.

D: Awesome, well rounded, funky but super smooth and substantial. Maybe I am in the minority here, but this is something different from Cantillon and a welcome addition to their lineup for me. I find this a flawless brew and possibly the most interesting of the Cantillon brews.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2008 03:03:00 | More by francisweizen

gn0sis

Massachusetts

4.93/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

2007 Vintage. The cork eases out, perfectly spongy & in tact with a muted pop.. immediately the aroma of funk starts to emanate. Poured into gueuze tumblers with a robust, seafoam-like head with lingering retention. Nose is musty & bretty, reminiscent of a horse stable on a cool summer night. The bacteria has a pronounced and complex flavor, followed by the subtle undertone of cognac. The lambic essence is so deep and rich, the effort is perfectly executed with a touch of warmth on the back end.The barnyard resonance transcends into faint booziness, which could almost be confused as lingering oak from the barrel. If you observe closely, theres really something more here. The small nuances are what really puts this in distant perspective with other Cantillon Gueuze of the same vintage...made from the same loom, but certainly a different fabric. Makes everything else in life fade into nothingness..Truly a world class offering!

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 14:19:12 | More by gn0sis

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.93/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle, brewed on 5 March 2005, bottled on 30 March 2007. Served at Tørst in a wine glass.

A- Pours a only slightly hazy but nearly clear deep golden color, with a thin white head that recedes to a collar. It has a bit of clearing towards the edges.

S- This blew me away. The aroma is an incredible blend of lactic tartness, with some acetic character too, earthy, damp, musty funk, and (the part that makes this perfect and totally unique), a really nice sweet, slightly boozy cognac aroma, which lends some vanilla and oak.

T- Again, my mind is blown. It's intensely sour, with a huge lactic character and a bit of acetic, there's also a big funky character, which is damp, earthy, and musty. The cognac is more subtle here than in the aroma, which is exactly how it needed to be. The cognac flavor shows up towards the finish, where it lends a sweet vanilla flavor, some oak, and a soft, smooth liquor warmth. Somehow these flavors are smoothly blended and work perfectly together.

M- Light to medium-bodied, has moderate to low carbonation and has a very dry, tannic finish.

O- Truly delicious. This is definitely the most unique, and also one of the tastiest, lambics I've had. The cognac barrel character is really delicious and complements the tart, funky lambic flavors in a way I didn't expect. A stunning beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 17:24:15 | More by WillCarrera

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.9/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle shared by nerd. Thanks Michael!

The beer is slightly translucent and golden hued, with about a quarter inch of white, foamy head. Ah...the aroma. Cantillon has done it again, and I already know I am in for a treat. The nose brings big gueuze scents, classic Cantillon funk, straw, hay, light citrus. The flavor is phenomenal. I love what the cognac barrel has done here. The feel on the palate is just a bit fuller than the normal gueuze, with added complexity and depth from the cognac barrels.

This is the second amazing cognac barrel-aged brew I have had this year. I'm not necessarily a big fan of cognac, per se, but apparently, when done right, it can really invigorate a beer and add a wealth of complexity and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 03:22:34 | More by Huhzubendah

seeswo

Ohio

4.83/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours hazy and light with a whitish head. Looks good. The nose is crazy is super funky with a strong flavor of cognac. Woah. Nice. The taste is super funky, tart, fruity (lemon rind, apple) and boozy. Cognac is every present and in this case, soured. The lemon tartness is nice and definitely hits a bit differently than normal because of the cognac. Oak is present as well. It's pretty good, though I didn't enjoy it as much as some. Strong carbonation with a decent body. Nice beer.

Review revisited - this beer is fantastic. Like a deeper, earthier and cognac influenced version of an Armand '4.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 02:22:40 | More by seeswo

largadeer

California

4.8/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy blond body with a thin white head that quickly recedes to a ring.

S: Salty, sweaty, musty, wet dog, completely over the top funk. One of the the funkiest Cantillon beer I've tried. Once you get past the funk, there's a surprising amount of depth and barrel character. Oak and a light boozy heat are both noticeable, though I don't pick up a strong Cognac character. Green apples and green grapes reveal themselves as the beer approaches room temperature. Outstanding.

T&M: The taste is similarly amazing, alternating between funk, sweetness, tannins and sharp sourness. Lemons, green apples, apricots, salt, vanilla; so complex yet so harmonious. The barrel lends a hint of Cognac along with a slight and very welcome heat. The finish is dry, tannic, sharp and lingering. This is one of the most unique lambics I've had, and surely one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2009 17:44:18 | More by largadeer

levifunk

Wisconsin

4.78/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle shared with the usual suspects. obviously a huge whale, but a personal whale as well.

a - light hazy pour. nice white head

s - huge funk, horse-blanket. a bit boozy likely due to the brandy barrel....but not all that desired of an addition for the nose.

t - any fear from the nose has been abolished, this is an absolutely amazing beer. very full of flavor. lemon tart, but has an overaching sweetness from the brandy. a bit of apple. there is an alcohol flavor present, but it works very well in there. tannic and grassy notes.

m - a pretty big mouth-feel for a lambic...but I wouldn't call it thick or heavy. good carb.

overall - wow. I really hope they make this again soon. no sign of this dropping off anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 23:03:31 | More by levifunk

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.63/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Opened at the end of a long tasting after the Jackie O's 5th Anniversary release. The label says "In March 2005 the Brewery Cantillon bought second hand barrels in the region of Cognac. For 15 years the wood had been impregnated with cognac. Then for 2 years, our lambic has extracted all the flavors and aromas to make a unique gueuze."

It pours a dark golden color, orange highlights, with an initially sweet poofy head that quickly gives way to a protective film. The aroma is spectacular, pretty much kicked Drie Fonteinen's and De Cam's asses after this solid night of superstar beers. All kinds of funk in the nose, musty basement and horseblanket, overlayed with oak and very light cognac. Exceptionally good.

If tastes just about as good as it smells, tart and only a little puckering, delicious aftertaste of what must be cognac. I tend to shy away from the booziness of cognac but the little bit that seeped into this gueuze makes a tasty beast.

Lightly carbonated compared with standard Cantillon gueuze, making a slightly bigger mouthfeel that works well with the agressive flavor. Cantillon is always so solid, if you EVER see it I highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 22:29:53 | More by TurdFurgison

ricke

Sweden

4.6/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Straw-like yellowish orange color, rather hazy. A 2 cm white head with decent retention. Some lacings.

S: Orange-like fruitiness with hints of grapes. Some vinegar and tart apples. Plenty of funky notes - horse blanket, barn and wet hay. Some interesting notes of phenolic alcohol tickles the nose, might this be the cognac barrels revealing their presence? All in all, a very nice smell.

T: Very easy to drink, considering that this is a beer from Cantillon. Tart citric notes and a nice wheat character up front. Earth, yeast and grass are present, but rather restrained. Plenty of funky notes - horse blanket, wet dog and a hint of aged cheese. Some vinegar and some tart notes. In the mouth, there is really nothing extraordinary about this beer, but upon swallowing it truly excels. A wonderful mix of cognac and green apples appear, and it is really a fantastic taste. The taste of cognac is subtle but distinct, slightly phenolic with notes of oak barrel, raisins and butterscotch. Slightly boozy for just a hint of a second, and this is actually a pleasant experience during these circumstances. Then comes the apples with their wonderfully tart character. The finish is really long.

M: Medium carbonation, medium body with a smooth texture. Semi-dry finish.

D: I really like this one. A fantastic lambic with a rather unique character due to the cognac flavor. The cognac delivers a very sophisticated edge to the beer. Among the best beer I've had from this fantastic brewery, and that says quite a lot.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2009 10:35:03 | More by ricke

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.6/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I balked at paying $22 when it was on the shelves, and then was thrilled about paying just $28 to buy a bottle at a bar. Such is life.

The cap is rusty, the neck of the bottle, smelly and covered in grime. The beer on the inside, however, is gorgeous. Light orange with brilliant clarity and a dense, white head that rises briefly, leaving patchy lace. Mild carbonation is visible, this is a great looking lambic.

What a fabulous nose! Rich, lemony sourness opens things off but the rich funk that's behind is just outstanding. Musty and funky with some wet hay, wet dog and wet barnyard. In the pantheon of Cantillon lambics, this one is unique in it's fruity character (orange and unripened white peaches and apricots). Mildly vinous with a touch of white wine, this is quite outstanding. In the back, I do get some wet tobacco character as well as oak, with vanilla noticeable. The richness is intoxicating, this really is one of the best smelling beers I've had in recent memory

The palate opens sour but restrained with a lemon and orange juice like tartness coupled with an explosion of funk. The cognac character is pronounced with a combination of grapes, grape skins and the mild alcohol I've come to associate with brandy-aged beers (fruit character with an alcohol sharpness, boozy in character). Oak is noticeable as well, with some vanilla and tannic character present. The funk in this beer strikes me as a combination of wet animals and fruit, with lemons, apples and ripened apricots. Medium in body, the soft carbonation makes this beer pretty unique. The moderate body definitely helps carry the barrel character very well. Mildly drying on the very long finish, there's a little sweetness as well as some mild solvent character and the tannins that further dry out the beer. Quite remarkable. On the mouthfeel, I have to dock 0.5 for the solvent character, otherwise, this is a remarkable beer. Acidity is low and mostly lemony in character with a touch of lactic acid.

Immensely drinkable, this 750 is not going to be a problem. In fact, it's going to suck that that's all I have of this splendid beer. Note to self - buy every Cantillon beer, no matter how negative some reviews might be

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 02:33:01 | More by DefenCorps

darklordlager

Wisconsin

4.6/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Celebrating the end of a very long last three weeks of a semester, entailing never-ending papers and ridiculous final exams...Alright, time to tame this beast!

A:Poured into a snifter a beautiful golden-sunset colour with only a few sparse bubbles, probably from the aggressive pour.

S: Horse blanket, wet hay, leather, grape skins, an interesting citric quality. Apple, pear, light vinegar. "Dirty socks" was another BA's opinion.

T: Sour apple, barnyard funk, wet hay. Sweet orange and bitter grapefruit citrus clash (in a good way) about halfway through. As it warms, the woody-oak becomes very pronounced a little before the finish....The Cognac barrel aging is evident with the long finish...nice sweet tannic grapes. A little closer to room temp, the finish takes on a very earthy quality, with a nice puckering sourness. Alcohol is noticeable near the tail end if you dig deep past the sourness. Near the bottom of the bottle, it starts to get intensely earthy and funky. Very nice.

M:Fairly thin body, with moderate carbonation which works well with the flavour profile.

D:These flavours, while in a sense "moderated," are huge and thoroughly enjoyable.

This beer displays an astonishing amount of complexity... The evolution and change in flavours from just a few degrees is phenomenal. Highly recommended, and a definite favourite.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 02:35:17 | More by darklordlager

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased at the BSF Bar, GBBF 08, this cognac-barrel aged lambic comes in a 750ml corked and capped green bottle, brewed on 05/03/05, bottled on 30/03/07, with a ageing potential of "minimum 20 years"! Served cool in a large tulip-shaped wine glass.

A: pours an elegant dark golden colour with faint red glows; the white fluffy beer head fast settles to a thin rim to last on top of really quiet carbonation - overall looking like what a blissful lambic should be.
S: the nose is marvellous - despite an initially rustic and eggy-stinky edge upon the first force-pour, the astringent lambic edge is much mellowed by the cognac-barrel elements, albeit without a pronounced edge of cognac brandy. More interestingly, the complexity manifests itself in a harmonious or integrated way rather than a vertically-structured manner, as all's threaded together by the wood-ageing elements, I think. That said, a good swirl does bring out a fine, sweet edge of wood barrels and a touch of thin-bodied citric-honey too, while salty-bitter acidity of dried citrus-fruits still makes itself felt but mild in intensity, joined by a touch of almond and green plums.
T: I find it so difficult to describe the flavour as it's as well-integrated and rounded as on the nose, but a sequence of impacts on the palate could still be discerned - a typical acidic stimulation and salty-bitter foretaste of funky lambic smoothens fast, giving way to an increasingly dry and chewy-spicy palate (legacy of a true, aged lambic) of dried pale olives, hard green plums and very old, dried and spiced tangerine-peels, while the fine (truly delicately sweet woody and herbal) aroma of cognac barrels chimes in discreetly with a light wheat-ish taste of lambic and bitter hints of dried hops in the lingering finish.
M&D: very mild on the carbonation, superbly rounded and smooth on the palate and only a little alc. could be sensed after many a sip; I think this one has become one of my two favourite Lambic/Geuze by Cantillon (the other being "Iris"), for totally different reasons of course. The finest touch of this lambic rests on its integrity and a delicate input of cognac barrels, while keeping a smooth yet still reasonably complex profile of the lambic base. Honestly, the best of both worlds is somewhat attained in this bottle. (Q: why does the label refer it to a Geuze, if it was unblended?)

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2009 20:04:37 | More by wl0307

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a hazy golden yellowis orange color with a thin fizzy white head. Tart and funky aroma with hints of oak and whiskey. Puckering but not too acidic. Lighter bodied than most gueze. Probably a result of the aging. Nicely balanced, somewhat malty with light carbonation and light crisp fruit. The oak and cognac really come through making this a really unique gueze. Excellent!

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2008 07:01:14 | More by corby112

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a chalice)

A- This beer has a clear body with a golden honey hue and a thick film of bubbly antique white that last for most of the beer. There are strands of tiny bubbles gliding to the surface.

S- This beer has an earthy fig note that reminds me of milk paint chips for some reason. Once the paint chips got in my head that is all I could focus on but it was a good smell. There was a tart aroma to follow with some faint cinnamon bark and then a champagne vinegar note to follow. The finish had a pleasant grapefruit and bittersweet quality to it.

T- The soft sweet tart flavor is great to start then leads into a sharp bite. There is a dark cherry flavor that leads to a dry finish. The finish has a very interesting flavor of cognac without the alcohol heat and a soft bitterness that is plant like and not herbal in quality.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with no alcohol heat and a soft astringency in the finish.

D- This is the easiest drinking unblended lambic I have drank. There is a nice flavor and a good balance of sweet and tart and other flavors adding to the complexity.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2008 02:11:14 | More by rhoadsrage

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to the kind soul who sent me this bottle. I had been wanting to try this one for a good long time and was thrilled to finally get to look at it in my fridge. Served chilled and poured into an oversized wine glass, this one was consumed on 02/18/2009.

The pour was nice, rich amber in color with a light haziness and a nice lift puff of white on top. Lots of funk here as I take the first whiff off the top of it. Rich vinegar aroma with a hint of grapes and light apples. As I take the first sip, lips pucker and the huge sour funky flavor comes right through. LOts of light fruit notes buried under a wall of apple vinegar like flavor. Very dry in the finish with a nice smooth delivery and a good medium feel to it. Smooth, sessioanble, and a nice sipper at the same time, another winner form Cantillon for sure. I am glad I sought this one out as I nice sour sipper is what I needed at this point in time.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2009 03:01:53 | More by mikesgroove

tpd975

Florida

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

At the WTF OMG tasting. Thanks Kevin and Justin for putting this one on... SICK BEERS!

A: Pours a nice deep golden hazy sort of yellow hue. Small head with no lace.

S: Lots of sour citrus up front, acid, sour fruit, and earthy cheese.

T: Mmm one of the best of the night. Nice light lemon grass flavors, tart fruit and acid. Light chessy notes with oak, and white wine.

M: Light and zippy

D: Tasty as hell, I want more. Thanks to Capones for supplying me this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2009 16:36:48 | More by tpd975

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2005 (only edition made)

Poured into bell's tulip

Pours hardly any white head. Color is a hazy bright mango orange.

Aroma: very sour and tart. Some leather and horse blanket. Slight vinegar. Hardly any cognac flavors, but has some nice oak here.

Taste: Very sweet cognac barrel flavors. Nice oak. Sweet peaches and cherries. Some horse blanket and leather again. Nice and tart.

Mouthfeel: Very sour and tart. Extremely mouth puckering. Light to medium bodied. A little low on the carbonation level. Ends very sour, a little dry, but pretty clean.

Overall, an amazing sour. Very well done and I really want more. I highly recommend this one. Very unique.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2009 18:10:23 | More by mothman

MasterSki

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to stowehop for opening one of these. I missed it at West Lakeview Liquors in Chicago and was starting to think I wasn't going to get another chance. This was the 2005 (and only) vintage. Served in a tumbler.

A - Pours with a small thin off-white foam that dissipates to a light haze and thin ring. Body is a slightly hazed amber orange color that is a little darker than straight lambic.

S - Funk and horseblanket in the forefront, classic Cantillon acetic sourness in the background. Somehow implies fruit that isn't there - grapes and cherries mostly. The cognac adds a sweet oakiness that isn't typically found in the more neutral barrels used for most Cantillon. At this stage this is stunning.

T - Taste has gotten quite sour and acetic, although it isn't approaching the barbaric levels of Selection Lambic. This, as well as the massive funk, is balanced by the sweet smoothness that I'm assuming is contributed by the cognac barrel. I'm no expert in cognac, but I'm guessing whatever was in the barrel was pretty delicious.

M - Lower soft carbonation, light-medium body, with a lightly sticky and tannic finish. This is definitely more on the unblended side of things, and lacks the effervescence of Gueuze.

D - This was excellent, but the cognac note made things feel a little boozier than I expected from lambic (just noticed the slightly higher ABV). It's also growing very acetic, and I was getting protests from my stomach as we worked through the bottle. Still, it's highly recommended, IF you can still find it.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2010 20:19:55 | More by MasterSki

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Eric for opening this at the end of a monstrous night of tasting. Served in a Savor snifter.

Pours a nice red-orange color with some bright highlights when held up to the light. A thin white head graces the top along with a few bubbles around the edges. The nose comes at you with an incredible amount of funk--horse blanket, barnyard, wet leather, diapers, hay--whatever you want to call it, it's there in abundance. Along for the ride are nice lactic notes with a slight acetic undertow. The cognac contributes a nice subtlety along with the oak. In the end, though, this is all about the funk.

The taste delivers at the same level with strong barnyard funk coming out strong straight out of the gate. There is a boozy cognac presence that really accentuates the sour components of this brew in what is just a fantastic job of blending and aging. I love the feel and the finish is superb. Thanks again to Eric for really going above and beyond, opening some world-class brews that I thought I would have to wait awhile to try, let alone having a single generous BA open them all in one night.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 13:22:20 | More by Thorpe429

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Split with the wife in February 2011. Poured into Cantillon tumblers.

A: Dark golden body with hints of orange. Slightly hazy. Centimeter thick head on first pour which quickly evaporated into a spotty skim. A stray wisp of foam here and there on the glass.

S: One of the more earthy-funky offerings I've had to date from Cantillon. Nice musty oak, wet straw, with some lemon cutting through the funk. The cognac barrels add a bit of their character to the aroma. Very nice.

T: The flavor profile carries the funk quite well. One can imagine what the corner of a barn might be like on a damp, cool morning. A bit of tartness comes in to complement the funk and must. Cognac also lends just a hint of sweetness to the mix.

M: Medium bodied with a nice smooth effervesence. Tartness and acidity are present but doesn't reach the extremity that Cantillon can reach with age.

O: Drinking very well. The flavor and aroma were quite complex and pleasing, perhaps just lacking a little bit more assertiveness. With that said, I don't see this improving much with age other than perhaps resolving a little bit of the balance between funk and tartness. That said, I also can't see it going downhill either.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 17:50:48 | More by callmemickey

mdfb79

New York

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 04/30/11 notes. Got to try this one at Dark Lord Day. Huge thanks to nerd again for sharing another huge Want of mine. Poured into my SAVOR mini snifter.

a - Pours a hazy yellow color with an orangish tint, one inch of fluffy white head, and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of that Cantillon barnyard funk, some sour fruit, citrus, earthy notes, and mustiness. Not the sourest smelling Cantillon, but great none the less.

t - Taste follows the nose; lots of funk, some sour fruit, earthy malts, dirt, mustiness, and light citrus. Again, really great.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Crisp and refreshing, really great and easy to drink.

o - Overall another great Cantillon beer in my opinion; there beers continue to live up to my expectations. Would love to have it again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 00:38:38 | More by mdfb79

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by nerd at DLD '11; poured into a wine glass, immediately after Crianza Helena (from the same BA). Talk about generosity!

A: Very hazy gold body, next to no head. Light ring of bubbles. Not bad at all, but no better than average.

S: Classic Cantillon funk (barnyard, hay, mustardseed, lemon, etc), plus a bit of sharp sourness that goes above and beyond the norm for even a Gueuze. My nostrils are throbbing, and that's awesome.

T: Acidic and fruity, with some sweet-tart candy notes peeking through. The huge trademark funk really carries the day, though, as I suppose it should. I was hoping for more from the barrels, but I'm still more than blown away by how tasty this beer is.

M: Lively medium body, soft carbonation. Very sour, very prickly, very wonderful.

O: I scored Crianza Helena slightly higher, and found it to have a bit more individuality, but I absolutely loved this beer's no-nonsense approach to deliver maximum sourness and maximum funk. Everything about it just screamed Cantillon, and you can't do much better than that.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 12:23:26 | More by woosterbill

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.47/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a caramel-copper hue, and looks more visibly viscous than most Cantillons. There is a polite encircling ring of white froth that sticks around as the glass empties.

S - The nose is tart in a very unusual way; more like unripe orchard fruit than sour or acidic. It conveys astringency and bitterness (which does not follow through to the taste.) There is also a vinous note which is more reminiscent of Vinho Verde than Cognac. The funk is mellow in the nose, suggestions of damp hay and general mustiness are perceived, but not acutely.

T - The flavor is sweeter than the nose suggests, and is also more funky. Various expositions of woodiness figure more heavily in this one. Impressions of musty wet oak and basement are noted, as is a tannic oak element. Fruitiness is suggested, but in exotic and unusual forms: crabapple, loquat, carambola, soursop, muscat and even vague notes of kerala are in the mix. There is also a bit of booze noticeable for a Gueuze.

M - The feel is more satiny than any Gueuze I've had; works well.

O - Quite a nice brew, though it is not as good as Cuvee des Champions which preceded it.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 19:59:42 | More by ktrillionaire

mbrasi

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours golden with a soft white head. Aroma is sour lemon, barnyard but not overpowering. Not as sour as I thought considering some of the other gueuzes out there. Flavor is well balanced with some earthy notes that linger throughout and in the finish. Finished semi-dry but not mouthpuckering. A complex and well done beer. So, so glad i have two of these the price tag was worth getting two.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2008 23:30:51 | More by mbrasi

HopHead84

California

4.43/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks a lot to Torry for this one. I've wanted to try this for some time now.

Poured into a tulip, the beer is hazy golden with a fizzy white head. The color is strikingly vibrant. I thought this would pour completely still, but there appears to be some carbonation.

The aroma is of goaty, horsey, musty, barnyard Brett. When the beer warms a bit, the cognac notes become apparent but they're subtle. It's different and it smells pretty damn good. There's a little citrus in the nose, as well as some oak.

The flavor has some musty barnyard and horse blanket as well as some vinegar. There's some citrus and oak. There's less Cognac here than I noticed in the aroma, but it's still perceptible. The finish is very, very dry and quite tart.

Light bodied with a low level of carbonation, which I was pleased with. Another great beer from Cantillon.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2009 06:47:38 | More by HopHead84