Cantillon Fou' Foune - Brasserie Cantillon

DarthKostrizer

California

4.23/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Adam

Vintage 2011.

Look: Pours a cloudy orangish yellow color with a small bubbly head no real retention and leaves a film on top of the beer.

Smell: Barnyard funk and apricots. Didn't really pick up much else and found the nose to be a touch weak

Taste: Again I can't say I was let down here but I thought there would be more Apricot. The first sip of the beer brings so subtle sourness with a nice barnyard funk which is nicely balanced and on my second sip the apricot finally shows up it is not overpowering but I think in just the right amount but more could have helped it a bit

Mouthfeel: Thin body and bubbly carbonation slightly dry finish

Overall: This is a very good lambic and I am glad I got the chance to finally try it since I have passed on it in the past. Highly recommended and would drink again

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 20:23:44 | More by DarthKostrizer

UCLABrewN84

California

4.78/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to mrbubbler for sharing this one at NoSignsOfPain's birthday bottleshare hosted at his place.

Pours a slightly murky light honey orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is sour, tart, and funky with wood and apricot aromas. Taste is the same and has a fantastic apricot flavor that lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a great level of carbonation with a very crisp and somewhat dry mouthfeel. Overall, this is an exceptional beer and by far the best Cantillon I have tried so far by a longshot.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 08:19:28 | More by UCLABrewN84

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed on tap at the armsby abbey the night before The Festival.

A - Poured into a Cantillon stemmed tulip a hazy golden yellow hue with a very thin white blanket that faded into a slight halo.

S - Aromas of nice light funk and faint apricots. Honestly I would prefer a bit more fruit/apricot with this.

T - Ah, there's the apricot! Nice and tart and sour with good almost puckering apricot. Light light stone/pits with some skin too. Nice fresh apricots slightly tart/bitter finish.

M - Mouthfeel is very nicely carbonated, almost harshly but the tart not white puckeringly sour apricot plays off of it nicely.

O - Overall this beer was basically every bit as good as the legend tells. It's a freaking delicious beer, however, as far as apricot goes I found The Bruery's Filmishmish to deliver more

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2012 03:43:59 | More by rudzud

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Not sure when or where I first had this, but it was probably a bottle share somewhere. I never reviewed it because I had no notes on it, but this review is from a recent tasting on tap at Monk's.

(Make sure you don't pay too much for this one, because as with many Cantillon beers, it's way overhyped and way overrated.)

Looks nice: cloudy, honey-orange color, with about a 1/2" cap of delicate white bubbles for a head that recedes to a small ringlet, leaving soapy lacing on the glass. Distant, dry aroma, citrus zest, musty, touch of apricot. Tartness hits you up front on the palate, very drying, more citrus pith than anything, lemon juice, afterthoughts of candied apricot and grassy funk. Don't drink this if you have chapped lips. Fairly light bodied, a bit on the thin side, acidic, but with a good drying balance that improves the drinkability. Nice, but nothing really special going on here, but if you're a beer scene noob, you'll love it.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2012 23:37:41 | More by Rifugium

n2185

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A: pours a hazy yellow-gold with two fingers of white head that fades into a thin layer with little lacing.

S: sweet apricots up front followed by sour notes similar to lemons and other tart fruits.

T: lots of tart lemon and feuit notes, with only light apricot notes. The finish is dry, tart, and a little funky.

M: medium-light body with low carbonation, this beer is unfortunately a little watery.

O: a good beer, overall. A little watery and not terribly complex, it's still tasty and refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2012 21:37:05 | More by n2185

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2011 bottle. Thanks to liamt07 for sharing this one.

A - Cloudy orange/yellow. One finger of white head formed and receded to a thin layer.

S - Sour and funky up front with very slight sweet apricot aroma.

T - The apricot is more prominent than in the nose but is not overwhelming. A huge sourness that is almost puckering.

M - Medium body, moderate to high carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 18:42:06 | More by TheSevenDuffs

andrewinski1

Maine

4.7/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle from 2009. Poured into a chalice. The color is golden and clear. There is a lot of effervescent bubbles chacing up to a nice foamy white head.

The aroma is full of fruity apricot, balanced softly by a nice suggestion of tartness.

This is incredibly sour. The taste is dry and tart throughout. The fruit flavor hinted at by the aroma is only subtly delivered in the flavor as it drowns in a hefty dose of tartness with a hint of grassyness.

This is medium bodied, with great crisp drink-ability. This is an absolute gem; all that it's cracked up to be.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 04:43:10 | More by andrewinski1

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 bottle opened for my birthday. Poured at ~5C, then warmed into a Duvel snifter. Shared with friends who had never had a sour before, and it took them aback :)

Apricots and funk on the nose. Hints of acetic acid perhaps behind it all but minimally if at all. The fruitiness builds with time and the temperature of the beer increasing. Stellar funky nose that develops over time. I need to spend more time to think about this, in order to really do this justice, but I don't want to think too much The body has a strong effervescence that bites the tongue giving the beer a body that I think it would otherwise have lacked. More apricots in the body, with nice barnyard notes that pair well. A great beer I am glad to have 5 more of to consume over time and consider its growth...

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 03:13:43 | More by kjyost

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.58/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A HUGE thank you to wordemupg for this long time want. August 25, 2011 bottling date.

Appearance. Pours a quite hazy straw-peach with a finger of frothy white head that fades to a skim pretty quickly, but leaves some lace behind.

Smell. Ripe apricots, juicy tangy peaches, sweet grapes and some nice and soft, sweet and fruity hayloft funk. I could smell this the second I pulled the cork from the bottle and also now from my glass several feet away.

Taste. Sour, slightly under-ripe apricots and peaches in a much more delicate way than the smell suggests. There's some good dry funk and a little bit of old wet wood. Very sour and tangy, and very nice.

Mouthfeel. Medium-light body with fairly strong, fine carbonation.

Overall. Another fine beer from Cantillon. I can't say it's the best in their regular
lineup for me, but I am loving every drop of this and will look forward to having it again someday.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 01:26:58 | More by Rutager

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.49/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

huge thanks to egrace84 for sharing this brew! Thanks elliot!

reviewed from notes taken 6/1/12.

vintage 2011.

Appearance: murky/hazy medium yellow bodied beer with a thin short lived white head.

Smell: Huge barnyard and funk. Little fruity peaches, apricots, pears.

Taste: This one is really sour. Lots of hay and funk; followed with peaches and hint of apricots. Nice complexity.

Mouthfeel: light bodied beer with carbonation placed at the high end of low almost at a medium carbonation level. Sharp, acidic, and clean. Finishes dry.

Overall: Awesome beer. Glad that I was give an oppurtunity to try such a hard to get beer. I probably wont see another bottle of this beer in my life time. This is my second Cantillion I have tried and its very nice.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 22:36:22 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

Duff27

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thin white head disappeared rather quickly and leaves a small collar. Some lacing. PeAr colored body.

Wheewww! Smells like a horse's jock strap!

I'd give it a 9.5 on the sour scale. Apricot is nice.

Above average carbonation. Good mouthfeel.

Could drink a lot of this...yeah right. Loved it. Huge thanks to egrace84 for the share!

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 01:51:18 | More by Duff27

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.35/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had as part of the "Evening with Cantillon" event during Good Beer Week in Melbourne.

Classic lambic look: hazed golden hue with a fine, tight white head that dissipates and leaves some soapy lace. Not much of a shift in colour from the fruit addition—it just looks like any other straight lambic or gueuze in Cantillon's range.

Nose is awesome, with crushed dried apricots coming through strongly above a vanilla sweetness like shortcrust pastry. There's a little greenness to it, but surprisingly, the lambic funk and acidity really doesn't come through. Overall, it's smooth, fragrant and rich. Lovely aroma.

Taste is also soft, and while the acidity is present here, it's much more restrained than in some of Cantillon's other brews. Ripe apricot, some fruit skin finishing with a clean crispness and a mild, soft tartness. Finish is long with a lingering funk and a bit of dust. Very nice.

Amazingly drinkable brew, perhaps one of the most drinkable Cantillons I've had the pleasure to sample. The soft sweetness of the apricots cushions the palate beautifully. Lovely beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 03:24:35 | More by lacqueredmouse

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.48/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Delightfully juicy and richly of the hearty fruit in apricots, this snappy dry sour ale captures all the fruit flavor in its unadulterated forms while delivering it from its sweetness in favor of a highly acidic and sublimely drinkable ale.

Pouring a burnish orange, honey hue with a certain denseness that points toward a yeasty haze; the beer builds a short-statured head of creamy white foam that reduces to a film before holding true for the last quarter of the session.

A sharp pang of sour notes create immediate impact on the nose in the form of tart peaches, apricots, and mangoes that may have been marinated in white wine, dry cider, and light vinegar. There's just the sense of pickled fruit that plays out in a rather musty and leathery scent that creates such intrigue and apprehension going into the first sip.

But that sip is just as sultry, savory, and sharply decided as I had feared- or shyly coveted. Just after the clean acidity hits the mouth with the taste of cider, white wine, and pickled fruit, the immediate aftertaste of peach or apricot arise even before the finish is delivered. The dryness and effervescence of the beer ushers in a quick visit to the gullet before the beer is appropriately evaluated. But as each sip whaffs over the tongue, other elements of dried fruit, including pineapple, green apple, peach, mango, and even papaya; all make marketed impressions on the palate en route to the whimsical lemony and leathery aftertaste.

This beer is alive with a clean and zesty texture that introduces its finish as soon as it does its initial taste. Drinkable, palatable, digestible... sure, but it takes a lot of concentration to understand the quick procession that this beer does, dancing across the tongue. It's incredible that a fruited sour ale delivers this intense of a dry beer without exposing any flaws in taste, astringency in texture, or wavering of body. Flawless? ...almost.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 05:20:13 | More by BEERchitect

tewaris

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev -8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Thanks islandboi8204!

2011 vintage poured into a tulip. Shared with dc55110 and Jetfire. Thanks guys!

Hazy and the color of the fruit in it, with good head and retention. Funky, fruity and good! The apricots are strong here... I can only imagine how awesome would it be fresh. The fruit gets stronger with warmth.

Lactic and soft tartness in taste, very very sour. Some wood. Super dry and very enjoyable, but I am glad it was shared between 3.

4.5, 4.5, 4, 5, 4

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 06:04:22 | More by tewaris

Auracom

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2010 bottling. Thanks to the most-generous soul who allowed me the opportunity for this one. Poured into a wine glass on May 11th, 2012.

A - Pure hazy, golden coloring. Wisps of white foam across the sides. Simple yet elegant.

S - Fantastic depth. Sweet ripened apricots, honey, light lemon bread, banana, clove, herbaceousness, flower petals, vinegar, and an incredible assortment of spice undertones. Could nose this for ages, love it.

T - Definitely has picked up a ton of puckering sourness and astringency from its time in the bottle. Front-end pure lemon and vinegar. Mid-palate shifts over to faint apricots and breadiness with lingering sourness. Light oak barrel and peppery spices on the backend. Pleasant light-fruit aftertaste.

M - Infinitely dry finish. High carbonation, medium body, smooth throughout the palate.

D - My favorite Cantillon thus far next to St. Lamvinus. The fruit has faded a bit in the drink, which is a slight disappointment (drink the 2010 asap), but the nose is really spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 14:14:26 | More by Auracom

FosterJM

California

4.4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1263rd Review on BA
Bottle to 9oz Strange
750 Ml
2011

Thanks Martin

Shared at Beachwood BBQ's Ode to Lambic

App- A very very hazy orange looking yellow with a bit of a popsicle looks. A few bubbles and very little cling and a bit murky looking.

Smell- My word. Feel like a deep sourtherner. Huge fresh and vibrant apricot with a huge amount of funk on the back end of this one.

Taste- Again, taste follows the nose and it playes well together. The apricot is bright and a bit dry and the funk adds to the dryness but leaves you wanting to have more. It's fairly sweet, but not overly sweet nor puckering.

Mouth- A lighter medium and a medium carbonation. Didn't leave a lot in terms of residual flavors.

Drink- Damn tasty beer. I understand now, why so hard to get and why no one would say where bottles are.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 23:27:24 | More by FosterJM

claspada

New Jersey

4.73/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Adding Aug 2011 bottle sampled 5/27/12. The fruit is so much fresher and really pops. I can actually taste the apricot where as the aged bottle was much more sour and less fruit forward. I recommend drinking this fresh as possible.

Bottled August 2010. Courtesy of a generous Texas trader, can't recall exactly, poor job by me.

Pours a hazy dark golden color, almost orange, with a nice fluffy white head. A bit of spotty lacing and a minimal head that stays throughout.

Aromas begin with a lot of lactic acidity, lemon, peaches and tart green apple. The oakiness emerges as it warms with a really nice wet hay and barnyard funk.

The tastes directly follow the nose with loads of apricot/peach mixed with some very nice lactic sourness. The funk, earth, and wood emerge more and more as it warms. The lactic sourness and fruity apricot and pretty equal here; I credit that due to the age as I have been told this is much more apricot forward when fresh.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is dry and acidic but not overly so; pleasantly sour and tart in the finish but by no means the sourest or Brett forward beer I have ever had. Really in balance overall which is how I like pretty much all my beers regardless of style.

Overall this is world class, no bones about it. Flavor profile is exactly how you would want a fruited lambic to be, balance of fruit and funk is second to none. I don't think I would drink anything but Cantillon from June-August if I could readily track it down, but alas that will never happen. I prefer St. Lamvinus to this slightly but that is a personal preference, both are the two best Belgian lambics for my money.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 20:19:50 | More by claspada

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from the Beer Bistro, Lot 11/08. Bottled August 5, 2008 - best before December 2018. 750ml into a tulip.

Clear gold in colour, with a white head and light lacing. A dense ring of retention remains. Nose is acetic with a typical Cantillon funk, light oak and a generally piercing acidity all around. Apricots are a bit hidden intially, but begin to reveal themselves more as this moves closer to room temp. Taste wasn't as sour as I had anticipated (7-8/10 sourness?), but still quite acidic in its own right. More white balsamic vinegar, Cantillon funk, only a sliver of oak, and similar to the aroma, warmth aids the revealing of the apricots. Some sweetness in there as well. Lighter medium body and sourness carries well into the finish. Fairly exquisite, and had my nose on this one for a better part of the time. Definitely a sipper, took me and the girlfriend over 2 and a half hours to get through this 750ml. Hoped for a bit more apricot flavour - perhaps a fresher bottle would've had more of this (eagerly awaiting one from a trading partner - will re-review!)

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 15:00:45 | More by liamt07

Momar42

Maryland

4.88/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750 ml bottle from Moeder Lambics in Brussels into a Cantillon stemmed bowl glass

Been dying to try this and since the brewery was out, bye bye Euros. Hope it's worth it.

A - yellowish-orange, clear, one finger of white, fluffy head. Dissipates slowly

S - bitterness, funk , apricots, fruity heaven. Fruit is apparent without being overpowering. Nothing could stop me from consuming this divine nectar

T - tart, fresh, apricots. Clean finish. Fantastic. Crisp. No lingering anything. This is apricot. How the hell do they take a fruit I dislike and create a beer I cherish? Every drink causes tingling explosions of fruit but finishes crisp. Hats off to the boys at Cantillon again.

M - clean. Coats the palate but dissipates quickly. Leaves you wanting more immediately.

O - I could go on and on about this amazing brew. Cantillon doesn't make a "bad" offering, this one is great. Bottom line, if you have even a remote interest in this style, you owe it to yourself to seek this out. Even if you don't like the style, if you find it, drink it, odds are your mind will be changed. The price tag was hefty but zero regrets. Drinking it at Moeder just added the cherry (or apricot) on top.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 02:45:35 | More by Momar42

russwbeck

Virginia

4.85/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2011 Vintage

A: The cork didn't seal the entire bottle, and disintegrated a bit into the beer. After pushing the cork down into the beer and pour delicately, we're left with a clear yellow pour with a finger of head. Minimal lacing is noticed, but the retention is decent.

S: The aroma is beautiful. Tart and sour with a wonderful addition of apricots. The fruits really mixes with the tartness well. The two play off of themselves perfectly.

T: This taste is why Cantillon is known as the best Lambic blender in the world. The apricots lend themselves to the tart, sour body as well as any fruit could. The above average sweetness and the lip-puckering sour contrast and blend in a way that makes it unfair to compare to other Lambics.

MF: The aftertaste is fresh and clean. The drinkability is crazy high as the balance keeps you coming back for more. Light in body and carbonated well.

O: $30 for the bottle, which was worth it if you can swing the price. I'm so glad I finally got to try this, if you see it splurge. You'll thank me later.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 02:57:39 | More by russwbeck

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

4.98/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2011 Vintage

A: Cloudy apricot in color (go figure). Pinpoint bubbles with lots of effervescence at first. It glows!

S: Characteristic Cantillon acidity at first, then a gentle and refined wave of floral apricot character. A sweaty brett vibe envelopes the whole thing. Amazing and quite approachable for Cantillon. My nose was in the glass for 2 hours.

T: Huge brett barnyard basement funk, rounded and firm lactic acidity with soft apricots through the middle and finish. Finishes with trademark Cantillon 'saltiness'.

M: Impeccably dry and extremely refreshing. It required a huge effort on my part to drink this as slowly as I did. I could kill a keg of this!

O: As amazing as any Lambic (or any beer), soft and approachable for Cantillon. Masterpiece.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 18:06:27 | More by mattsander

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.65/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Holy crap. My jaw hit the floor when I saw this one sitting on the shelf in a small corner of Oregon. I have never, ever, EVER, seen a Cantillon on the shelf.

A - Pours a very cloudy, light orange with a large fluffy white head. It slowly fades to half.

S - Funk and horse blanket tones hit you first, then the sweet apricots follow.

T - A soft gentle apricot, slight sweetness, followed by a slight funk.

D - Thinner body with good carbonation.

O - A world class treat. I am so excited to drink this one. Clean, funky, fruity and good.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 04:29:34 | More by HuskyinPDX

warnerry

Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2009 vintage

Bottle poured into cantillon tulip at Moeder Lambic.
Served in a lambic basket. Classy.

A - Pours a hazy golden brown with two fingers of white head. Head has good retention but leaves no lacing.

S - Musty smell with nice apricot presence.

T - Wow, very nice tart apricot taste to start, followed by a musty earthy middle with more apricot on the finish. The tartness is very refreshing, not puckering sourness. The apricot taste here is perfect. I'm surprised there aren't more lambics made with apricot, as it is so complimentary to the earthy funk elements.

M - Medium light crisp mouthfeel with a dry clean finish.

O - Just excellent all around. Tart but not overpowering. Funky but balanced. And a great showcase for the apricots.

4, 4.5, 5, 4.5, 4.5

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 00:33:31 | More by warnerry

brystmar

New York

4.38/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 vintage.

Second time enjoying this treat, and for the second time in a row my first impression was: "this smells like cheese!". Funky fruit and yeast round things out.

Pleasant blend of apricots and funk. Mild tartness with a clean finish. One of the best shelf Cantillons.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 03:35:55 | More by brystmar

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled August 25, 2008

Beer is a cloudy golden/orange colour. I am inclined to say apricot coloured given the flavouring of the beer and that would actually be pretty close. Small white head fades quickly.

Smell is clearly sour, with some chalk, yeast and funk. A strong, tart apricot scent is present. Minimal sweetness in the nose. The fruit smells very real, with none of the artificial qualities that I often find in the aroma of fruit flavoured beers, even when real fruit is used.

Taste is like the nose. Very sour apricot, some funk, a bit of a crisp spiciness from the wheat. Not a sweet beer at all, actually a very dry finish along with the heavy sour flavour.

As for mouth feel, pucker up! Dries the mouth out incredibly. Moderate carbonation and medium bodied, very smooth.

Overall, very enjoyable if you like your beer sour. Really nice flavour and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 03:39:21 | More by jrenihan