Cantillon Iris - Brasserie Cantillon

spdyfire83

Ireland

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

287th Review
75cl bottle poured into tumbler wine glass
Vintage: 2000 (cork date)

From notes. Enjoyed a couple summers back at a backyard BBQ with the usual suspects in the Mile High Knight's tasting crew. If memory serves correct, I can thank Jensen for this one. Cheers!

A: We've got a gusher! Lost nearly a third of this bottle as a result of its over-excitement to finally get opened. Medium peachy yellow. 3+ (white) fingernail head on gentle pour.

S: Very herbal and acidic. Touch of candied sugar sweetness with enjoyable overtones funk. Floral notes towards the end are nice as well. Very inviting!

T: Follows smell, but the floral notes are a bit more present in the taste as is the sugar. Very dry. Very tart.

M: Light bodied and very carbonated.

O: A fantastic beer! I was happy to find these old notes as I think this beer several summers back kicked off my love for Cantillon. Superb execution here with such a wonderful balance! Age has done this beer wonders and, as of the day I enjoyed this, it was the oldest beer I had the privilege of trying. Great stuff from an awesome brewery!

Side note: I laugh at my notes of smell and taste on this as I was quite the rookie back then and, sadly, could not do this beer justice with a proper review. As such, I've committed to re-reviewing it as I have some 2003 bottles aging for a special occasion.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 15:28:00 | More by spdyfire83

acurtis

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -7%

05-26-2013 04:53:00 | More by acurtis

ajzy

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-26-2013 01:06:48 | More by ajzy

sludgegnome

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-25-2013 22:25:43 | More by sludgegnome

SocalKicks

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-25-2013 17:51:48 | More by SocalKicks

CoolEthan

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-25-2013 07:30:21 | More by CoolEthan

bigcat101

California

5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-25-2013 00:17:29 | More by bigcat101

SDStoneEnthusiast

California

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

05-24-2013 21:08:37 | More by SDStoneEnthusiast

backbaybrewer

Massachusetts

4.51/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750 bottle. Served in white wine glass similar to those used for serving at Cantillon tasting room.

Ap: Orange/Amberish color. Big lasting off-white head. moderately hazzy, but not opaque.

Ar: Sour/Tart is the first thing you pick up. with fruit and some floral/citruisy hop presence as well. Maltiness also present. A wonderful tart/sour smell to it though. As soon as I cracked the bottle I get hit with it.

T: Not the predominant flavor, but worth mentioning first is the Hop bitterness. This beer differs from most other cantillon offerings in that they use fresh hops as opposed to aged hops which provides noticable hop bitterness on the palate. Also of note is the maltiness present. Again, not overwhelming, but it's there. These two flavors combine with the classic gueuze like flavors to create a truly unique Cantillon offering. Fruity sourn/tartness is really the dominant flavor, but the others stand out despite being reserved simply because they are so unique for a beer of this type.

O: A fantastic beer. Perhaps my new favorite Cantillon. Wish I had multiple bottles because I could sit around and drink this like a session beer all day.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 12:32:24 | More by backbaybrewer

Callmecoon

California

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

05-23-2013 02:25:59 | More by Callmecoon

Treebs

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2007 vintage courtesy of sweemzander. Lots of nice black mold around the cap and cork. 750 ml bottle served in a mini snifter.

A: Pours a hazy straw color with a white head forming on the pour. It recedes to a thin ring that leaves some sticky lace around the glass.

S: Really sweet smelling with a mix of flowery hops and light acidity. Very surprised at how hoppy it still is after 6 years. Slightly sweet mix of wheat and malt with a lactic lemon like quality to it.

T: Same as the nose with a little more barrel character. The smell of flowery hops is distinct and it has a fruity sweetness to it. Slightly lactic lemon character with some oak barrel and a mild hint of vanilla.

M: Light and airy with a spritzy carbonation. Smooth and lactic on the backend with a slight drying quality.

O: Not overtly sour and still very hoppy. This was an interesting take on a lambic and I really enjoyed it. I'd like to revisit some later and early vintages to have a comparison since my first experience is with this beer being 6 years old.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 01:54:03 | More by Treebs

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-22-2013 19:45:41 | More by randylangford

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-22-2013 13:26:50 | More by SpdKilz

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

05-20-2013 04:00:19 | More by Kmat10

NJB145

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

05-20-2013 00:45:10 | More by NJB145

Gtreid

Florida

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-19-2013 23:44:40 | More by Gtreid

ShawnMH

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-19-2013 15:59:10 | More by ShawnMH

ffOpusx

California

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

05-16-2013 22:55:01 | More by ffOpusx

Rainblows

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-16-2013 14:23:59 | More by Rainblows

Matagal

Brazil

5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-13-2013 17:09:12 | More by Matagal

Danny1217

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-12-2013 21:01:05 | More by Danny1217

Jonada

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottled on 22nd November 2012. Served in a Russian River stemmed glass

Appearance: Dark burnt orange color with 2 fingers of a soapy light tan (with almost a yellowish hue) head that dissipates fairly quickly to a thin coating and collar. Body is very hazy with a fair amount of fine carbonation streaming throughout the glass.

Smell: Sour lemon, peach/apricot, barnyard funk, herbal, with some floral hops.

Taste: Green apple, lemon, vinegar, fairly strong herbal quality, lactic acidity, with a floral hop character that becomes more noticeable in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with a soft mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Light lingering bitterness.

Overall: This is a really interesting beer. This is the first lambic I've had with a real noticeable hop presence, and I have to admit it works well. Not my favorite Cantillon beer, but still very good.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 02:49:22 | More by Jonada

ckeegan04

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-10-2013 20:46:20 | More by ckeegan04

ObeMaltKinobee

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-08-2013 07:33:01 | More by ObeMaltKinobee

cadaugherty

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-07-2013 23:57:11 | More by cadaugherty