Cantillon Pinot D'Aunis - Brasserie Cantillon

Tnudish

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review taken from notes I wrote on a scrap of paper. Served on tap at Zwanze Day ’11 at West Lakeview Liquors. Sampled in my newly acquired Cantillon tasting flute.

A-Zwanze pours a light pinkish red with about a half fingers worth of thin white head. Not much to add in terms of lacing as the head dissipates rather quickly.

S-Nose is predominately pepper, grape, light cherry, lemon rind, grass, must, and horse blanket.

T-The taste follows suit with more grape and lemon rind, cob web, some light grass, and pepper on the finish. I was told at Zwanze Day that the pepper character actually came from the grapes that were used in Zwanze ’11....pretty interesting.

M-Light to medium bodied, with pleasant acidity, light carbonation, and a nice finish.

O-Though I still need to try Zwanze ’08 (which I thankfully have in my cellar), this has been my favorite of the series by far. I hope Zwanze Day happens for years to come, couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 20:28:37 | More by Tnudish

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I was lucky enough to sample this beer at lord hobos on zwanze day 2011, just never got around to reviewing it.

This beer pours a nice pinkish red color kind of like a pink grapefruit. There is very little head but this may be because they poured pictures and then glasses then distributed thm to the whole bar. The smell is slightly winelike with a little funk in the background and a peppery finish. The flavor follows suit with a slightly winelike flavor a good sourness notes of grapefruit and a peppery finish. The mouthfeel was dry but the grapefruit notes made my mouth water with every sip. Overall I thought this was great.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2011 13:07:22 | More by rowingbrewer

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

light orange brown with a very nice three finger head of lace and a good amount of carbonation streaming up from the bottom of the glass. Nice retention only gradually let the head fade away, what was left was a very nice set of concentric side glass rings of lace. Smell was very sour, lots of grapes and other fruits. A bit light on the nose before the sour wrath kicks in. Flavor was very full and robust. Nice yeast filled flavor wrecks your taste buds but calms down considerably on the finish. A huge rush of sour fruit than kicks into overdrive and puckers your lips through the finish. This was a wonderfully unique brew that had a very good flavor and a light fruity feel

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2011 01:55:46 | More by mikesgroove

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Spuyten Duyvil during Zwanze Day.

A: Warm orange-rose colored body under the thinnest of rings of pink bubbles. Nice color.

S: Peppery, earthy grape notes on top of lemony, grassy funk. Highly acidic. Juicy, fruity, spicy, sour, nice.

T: A little understated up front, with grape juice + lemony acidity leading in to some dry, grassy, floral funk. Very fresh _ bright, with a bone-dry finish. Delicious.

M: Light, lively, and prickly. Fun.

O: Terrific beer, and well worth the trip. Cantillon really knows their way around a fruit Lambic. I actually preferred this to the 2010 St. Lamvinus we shared before Zwanze went on tap, although it couldn't hold a candle to the 05 I got to sample a few months back. I can't wait to see what they release next year!

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 02:06:58 | More by woosterbill

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev -5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

6 oz pour in a Cantillon tasting glass. I had this at the Zwanze Day tapping at Spuyten Duyvil, and the review is based on notes taken that afternoon.

Cantillon Zwanze 2011 pours a solid burnt orange to light red. There's a wispy bit of white foam that serves as a head, but there's not enough of it for me to even observe any lacing or head retention. The first thing to greet my nose is a mild funk, but it's quickly drowned out by a pronounced acidic tartness. This eventually bleeds into an aroma that's reminiscent of red wine. That vinous aspect is what leads off the flavor profile, as there's a bit of fruity grape and a peppery presence that wasn't found in the nose. This bleeds into a wine-like acidity and tartness that dominates the flavor as it did the aroma. The barnyard funky character that was the first aroma to jump out is the last to hit my taste buds. The body trends towards being on the lighter side, and the carbonation is mildly active. The mouthfeel works, but it's nothing special. I enjoyed my pour of 2011 Zwanze, but it's got an intensity of flavor that I think limits the amount I would really enjoy to not much more than the six ounces I got.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2011 01:57:03 | More by axeman9182

readbaron

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into cantillon small tulip at Zwanze Day 2011 courtesy of West Lakeview. Thanks Kristina!

Pours out a bright, slightly opaque, reddish orange - reminiscent of blending raspberries and beaches - with a light frothing of tiny peach bubbles that fade into a ring.

Smell is subtle - funky, earthy horseblanket, and citrus tartness - somewhat similar to ruby red grapefruit in sourness - and a bit of spice on the finish.

Taste is more tart than the smell indicates. Lots of earthy funk, a touch of grape sweetness, more sour grapefruit and a distinct touch of pepper.

Feel is good - highly carbonated and prickley.

Overall, a solid, intriguing offerring, but doesn't quite hold up to the Lou Pepe fruits or Fou Foune.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2011 21:09:20 | More by readbaron

brystmar

New York

4.08/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From notes. On tap for Zwanze Day 2011 at Spuyten Duyvil in Brooklyn.

Pinkish-red 6oz pour into a mini snifter, small layer of white head up top and around the edges. Active body.

Nose holds tart fruit, bacteria, musty yeast. Zwanze tastes mostly of sour strawberries with wild yeast pulling the strings. Smooth, crisp, lots of carbonation, and a very dry finish.

A good sour indeed, but well behind the best Cantillon offerings.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2011 20:17:35 | More by brystmar

largadeer

California

4.47/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Zwanze 2011. Draft at RRBC. Glowing reddish-pink color with a thin collar, no head. Smells like sweaty funk and grapefruit. Peppery, vinous notes pop out beneath the dominant citrus character. Really nice palate, red grapefruit, vinous fruit, a bit of black pepper and tobacco. Nice tartness with a juicy mouthfeel. Semi-dry finish, mild tannins. Really enjoyable, better than the first batch of Pinot d'Anuis.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2011 20:35:27 | More by largadeer

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Churchkey.

Trace of head on a gold-amber body.

Smells like urine-y funk and vinegar. There's a trace of berry sweetness buried somewhere in there though. The smell made me nervous.

Taste was much better than the smell. Lemony, tart with some raspberry. Pretty balanced, actually. Slightly vegetal (arugula, maybe?)

Mouthfeel is like that of... lemonade? I could really annoy people and suggest an Arnold Palmer, but I'll stop short ; )

Apart from the unnerving smell, this tasted pretty darn good. Overhyped, but good.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2011 19:49:41 | More by zaphodchak

petacutlasaurus

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at ChurchKey, D.C., on Zwanze Day 2011. Incredibly unique beer. I was at the event with a friend of mine, and both of us thought the smell on this beer was just outrageous. Not necessarily good, but outrageous. Maybe because it was simultaneously so bitter/musty/funky.

Past the smell, the taste had a mellow brett funk that worked really well with the pretty grape-heavy backdrop. Also some wild sourness at the finish, fun + astringent. Overall I really enjoyed it, but would probably enjoy it even more in a few years.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 18:30:32 | More by petacutlasaurus

BdubleEdubleRUN

California

3.93/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap, Zwanze day @ Stone.
The beer pours a very odd color that reminds me of pink lemonaide with a deeper pink to it, not much of a head is fromed and a few bubbles pop around the edges. The nose is a little faint, its got a strong funkiness to it with tart fruits and grapes. The tast is slightly tart with lemon and grapefruit citrus and a light tannin grape taste as well as funky. The feel is medium-light with better carbonation then there appears. Its a enjoyable beer that I'm glad I had the chance to try.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2011 14:37:26 | More by BdubleEdubleRUN

jethrodium

California

4.38/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Zwanze Day at Russian River. Pours a slightly hazy reddish amber with a small white head that goes to a ring around the glass. The aroma is cherry, funk, some light medicinal notes, light oak, as well as some red wine. The initial taste has some cherry sweetness that goes into light oak and red wine grapes. Typical funk on the finish with some light medicinal notes and a light astringency. Mildly sour. Medium-full body. Low carbonation. Overall a very enjoyable beer. Has slightly more sweetness than many Cantillons, but it worked well for this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2011 05:55:50 | More by jethrodium

ehammond1

California

4.22/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

On Tap

Stone Brew Co.
Escondido, CA

Zwanze Day 2011

Dark ruby with purple and dark pink edges. Almost no head, though there is a thin layer of near-white bubbles atop. Spots of lacing.

Bright aromas of red grapes and plump, juicy grapefruit, a touch of barnyard funk, earth, and grass. There's a mild sourness lingering underneath the more sweet and earthy aromas.

Bright grapefruit flavors initially, followed by a mild muskiness, sweet grapes, barnyard funk, hay, and grass. A complete, unique, and very pleasant combination.

Thin bodied with low carbonation, though incredibly dry and a pleasure to drink.

An interesting combination of bright, vibrant fruit flavors and earthy farm funk. A delight.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2011 21:13:45 | More by ehammond1

jale

Michigan

4/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

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

A: Pours a dark pink with two quarters of white head.

S: Light wine grapes,cantillon funk and maybe some peppery spice.

T: Very mild grape and mild sourness. Small amount of hop spice. Lighter then expected. Dry finish.

M: Light body with good carbonation.

O: Would drink another.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2011 19:05:41 | More by jale

charliedvrs

Massachusetts

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

On tap at Lord Hobo for Zwanze Day '11. Pours a hazy pink-red, with orange and gold highlights with a quickly dissipating head. Aroma is tart and funky, with a strong red grape mixed with grapefruit. Taste is the same with quite of bit of acidity. I'm also picking up a very strong peach type flavor from the grapes, strawberry as well. It carries a light to medium body with a moderate carbonation, ending with a nice dry, mouth-puckering earthy tartness. A truly amazing beer I couldn't be more thankful for the chance to have tried.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2011 01:28:42 | More by charliedvrs

womencantsail

California

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

On-tap at Stone as Zwanze 2011

A: The beer pours a flat purple-red color with a nice haze and no head.

S: The fruit provide a slightly sweet aroma with plenty of red grape aroma. There is also a nice grapefruit note as well as Cantillon's usual musty funk. Plenty of lemon, some grass, and straw.

T: Tart lemon and grape flavors with lots of earthy funk in the form of grass and straw. Somewhat musty with a more mild fruit character than the nose lets on. Only a mild funk, which is sort of disappointing, considering the nose.

M: The body is medium with a rather low level of carbonation.

O: Very pleased to have tried this. A great nose and very pleasurable overall.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2011 01:23:46 | More by womencantsail

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Zwanze! Served on tap in a Cantillon tasting flute at West Lakeview Liquors for Zwanze Day 2011.

Appearance: The center of Zwanze has a raspberry hue with grapefruit surrounding and transparent edges. Typical for the style, a quick fading white head maintains only a ring around the glass.

Smell: The aroma is pretty phenomenal. Nice moderate barnyard funk, light cherry, tart lemons, and a little stinky cheese.

Taste: A light malt flavor is present up front. Lactic sour cherry, white grape sweetness, a little balsamic vinegar, with a little bit of straw and white pepper toward the finish.

Mouthfeel: This has a light to medium body, pleasantly funky and sour while still retaining balance. The finish has more vinegar acidity than the start.

Overall: This was an incredible beer, pretty squarely my favorite of the day. I would still be going back for another pour if there was any left. Zwanze has all of the requisite characteristics of a great sour without needing to bash you over the head with any of them. The gentle balance was appreciated.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2011 01:16:01 | More by KickInTheChalice

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Review #1100!!! Had this one at Holy Grale in Louisville during Zwanze Day 2011! Just for the record, I drove ~7 hours to be there and ~7 hours home after to sample this beer... Served from tap into a Cantillon taster flute (which I got to keep!). Poured a peachish fluorescent red-orange with a very minimal pure white head. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, sour, tart, earthy funk, tart cherry, and a floral note. The flavor was of sweet malt, sour, tart, big funk, tart cherry, earthy funk, dark fruit, and grapes. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was an excellent brew. I really enjoyed the aroma on this one as we sat waiting for the toast to begin. Once I drew my first sip off the glass I knew this was something special. Everything on this one worked in unison and complimented everything else nicely. My only gripe with this beer??? They didn't bottle it. I could see this one really developing over the next year or two into something truly amazing. Definitely worth the ~14 hours of total driving I conducted during that day if that tells you anything...

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 17:07:22 | More by thagr81us

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Monk's for Zwanze Day '11. Served in a Cantillon tasting glass, about 6-8oz or so. The brew appears a light pink to rose color. Slightly hazed with a thin white film for a head that fizzes away quick. A light swirl brings back a thin film of white bubbles across the top that again rapidly dissolves.

The smell of this brew is that of funk. Almost off-putting at first with a nontypical display of poopy diaper meets stinky cheese, sweaty feet, herbs and medicine. I know that might sound horrible but it warms up to you as the experience continues. Grassy at times, a light swirl brings out a fruity sweet note that is faintly vinous at best.

The taste is earthy and herbal at first. Each sip gows on me with an acidic property that is salivating. It includes a minor amount of vinous character that increase in character as it warns. My first impression of this brew was that perhaps the vines and leaves were used in this brew instead of the grapes. After it warms up though my opinion changes a bit. It is acidic yet well integrate with flavors of funk, stinky cheese and very minor vinous quality. The aftertaste left in the mouth is more funky and earthy than vinous.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this brew is it's ease of drinkability. There is little to no alcohol impact. It is light bodied with a very light level of carbonation. It could have used some more carbonation to increase the feel but overall this one just didn't do it for me. Most Cantillon offerings I've been very satisfied with, this one just didn't cut it for me. Of the Zwanze offerings I've had, 2010 was my favorite with this 2011 and Mamouche well below. I wish I could have this again under different circumstances (unfortunately that will never happen.) I'm sure sitting down with a full glass at appropriate temperature would have brought out subtleties and nuances that I missed packed in a tiny room with 100 people rubbing up against each other.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 16:18:33 | More by stakem

FosterJM

California

4.13/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

812th Review on BA
Draft to Goblet
4oz pour

@Stone Zwanze Day

App- A good mix of dark pinks and reds. Had 0 head to it. Very flat with maybe at most a 1/16” ring of bubbles. No lace or cling. Seemed to be more like a red wine with its lack of carbonation.

Smell- Very tangy and tannin on first whiff. A lot of fruit mixed in with a bit of a funk and yeast notes. Had a touch of the barrel and Brett notes as well.

Taste- The taste on this was where this shined. Had a nice mix and blend of some ripe fruits along the line of cherries and raspberries. A soft yeast with the barrel notes and a little bit of acid as well. The back end flavors of the Cantillon notes such as the barnyard blanket come in.

Mouth- Light-Medium bodied with a low-medium carbonation level. A bit of residual ripe fruits and funk notes remained.

Drink- I liked 11 a lot better than 10 and I think its more due to the fact Witbiers aren’t necessarily my favorite and adding funk to it wasn’t what I was looking for.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 16:12:13 | More by FosterJM

russwbeck

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Churchkey, enjoyed directly after the 2010 version.

A: Clear red/pink pour with no head.

S: Far more fruity than the 2010. Grapes, cherries, hints of funk underneath and much less acidic than 2010 overall.

T: Very fruity for a Lambic. Grapes and cherries really take this beer over, it is a very interesting taste.

MF: Very dry, under carbonated, light and drinkable.

O: This was a lot better than the 2010. The taste is more full, great balance. Solid.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 01:51:38 | More by russwbeck

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Zwanze Day Chicago. Served in a Cantillon glass, I was fortunate enough to get quite a few glasses of this through the course of the night.

Appearance – A hazy pink rose color with about a finger of off white head that dissipates somewhat quickly leaving slight lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – Taking the first smell myself, and everyone around me, immediately proclaimed a dominant peppery presence up front. Red grapes, classic Cantillon funk, barnyard, and more spices.

Taste – Not as mouth puckering as I was hoping. There was a sharp lemon and red grape flavor, subtle barnyard funk, light oak at the tail end. Finishes with a spicy peppery finish that makes itself known throughout the sip, but more so as it ends.

Mouthfeel – Medium bodied, prickly carbonation, finishes a hint dry and spicy.

Overall – I had this side by side with 2008 Lou Pepe Kriek. That beer won hands down. While not my least favorite Cantillon, definitely not my favorite. Still, as with all great ticks, glad to have been able to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 01:40:29 | More by SpdKilz

bishopdc0

Maine

3.88/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Novare Res, served in a Cantillon glass. My wife and I both got two glasses filled and were lucky enough to be sitting at the bar.
The beer pours ruby red like a watermelon transparent and has a thin wisp of head nice

The aroma is sweet and sour with a good grape wine aroma that mixes with a woody earthiness

The taste is great a mix of a grapes sourness and carbonation start this beer. The flavor is a subtle sour, a sweetness of the grapes and a sourness linger and then finish quick and clean nice

Overall glad to have had it and I always enjoy the Novare events, that said not the best beer I had this day

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 23:35:19 | More by bishopdc0

amphion1065

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

6 oz. pour enjoyed at Lord Hobo on Zwanze Day. Reviewed from notes.

The appearance is appropriately wine-like, with a body that is hazy red, almost pink. Not quite translucent, but fairly light. There's a small, one-finger white head that really sticks around, and leaves wonderful lacing around my glass at the slightest swirl.

The nose is more grape-forward than any lambic I've ever smelled. Like so many other Cantillon lambics, Zwanze 2011 is ultimately a gorgeous expression of fruit. The sweet fruitiness of the grapes is tempered by a slight musty scent - it's a strange funk, and not one I would call tart.

That musty funk really shines in the taste. Again, the grapes are very prominent, and that vinous, wine-like quality makes this a very special beer. The sweetness is somewhat akin to eating a cold grape, and that juicy fruit is very pleasant. But all of that sweetness combines with a barnyard funk, lending a complex quality to this lambic. Though this is wonderful, I can't help but wish that there were a little more mouth-puckering tartness to it.

Carbonation is spot-on, no doubt enlivened by the fact that it was served from a keg. I could have drank the entire pitcher from which my glass was served.

Allowing this beer to warm up over the course of 30 minutes or so did wonders for the taste, though the barnyard/horse blanket/mouth-puckering quality I hoped for wasn't quite there. I would imagine that that element of Zwanze 2011 would really shine with some age, but alas, I'll sadly never know.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 22:52:38 | More by amphion1065

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at Monk's on Zwanze day.

A - Pours orangish red with a very small half finger tall head, dissipating down to nothing at all, leaving no lace at all down the glass.

S - Smells of grape juice and grape skins, ripe blackberries, oak tannins, light spice, and the ever present damp barnyard funk. This one is fairly vinous with just enough funk to bring it all together.

T - Starts off with hints of pinot grape flavors, both the juice and the skins, quickly giving way to a mix of musty barnyard funk, wet hay, lemon twang, and a tiny bit of grape jelly sweetness. The finish is a mix of vinous grape skin, funk, and light sweetness, lingering on the pallet for a short period of time.

M - Medium body and flavor with moderately low carbonation. Smooth, dry, feel with very little carbonation but I think that is a good thing for this particular beer.

O - I really liked this one. Compared to the other two Zwanze's this was a bit more complex. It could have used a tiny bit more carbonation, mostly to help with the looks, but it was still a very enjoyable beer. Glad I made the trek down to Monk's to try these.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 20:11:16 | More by orangesol