Cantillon Brabantiae - Brasserie Cantillon

julian

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a rare, rare treat! Retired and expensive bottle, but I think definitely worth the price of admission to try something so old and filled with so much history and from one of the premier lambic makers in the world!

A: The bottle has clearly been cellared, in every literal sense of the word, and for quite a long time. The label is dusty and shows years of weathering. Some of it is torn at the corners and and the text is faded. This adds to the vintage feel and excitement of the pre-de-corkage :) The bottle was de-corked as if a bomb were being diffused...very gently and very carefully. The bottle gushed leaving no doubt that this was clearly going to be good, and that carbonation was still quite present. It poured a hazy golden color with hints of orange when held up to the light. Head was also there, and visible bubbles erupting on the surface. Wow. Unbelievable after over 2 decades of aging!

S: What immediately stuck in my head was green apples. Almost a cider like aroma, mixed with some earth, and barnyard funk. Slightly acidic and vaguely tart. A mild aroma of cork and musty oak. Lots going on here, and despite the age this has held up extremely well.

T&M: This definitely has the personality of a Cantillon gueuze and the expert blending abilities of the Cantillon family brewery. Again, following the nose there's some funk, earth and slight green apple accompanied by some tart citrus and mild acidity but none of this is over the top. You can definitely tell this was aged in oak barrels as that wet musty oaky goodness is also there. I can't even believe this is still very well carbonated. Just amazing. This has held up extremely well. The mouthfeel is crisp, yet somehow full. Not too prickly or dry and still has some body to it.

O: I can't believe I got to try one of these. I will probably never find one again. Given it's age, and history and how well it's held up this was simply delightful. If you can find it/trade for it, get it and drink it. It's worth it and you will not be disappointed. A once in a lifetime beer!

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 03:47:32 | More by julian

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -6.3%

05-12-2013 23:25:58 | More by yourefragile

cfrances33

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle thanks to cpferris, served in a Hill Farmstead glass. The bottle was a MASSIVE gusher - even through the cork. Cork cracked off at the bottom.

Pour: Hazy, lightly burnt orange with a finger of off white head. Lots of sediment and a few cork flakes floating around. Not the most beautiful beer, but hey, what else could you expect.

Smell: Lots of musty library book, intense banyard funk, dust, and cobwebs. A touch of vinegar. Lemony sour notes, and some lactic acid.

Taste: More sour than the nose, but in no way exceedingly sour. Lots of barnyard funk, cobweb, old leather, and old book. Light vinegar again, but it only creeps in. A touch of lemon and a nice dry oak.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Not too sour in any way. Dry on the finish.

Overall: For a beer this old, this bottle was at least a winner. Drinking well. Incredibly excited to get to drink a beer literally as old as I am. Thank you Chad for this highest want of mine!

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 06:38:45 | More by cfrances33

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -6.3%

04-09-2013 12:07:58 | More by t0rin0

CypherEnigma

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

03-24-2013 13:48:51 | More by CypherEnigma

GRG1313

California

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

03-11-2013 03:18:04 | More by GRG1313

jbuddle

New York

3.5/5  rDev -18%

01-16-2013 21:32:08 | More by jbuddle

zach60614

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

01-13-2013 00:43:20 | More by zach60614

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.2/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Jon for this one. Another rarity slayed at a tasting 12/8. Reviewed from notes. 4oz. pour into a Cantillon flute.

Pours a 1 finger white head with moderate retention. Beer is slightly cloudy orange-goldenrod. Spotty lace with little cling. Considering its 23 years old, the carbonation is pretty impressive here.

Nose is grassy with bits of lemon rind, dry hay, wet wood, and cobwebs. Smells like its age but with a surprising, nice grassy freshness.

Opens lemon tartness, hay, lemon and vinegar tartness. Cobwebs and funk. Rotting wood at the end. Finishes hay and more lemon rind. Pretty mellow overall and well balanced but there's a slightly unpleasant vinegar note developing in this one already.

Light to medium bodied with low carbonation. Spritzy and aggressive in the mouth and finishes dry. Decent but again, this one's clearly past its prime.

I'm as big a fanboy of Cantillon rarities as they come but this one is well over the hill. The vinegar notes developing are clear and the mouthfeel is dull and uninspiring at times. I'm glad I got to try it but I wouldn't seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 17:41:55 | More by SpeedwayJim

joel66

New York

4.55/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared on Friday. Looked like this bottle was pulled out of a bomb shelter. Label barely in tact. To be honest, I was a bit nervous trying this as i really didn't know what to expect, and considering I have a few more bottles, this could have been a major bust from Belgium!

On the contrary, I feel like I hit the lottery. Cork pulled out in perfect condition, probably just the work of Thomas bottle popping skills but none the less it was impressive to see a 23 yr cork come out looking like the way it did.

The smell was of strong cheese, hay, barnyard. The cork, smelled like a finely aged cheese.

Taste was extremely sour. I had the first pour as well as the last and it got even more sour as this liquid gold came to room temperature.

Appearance was amber, with a cloud like head, with seltzer like bubbles.

Overall, I was really happy with this bottle and look forward to the next!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 22:13:18 | More by joel66

brystmar

New York

4.73/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle graciously shared by Joel. Thanks!

This is the dirtiest bottle I've ever held in my hands. Black, tarry remnants of old parchment imply they were once part of a beer label as they disentigrate in my hands. Cap is rusted to hell, yet the cork is in excellent shape. Loud POP when it's pulled lets you know the beast inside is still alive and kicking.

Active, scruffy orange-gold body beneath a beautifully thick, fluffy, white head. As beautiful as it is unexpected. Billowing aroma of barnyard funk ascends from my glass. Were my eyes closed, I'd swear I was standing on a hay-covered floor inside a barn. Cheesy must, soured yeast, dry and earthy. This is what I assume it's like to nibble on a 23-year-old Gouda.

First sip brings dry yeast and citrus to the palate. Puckering sourness sets in almost immediately. Deeply funky yeast shows a level of flavor maturation I've never experienced with yeast before. Tremendous complexity at every turn. This is the oldest sour I've had (by 13 years!), and I now understand the "aged Cantillon acidity" other reviewers often cite. If only every lambic were this sour (and good!)...

I enjoyed Brabantiae immensely. This gueuze held up like a champ since its bottling in 1989, and it makes a strong case for cellaring every Cantillon / 3F bottle you have for two decades. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 21:18:04 | More by brystmar

GrumpyOldTroll

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +11.2%

11-22-2012 17:53:18 | More by GrumpyOldTroll

Halcyondays

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

10-30-2012 00:54:17 | More by Halcyondays

BdubleEdubleRUN

California

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

10-29-2012 18:26:55 | More by BdubleEdubleRUN

imperialking

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%

10-19-2012 16:18:53 | More by imperialking

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

08-25-2012 02:22:10 | More by SpdKilz

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

08-24-2012 22:13:52 | More by Rochefort10nh

pperez38

California

4.5/5  rDev +5.4%

08-17-2012 14:25:19 | More by pperez38

MasterSki

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle generously shared by me at my birthday pre-party. Served in a Kuhnhenn snifter.

A - After an adventure getting the broken cork out while the beer slowly gushed out around the residual chunks, the beer finally made its way into my glass. Voluminous white foam that settles to a solid cap and splotchy lacework. Murky orange body. Shockingly lively for a 23-year-old Gueuze.

S - The taste is extremely musty, with notes of cheesecloth, damp basement, old cedar chest, green apple skins, and mild oxidation. There's a faint yet sharp acetone note buried in there too. I initially wasn't sure about this one, but it grew on me a the beer warmed up.

T - Intense apple cider vinegar, tangy oak, leather, and less obvious oxidation. Sour, even for a Cantillon offering, but in more of a lemon juice and less of a vinegar kind of way. Again, plenty of earthen basement and old furniture. Strangely compelling.

M - Super dry, oaky, and tannic, with nice zesty carbonation, and surprisingly hefty medium body.

D - A singular experience, and an enjoyable no less. The flavors that have developed are quite interesting and manage to avoid veering into unpalatable territory. Yes, there's oxidation but not an excessive amount for a beer this old. Much more enjoyable that some of the ancient De Dolles I've had. Would drink again, but not at the price I paid for the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 06:00:49 | More by MasterSki

Tnudish

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle popped by oreo. Thanks for nothing loser. Poured into my brand new 7venth Sun snifter.

A-Pours a dull light brown in color with a surprising amount of head for such an old beer. I got near the end of the bottle so there is significant amount of sediment.

S-Nose is surprisingly heavy port and lemon rind, leather, it just smells old as shit.

T-Tart port notes, lemon rind, and must.

M-Surprising carbonation, almost a little spritzy, light mouthfeel.

O-I know these bottles that are hit and miss, but I think we got a winner. An awesome treat to have, thanks Mike.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 01:30:16 | More by Tnudish

craytonic

District of Columbia

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle at the DC Lambic & Sour Tasting on April 14, 2012. From Notes.

Appearance: I had the joy of removing the clay cap, which was a first for me. Pour was a slightly cloudy golden orange, good head and some lacing.

Smell: very cheesy, playful and fruity, touch of oxidation. Great barnyard bits, touch of sherry.

Taste: Again, quite cheesy, earthy and funk. Not nearly as sour as I expected given the age. Lots of depth and quite dynamic

Overall: Taste of history, tons of layers and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 19:19:45 | More by craytonic

drabmuh

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Cantillon glass, have to drink them all. Beer is odd looking, like dish water, brown hazy, no head, thin body, low carbonation, it looks old.

Very oaky, musky, funky, bitter in the nose, interesting aroma.

Beer tastes like a Cantillon, even after all these years this is what it tastes like, a lot funkier, the oak is turning into something else entirely, nice finish, quite tannic, dry. Interesting, probably never get to have it again but given the opportunity I sure would.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 00:58:53 | More by drabmuh

mdfb79

New York

4.38/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From 04/14/12 notes. Had at our Epic DC Sour tasting. Cool to try a bottle this old, from 1989.

a - Pours a murky orange brown color with one inch of off white head and light to moderate carbonation evidne.t Bottl was a light gusher.

s - Smells of musty notes, dark fruits, light funk, oak, earthy notes. Good but not too funky or sour. A bit old and musty.

t - Tastes of barnyarf funk, sour fruits, dark fruit, oak, earthy notes, musty notes, light spice. Taste is much better then the nose, with a lot more funk and some sourness to it.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Super smooth and easy to drink.

o - Overall I liked this one quite a bit. The nose was good, but the taste was great and it was very easy to drink. Very nice funk and sourness in the taste, worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 00:55:48 | More by mdfb79

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle at the DC Lambic & Sour Tasting on April 14, 2012. Served in a Cantillon wine glass.

After we were finally able to get the clay off the cap and get the nearly-disintegrated cork out of the bottle, this one pours a hazy golden color with a very small head that actually feel to leave a spot or two of lacing.

The nose carries some light bread and a touch of oxidized malt. Over the top of that was a moderate barnyard aroma with a bit of cheese and dough. Light notes of sherry and a touch of woodiness in the background.

Long flavor progression across the palate with a bit of perceived sweetness followed by moderate acidity and funk. Very light carbonation, giving way to a finish of cheese and basement notes.

Overall, this was really interesting and I really dug the funk mixed with oxidation notes. A real winner for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 10:44:26 | More by Thorpe429

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What fun. A Cantillon gueuze from 1989. After the cork fell apart, plummeting into the bottle, we finally managed to distribute some clean pours. The beer is hazy and murky, appearing a dark orange hue. The aroma brings age, funk, ripe citrus fruit, and classic Cantillon gueuze scents. The flavor is good but not great. Notes of basement, ripe oranges, really old gueuze (shocker there). Maybe a hint of lemon zest or other assorted tart fruits. Tangy and tart lip smacking finish. Overall, a fun experience, but not worth the exorbitant cost.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 04:08:39 | More by Huhzubendah