Cantillon Fou' Foune - Brasserie Cantillon

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL bottle of the 2011 vintage. Big ups to portia99 for hooking me up with what will be review #450 here.

Cantillon Fou' Foune pours a hazy tangerine, with about two fingers of white foam. The head retention is surprisingly good for a lambic, but there's not a speck of lacing left behind. The nose is an absolute apricot bomb, loads of fresh fruit jumping out of the glass. Lurking behind it is some wet hay brett funk and a light lactic sourness. It's a beautiful aroma, but a little bit more balance in terms of more funk and sour to compete with the fruit would really make this perfect. My thoughts on the flavor profile are fairly similar. The big blast of apricot up front is great, but the wild aspects of the beer almost seem like they're just sneaking into the picture on the back end. I really like this beer now, but I think with another 6 months on it, it would be absolutely sublime. One thing that doesn't need time to improve though is the mouthfeel. THe body i crisp and light and paired with a wonderfully bubbly, almost champagne-like carbonation. Fou' Foune is another absolutely killer beer from Cantillon, quite possibly my favorite that I've had from them. It's a shame it's relatively hard to get your hands on, because I'd love to see what a little age does to this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 04:42:43 | More by axeman9182

DCon

Missouri

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

Enjoyed on-tap @ the iTap House in Soulard (St. Louis), MO for $8. Tapped from a beer faucet w/o a Tap Handle (due to Cantillon not having their own handles) into a 33cl. Chimay Goblet. This is 2011 Vintage.

Aroma- Dusty apricot, belgian complexed blend of sour notes, and quite an acidic background. All very subtle and appropriate for this Apricot Lambic.

Appearance- Received with a 2 finger, frothy head that has terrific head retention. Has a copper/apricot color body and is semi-hazy. Suds stay on the glass for minutes but then end up disappearing through the body and never stick.

Flavor- Apricot and musky flavors start this one out. Seem as though this has been aged for some time, maybe due to sitting in the keg. Acidic and has a semi-dry finish.

Mouthfeel- Light-Medium Bodied, Medium Carbonation, Musky, and leaves good apricot and light acidity on the palate. Puckers the tongue just a bit, nothing like other Cantillons.

Overall Impression- While I waited for a month and stood in line for over an hour to get my glass of this, I had WAY too high of an expectation for this lambic from Cantillon. It was still very nice and enjoyable but would like to get my hands on a bottle of this since everyone agreed the bottle version was MUCH better. Still would HIGHLY recommend enjoying this one if you ever find it but didn't find it to be one of my top beers produced by Cantillon.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2012 17:32:29 | More by DCon

abrand

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap

This pours a hazy orange color with a huge 3 finger head from the tap. Had to let it settle before taking first drink. Aromas are pretty strong with plenty of funk and fruits. Amazing smells. Taste is lots of funk with subtle but delicious hints of apricot. Nice acidity in the after taste. Somewhat sour but fresh. Mouthfeel is thin bodied and good carbonation from the tap. Overall this is truly amazing. So glad I got to try this. Will look to drink from a bottle in the future as I've heard its better from the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2012 16:34:04 | More by abrand

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2010 on tap

Pour was a pale murky orange, hints of grapefruit juice. Inch plus of creamy white head, held its place.

Soft apricot with light sourness. Slightly funky.

Taste is similar. Apricot is soft and subtle, but there. Nicw light sourness up front. A bit funky throughout, blends well.

Light and easy, airy body with a bit of pucker.

Pretty amazing, would drink over and over.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2012 00:37:51 | More by hooliganlife

DovaliHops

California

4.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow...I'm so happy I finally get to review this beer. Bought it off a Belgian website. Bottled August 25th, 2011---fresh baby! I heard fresh is the best way to go with this beer. Pours a very hazy, straw yellow-orange color with a large white head. Very fizzy. Scent is just as funky as I was hoping it would be...quite funky. Sweet apricots in the aroma with some grass and funky cheese. Definitely some sharp cheese aromas. Lots of barnyard funk with a bit of stinky gym socks. Considering this is a fresh bottle, the aroma was much more funky than I was expecting...which is great! Taste is tart at first...not sour. Switches to sweet apricots, funky/strong cheese flavors with a ton of barnyard flavor. Then the apricots come back in, but more sour this time. Finishes even more sour than it started. Great finish to this beer...scratch that, THE BEST FINISH. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with some puckering notes and very highly carbonated...could use a little less carbonation. Drinkability is high as it could get. Overall, another AMAZING beer from Cantillon. Now that I've tried this gem, I will be seeking out more.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 07:14:37 | More by DovaliHops

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

From 750 ml bottle into in de verzekering tegen de grotto dorst lambic/gueuze glass.  Low white head atop hazy light gold body. Aroma of green apple and most certainly apricot. Slight sweetness. Taste citric, with nice apricot. Tongue smacking, mouth puckering greatness. Awesome. 

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 23:41:29 | More by KickbacksSteve

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

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

Well I am excited to try this as the other similar beer I’ve had with Apricot is the Cascade and I just love that beer.

Fluffy/ Sudsy head grows and stays for a very brief visit. A fairly light gold/straw color with a dull finish.

Aroma is fantastic. That simple Sweettart aroma up front with a sharp edge and then a subtle but obvious Apricot nose. I really love this aroma.

OK, now I type the opposite of what I have many times. Most often it is noted that the flavor is not as sour/tart as the aroma leads one to believe. Here it’s the exact opposite. There was certainly hints of sour/tart in the nose, but it was rounded. The initial punch of sour is more than this and more than expected. It gives way to a wonderful acidic/lactic draw of white wine notes and some green grape, Then the apricot hits late palate and provides a wonderful fruit complexity. It stays with you after the finish.

Delicate body, again sits like a wine in the glass and even as you drink it.

I can see why this is highly sought after. I am happy that I was able to secure one with the recent Cantillon distribution in MA.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 22:10:13 | More by Reagan1984

Donerik

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: murky, golden, and buggy. Buggy beers have a look like they are watery but thick I think it's the attenuation.

S: Cantillion brings on the funk, there is the classic funk scent, acidic, and buggy. Also in the nose is the flesh fruits, but without the sweetness.

T: Funky, with the peach flavor but not sweetness. The funk is cantillion, but the fruit is more present than in the cantillion kriek, or framboise.

M: thin and dry, highly attenuated by the funk.

O: Great! the best cantillion so far.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 03:26:28 | More by Donerik

elNopalero

Texas

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

This was… dare I say, a milestone in my beer education—and I owe thanks to the good people at Jester King for making it possible.

I’m not even sure ‘hype’ is the right word to use when talking about cantillons, because they’re not lumped in with what I think of as other rarities, or those special bottle releases that people (myself included) are willing to line up for. Perhaps reverence? Respect? Certainly curiosity. I was aware that cantillons aren’t commonplace—I had never seen one before, let alone tried one—but when I got in line I had no idea that this was going to be the mystery keg they were tapping. Chalk that one up to being lucky, I guess, because once word spread the line grew exponentially. And I can totally understand why.

This poured a slightly cloudy orange yellow in color, with a great apricot aroma and noticeable tartness, even from the aroma. Simply amazing. There’s a big effervescence to this that lets the flavors dance across the tongue. The apricot floral-fruitiness is subdued, but its present and tasty. It’s tart, with a lingering, dry finish and a touch of sweetness like a firework going off. Half a pour wasn’t enough but its more than many had. Can’t wait to have another!

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2012 22:53:49 | More by elNopalero

Treebs

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Review #300

Had on tap at Local Option during their Occupy the Local Option. Served in a mini-snifter.

A: Pours a hazy golden color with dreamsicle like hues intertwined. The head is bubbly, airy and bone white in color. It recedes to a thick collar and leaves some splotchy lace.

S: Musty, earthy and funky in nature. There is a light apricot tartness and some under ripe apple skin as well.

T: Subtle apricot flesh with a funky, barnyard like flavor. There is a mild tartness that is coupled with an oak and vanilla like sweetness on the finish.

M: Creamy up front with a drying, tannic finish. Spritzy carbonaton and a light body makes for a nice drinking brew.

O: The flavors seemed slightly muted overall and it didn't wow me like I thought it would. It was still an above average lambic, but I expected more fruity flesh and a little more tartness.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2012 00:57:45 | More by Treebs

jethrodium

California

4.33/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Beer Revolution Anniversary. Pours a cloudy orange with a small white head that settles to a ring and leaves some light lacing on the glass. The aroma is big apricot, some lemon funkiness, lactic, along with a bit of sweetness. The taste is tart with a bit of initial sweetness. Lots of apricot, tart lemon, signature Cantillon funkiness. Finish is tart. Medium body. Low carbonation. The fruit is really prominent here, more so than in other Cantillon lambics. It also has a bit more sweetness than other Cantillons, but certainly not too much.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2012 20:23:13 | More by jethrodium

Soonami

Pennsylvania

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

2010 Bottle thanks to the Texas Crew from the Gang Bang BIF

A golden, hazy yellow reminiscent of the apricots that were used to make the beer, with a constant stream of tiny bubbles

Lots of ripe apricot with light funk in the nose. The perfume from the fruit is intoxicating when mixed with the sharp acidic peach, lemon and tart flavors, light metallic notes, and damp musty hay.

This is one of my favorite beers, by far the best in the Cantillon line for me. The balance of juicy fragrant fruit and expressive lambic in this beer is what other makers of fruited wild beers should strive to emulate. The best quality

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 18:56:18 | More by Soonami

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.6/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks, Adam, for the opportunity!

750ml bottle, bottled Aug 25, 2011.

It's pouring a cloudy yellow orange with a firm 2 finger head of foam. The lacing left behind is very impressive.

It smells very yeasty, fruity, sourish, funky, a very incredible aroma. There's no way that the taste can live up to the smell. No way.

And then...the taste. Apricots bring a light sweet flavour almost immediately over taken but tart and bitter fruit sensations. I note a yeasty and light funkiness here too. I find the fruity bitterness a bit surprising but more than welcome and the tart notes are done near perfection. My oh my, this is so damn good and drinkable. 5%abv helps make it so.

I wondered what the French/Belgian word for apricot was and it turned out to be abricot. Not as "interesting" as like names for cherry, raspberry, or peach so I reckon Fou' Foune will do nicely. ;^)

With plenty of carbonation and a lightish body, the mouthfeel is just right. This really is a fine drinking experience. I'm glad I got a chance to try it!!

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 17:58:48 | More by Bitterbill

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.5/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had this a couple of times recently ... reviewed from 2 sets of paper notes.. Thanks to inflatablechair and alehousedave ... Very cool fellas.. Thanks Sammy and Dave!! I truly appreciate it.

Pours a hazed golden with nice white lacing and decent retention.

The nose is amazing... I could smell a goblet all night and never complain.. bright fruit and the expected Cantillon funk.. lactic and dry lemon and white wine barrel goodness... fantastic.

Flavor is lemony and tart... the apricots come out swinging mid palate and dry out immediately leaving a long funky fruity finish.. dirty brett and dank basement funk... antique books (yep, I've tasted the paper... you should too) the fruits are the main player at the end of the day.

Loving the spritzy carbonation with a still light/medium body... fruity lambic done right.... I believe the apricot pulp adds some body that makes it a touch heavier and enjoyable.

I can't... CAN NOT believe that I've passed on Fou Foune over the years.... I am a moron... that said, I am happy to have friends who are smarter than I am. Sam and Dave are good folks for sure.

3.5/5/4.5/4/4.5

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 06:00:22 | More by JohnGalt1

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4.72/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a hazy, peachy gold with a creamy white mousse that lingers forever.

S: Aromas of must, vinegar, barnyard funk, and ripe apricots assault the nose. This smells the way an authentic fruit lambic should, with a ton of wild yeast and fruit up front.

T: Notes of must, vinegar, minerals, straw, barnyard funk, and salty brine are chased by gorgeous flavors of ripe apricot and lemon. The finish is long and puckering with a ton of apricot, vinegar, and barnyard flavor.

M: Medium-bodied, extremely dry, and supple. Carbonation is much more active than I expected it to be, yet this beer remains very drinkable.

O: This is an excellent fruit lambic, and perhaps one of the best beers of any type that I've ever had. Fou'foune is an experience not to miss. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 15:27:36 | More by mrfrancis

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A handpull at Teresa's Next Door. (That sounds odd, now that i think about it)

Just like Iris, Fou Foune poured expertly off the handpump, I was greeted by half a glass of orangeish gold liquid with the top of the glass full of white foam. It settled out nicely with nice retention and minor stick.

Unlike last years Fou Foune cask serving at the same venue (and possibly the same vintage), this smelled way off. I got baby powder and old feet and a plastic scent. Hardly any apricot until the end of the glass. I know each vintage is different, but I did not warm up to this.

The taste brings it back. Not getting any of that old Cantillon scent, im pleased with the nice acidic sourness and apricot with some old musky barnyard thrown in. Some oak with warming and old cheese taste at the end. Last year, this stuff rocked, if this is the same vintage as that, it's fallen off, and that's just my opinion on this vintage, I know what this beer can be.

Feel is very light bodied and nicely carbed up. A nice amount of sourness hits the gullet, yet not extreme. While I really enjoyed this, I could not get another glass, I went with Iris instead. I really want to try a fresh bottle of fou foune and make a solid decision on it.

Serving type: cask

02-06-2012 03:48:43 | More by onix1agr

Gfunk720

Connecticut

4.2/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Alex for this bottle. 2010 cork, out of my Lost Abbey stemware.

A- A very bright golden peachy color. A nice foamy white head, retains a ring around the edge for what seems like forever.

S- Pungent sour and funk, touches of lemon and apricot skins. Some vinegar and tannic scents, very strong.

T- The biting sourness hits almost instantly, very dry and fruity, lemon, peach, apricot. There is some vinegar sourness, just crazy funky.

M- A little bubbly at times, but pretty much perfect for the style. This is a total palate wrecker though, just so soury.

O- Overall, if you like sours this is one of the better Cantillons I've had. I found the fruit to be quite pronounced, and prevalent. A very dry and sour beer.

-GFunk

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 21:28:41 | More by Gfunk720

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

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

A-golden color with a thick white head and decent retention

S-sour fruit and acidity slightly yeasty

T-sour fruit upfront with a nice slight sweetness following

F-medium body with nice crisp carbonation, great mouthfeel

O-a nice crisp and refreshing lambic

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2012 03:19:57 | More by MDDMD

DaveHack

Pennsylvania

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

In Blind Tiger, 750 poured into a tulip.

It's dark in here, but pours bright orangish color. Very little head.

Smells like fresh dank. Musty and fruity.

very sour upfront, then there is a nice, almost sweet fruit, followed by another blast of puckering sour.

Feels great...not too thin or too heavy. The carbonation is perfect.

This is the real deal. One if the best sours I've had. I could drink plenty...if it wasn't so hard to get and expensive. Definitely a treat!

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 23:16:27 | More by DaveHack

SpdKilz

Illinois

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

Thanks to AgentZero (Mike) for busting this out at his birthday tasting. 2007 vintage.

Appearance – Pours into a tulip with a radiant orange color. About a half finger of off white head is achieved that dissipates quickly leaving slight lacing.

Smell – Woohoo. Heavy barnyard funk, still plenty of apricot. Oak, lemon zest, wet hay. Very musty and funky.

Taste – An immediate puckering. Light acidity, earthy funk, plenty of apricot (though not as noticeable as when I had this fresh). Slight vanilla oak and more tartness.

Mouthfeel – Medium bodied, moderate carbonation, finishes dry.

Overall – Just a fantastic beer. I traded one of these away earlier this summer and am kicking myself for it now. One of the better Cantillon’s out there for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 01:43:59 | More by SpdKilz

jamescain

Texas

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

Big thanks to the guys at Jester King for securing this keg for their anniversary party! Poured into a wine glass.

Pours a hazy straw yellow with a thin white head that fads to a patchy lacing. The aroma is very delicate, notes of citrus, peach, pineapple, sour lactose and a hint of funk. The taste is similar to the aroma and just as delicate and complex. There is more citrus then I was expecting in the flavor, lemon being the prevailing flavor. It is only slightly sour, which allows for the other fruity flavors to breath. The body is medium light with a medium carbonation and it is exceptionally easy to drink. I didn't want my glass to end, but alas all good things must come to an end.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2012 17:32:02 | More by jamescain

Damian

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drank from a 1 pt 9.4 fl oz corked and capped bottle purchased at Berman's Wine and Spirits, Lexington, MA
Bottled: 18 August 2011
Served in a wine glass

Slightly hazed, glowing golden yellow in appearance. A one-finger, bubbly, bright white crop of froth topped the liquid. Within seconds, the head faded to a clingy ring.

The nose was complex and quite interesting. Musty notes came through strong. Funky but not super tart with hints of lemon peel. Oaky and dry. Some Chardonnay wine-like notes appeared as well. A slight, malty sweetness balanced things out. As the beer warmed, the tartness intensified.

The taste was similar to the nose initially. Lots of basement mustiness and barnyard funk. Crisp and dry. Fruity and moderately tart with notes of lemon. Some wheaty tartness was apparent as well. The beer became much more sour as it opened up. Strong tart fruit notes came through on the back end. The finish was dry, oaky and surprisingly hoppy. Remarkably bitter for the style (I am certain that this was due to the freshness of the bottle). The hops came out even more as beer warmed.

The mouthfeel was lighter bodied with a zippy, spritzy, lively effervescenece. Crisp, clean and quite refreshing.

Fou' Foune is a notable fruit lambic but it is far from being one of my favorite Cantillon offerings. Without the knowledge that this beer was brewed with apricots, I never would have guessed that it was. Furthermore, the beer seemed to lack some overall complexity. Based on the scores that this receives, and on its price point, I was expecting more.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 05:24:09 | More by Damian

pmlondrigan

New York

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

2011 vintage poured into a gueuze like tumbler. Pretty standard looking lambic here. Golden straw color, a little orange hugh. Puffy white head that recedes with a fizz. Beautiful fruity apricot and stone fruit aroma, at first I didn't pick up on it, but as this warms it is there in spades. Also some lemon and light but present barnyard funk. Fruity, fruity flavor. Stone fruits lemon, a hit of lactic sourness and funk. Fou foune has a really clean apricot fruit finish that lingers. Fare carbonation with drying sourness.
I really enjoy the unique fruitiness of this lambic, unlike any I've had so far.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 20:57:46 | More by pmlondrigan

antoines15

Indiana

3.93/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Local Option, not sure which year, assuming 2011.

A: Light colored, very fluffy white head (to make the glass seem more full. At $9 a pour there was no consistency to the glasses or the amount in them. I'm not bitter though.)

S: Reminded me a lot of Cantillon classic gueuze, didn't pick up much apricot at all.

T: Again, I would have guessed Classic gueuze if I didn't know better. Funky with a tiny bit of apricot at the very end. Was hoping for much more fruit flavor, maybe it was an older version of Fou' Foune.

M: Crisp, refreshing, tart, very drying and kept me wanting more.

O: It wasn't as good as what I was hoping for when I first heard apricot lambic, but still a pretty solid brew. Maybe its different out of the bottle. If i could find a bottle, I wouldn't pass it up. Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2012 12:21:50 | More by antoines15

ThePorterSorter

New York

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

Super happy we found 2 bottles of this @ D & L truck stop!!
Bottled in 2011

Appearance:
A hazy, rich looking light orange beer with a foamy, white head. Although the head fell flat, this beer didn't run low on carbonation. Tight bubble lacing and there's definitely some sediment at the bottom.

Smell:
A lightly sweet and sour apricot. I'm already liking the smell of this more than the old gueuze because it's more balanced and slightly more floral.

Taste:
Ok this is the best sour I've had to date. It's definitely heavy on the sour, but also balanced by the fruit/sweetness. There is tremendous character in each sip, very intense flavors that seem to touch on sweet, sour, salty, and funky. You basically just need to try this beer, it's incredible.

Mouthfeel:
Effervescent and dry/acidic. The aftertaste is a thick, sour and loaded with flavor. I greatly anticipate each sip and obviously salivate heavily for it...Incredibly refreshing. Completely cleanses

Overall:
Whoa $23 for a bottle...definitely worth trying once. I have another bottle to let sit for a bit, but don't plan on opening it for awhile. Highly recommended, although some people may get an upset stomach after drinking....

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 05:45:00 | More by ThePorterSorter