Cantillon Lambic - Brasserie Cantillon

orangesol

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at Churchkey on Zwanze day 2012.

A - Pours slightly hazy straw yellow with a small half finger tall bubbly white head, dissipating down to nothing at all, leaving no lace at all down the glass.

S - Smell is pretty muted until it fully warms up. Hints of funky cheese, damp oak, basement must, some lemon zest and a dash of vinegar.

T - Starts off with a big sour kick that fades as quickly as it hit you leaving behind hints of lemon zest, musty funk, dry oak and a dash of booze burn. Finish is funky with a moderate amount of dryness, doesn't stick around too long tho.

M - Light with very light carbonation. Its has a tart feel but it does't linger for very long, allowing it to be consumed quite easily.

O - I feel like this is exactly what an unblended two year old lambic should taste. Sure its a little rough around the edges, but thats why its perfect for blending and fruit additions. I am glad I got to try this, I look forward to having it again one day, hopefully a little closer to the source.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2012 04:23:04 | More by orangesol

cps98

Pennsylvania

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

A – Cloudy, deep yellow light orange color. No head was seen but light lacing was present for the better part.

S – Really sweet aroma, lots of Brett funk present also some hints of citrus.

T – I got a lot of citrus notes like lemon, and grapefruit. Lots of lactic acid.

M – light bodied, really dry. Little to no carbonation.

O – This was a really nice 2 year lambic on tap. Clean crisp flavors, some layers of funk and acid. I really liked this since the Brett didn’t get too funky.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2012 18:08:34 | More by cps98

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft offering of a 2 year year old unblended lambic. The brew appears a clear golden orange through body and more yellowish around the edges. A few larger sized bubbles hang around the perimeter of the glass.

The nose has notes of cheese, oak and vinegar with a slight edge of something fruity like pear and citrus zest. Very clean smelling with a nice complexity and overall enjoyable set of balanced aromatics.

The flavor is a bit like coder at first and surprisingly more focuse on alcohol esters than I would have guessed. Some notes of pear mix with a woody earth inclusion and an herbal bitterness brings in the finish.

This is a medium bodied brew with a lower level of carbonation. A kiss of alcohol keeps things interesting. This was tart but not puckeringly so. I found myself crushing my glass quicker than I wanted to was left wanting to drink more. I dont know how often a treat like this comes around but if you get a chance, you need to try this.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2012 15:53:32 | More by stakem

claspada

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap @ Monks during Zwanze Day 2012.

Pours a mostly clear bright orange color with just a few bubbles of white foam on top; little to no lacing as I swirl.

Aromas begin with a great deal of musty oak, the most oak I have smelled in a lambic to date. As it warms I get a little cheesy funk and a touch of lemon peel.

The taste follow the nose with the drying oaking tannic flavors up front which transitions into sour lemon and some musty, earthy hay or dried grassy. The acidity and tartness is quite light at this point being so young; there is almost a sweet maltiness to it.

The mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium with little to no carbonation; it's actually pretty much flat. Finish is drying and oaky with some lingering sweet and sour notes.

Overall this was an interesting experience to taste a lambic so fresh and unblended. It is really oaky but not overly so but the lack of carbonation hurts the drinkability. It is still quite tasty just kind of one dimentional considering the unblended nature and the youth. I would definitely have it again but I don't NEED to as with other Cantillon offerings.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2012 18:44:17 | More by claspada

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is an excellent lambic by cantillon, enjoyed on tap at armsby abbey on zwanze day.

this beer pours a nice yellow straw color and completely transparent, with no head.

the smell is quite funky with some definite barkyard and musty cellar notes. there is a hint of tart green apple in the smell.

the taste is pretty similar to the nose, lightly tart very funky and extremely drinkable.

mouthfeel is almost completely still, maybe due to being force served from the keg a small amount of CO2 dissolved into the beer.

overall this beer is great, but i do prefer 1900 grand cru

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2012 18:29:58 | More by rowingbrewer

smakawhat

Maryland

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured on tap into a tumbler at Churchkey as part of Zwanze day 2012. From notes, 2 year unblended.

Ok I am sure I am going to get some hatred on this one, but I have to be honest with myself here from all the Cantillon fanboys (and ladies). I know of course lambics can come out without any head, that's fine. That's not my issue with appearance on this. My issue is this looks in the glass like a urine sample. Golden urine yellow, the odd tiny bubble creeps up or sticks to the glass, and clear. I am sorry gang this doesn't look appetizing appearance wise, that's just me. Let's get to the more enjoyable parts of this now shall we.

Bouquet has a real nice brine salt character, and mixture of classic funk notes. Lemon tang punches in nicely also.

Palate hits with a real big almost thick vinegar body. Somewhere between white wine and rice vinegar acid, chewy and dense. Finish hits with a real hint of strangely faint sweetness slightly masking over the sourness. Heavily earthy and lots of soil dirt in the mid palate, also bringing much of the classic lemon sensing nose to taste.

Overall it's a solid lambic, even if it doesn't look like something I would want to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 14:10:43 | More by smakawhat

Gatch

Massachusetts

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

Armsby Abbey for Zwanze Day.

Very interesting and unique beer. Never had an unblended lambic until now. The official name on the board was Single Barrel Lambic #2 (unblended) so I'm hoping this is the right place for this review. Vinegar, must, earth, wet wood, funk, and barn come through in the nose and the flavor. It sounds strange but you can really get the barrel and unblended qualities from this. Not as effervescent as blended versions. Started the day with this and was very happy with that choice. Great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 07:28:06 | More by Gatch

jaasen64

Massachusetts

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

This is the un-blended 2 year Cantillon lambic served on-tap at Lord Hobo for Zwanze Day 2012. 12oz serving in a tulip glass ordered twice and consumed alongside other Cantillons including Zwanze '12. Supposedly this is very rare and we were told not many bars got this even for Zwanze Day.

A- Appears a bright still golden color with hardly any carbonation and absolutely no head. Some faint small carbonation bubbles here and there, but overall hardly any carbonation and absolutely no lacing.

S- Musty, Funky, a little bit of Vinegar. Fairly aromatic and comparable to a nice aged cheese.

T- Musty, funky, some light vinegar, very light acidic sourness on the finish.

M- Medium bodied, easy to drink, not really carbonated but doesn't really take away anything from the taste.

O- I'm very glad I got to try this- not only was it very interesting but it was very good. It was awesome being able to try this alongside other Cantillons. I wouldn't say this was as flavorful as other Cantillons, but it definitely had the unique Cantillon funk that the microorganisms in the brewery creat. For an unblended lambic this was fantastic and practically just as enjoyable as any blended lambic. Overall this was an awesome experience and I would recommend any one to try it as well if they get the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 04:38:01 | More by jaasen64

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Churchkey for Zwanze 2012, aged 2 years. Poured into a pint glass.

A- Pours a clear golden orange color with a thin white head that quickly fades.

S- Very funky, some barnyard character but also lots of musty cheese, lemony citrus and some wood.

T- Similar to the nose, lots of funk with hay and cheese, decent amount of lemony tartness and lactic acidity, the finish is super dry and astringent with some wood flavor.

M- Light-bodied, bone dry with light acidity.

O- A very interesting beer, not my favorite from Cantillon but it's still a great beer and cool to compare to Bruocsella.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2012 21:34:07 | More by WillCarrera

SpeedwayJim

New York

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Cantillon Single Barrel Lambic served at Armsby Abbey. Into a Cantillon flute. Reviewed from notes.

Beer is clear and golden with a .5 finger white head with little retention. No lace. Average for the style.

Nose is lemon rind, citrus tartness, mild hay, barnyard funk. Light, crisp, and aromatic. Nice.

Opens soft pineapple, peach, apricot, and lemon tartness. Woody towards the end with funky notes of cobwebs, hay and wet wood. Tart finish and aftertaste. Very soft. Super drinkable with good complexity.

Light bodied with high carbonation. Spritzy and lively in the mouth with a dry finish and puckering aftertaste. Incredible feel on this one.

A decent beer with nice complexity and an incredible mouthfeel. I can see where the Cantillon magic stems from. Definitely worth seeking out on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2012 01:38:48 | More by SpeedwayJim

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Moeder Lambic. Pour is a peachy yellow, mostly transparent with a thin off white head. The nose has a touch of lemon with a nice dusty funk to it, cob webbs and light leather, more lemon with some golden fruits faintly weaved in at the end. The taste is extremely dusty and funky, very old bookshelf. There is some tart lemon that comes in as peaches, golden fruits and some floral bitter hops present themselves behind in order. The body is light, very gentle, soft carbonation and rather dry in the finish. Funky is the focus, age may add some fruit as this is probably a newer oude lambic.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2012 18:43:40 | More by cpetrone84

Beerenauslese

California

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Body is an orange gold with no head or carbonation.

Smells of wet hay, citrus, old wood, and leather.

Taste follows the nose. Light malt, wet hay, horse blanket, lemon rind and grapefruit rind. Characteristic Cantillon funkiness. Starts a little sweet, ends dry and bitter.

Mouthfeel is flat, as lambics typically are, so it is more about the taste sensation. This is delightfully sour with a dry finish.

Overall, a very refreshing beer and infinitely drinkable. This is the foundation of many Cantillon beers.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2011 03:34:47 | More by Beerenauslese

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Moeder Lambic in Brussels. From notes.

A - Poured with a great fluffy white head at two fingers. Slight haze on a blonde body. Great retention but not lacing. Retention made up for it as it stayed solid.

S - Hay with a little cobweb. Very grapey as well.

T - Really sour. Horse blankety and pissy. Not sure how to describe alot of the characteristics, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

M - Light body with medium carbonation. Like every Cantillon beer, this really attacks every corner of your mouth nicely.

O/D - I'm so jealous that people in Brussels can session this so easily. Quite a nice little sour beer. Lot's of flavour and an ABV considered low these days. It's worth marvelling at.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2011 21:54:17 | More by tbeckett

ebin6

California

4.45/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Cloudy/opaque. Very interesting pour.

S - A whole lot going on. Nice herbaceous smell that draws you in

T - Absolutely amazing. As soon as it touches your tongue there is a whole lot going on. I really dig the sourness, but understand how some cannot

M - Quite possibly the best mouth-feel I've experienced. Swished it around in my mouth for quite a while and it kept getting better and better. Almost too good to swallow!

D - My enjoyment tapered off a little as I drank more, but that is of course relative to the impeccable initial taste

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2009 03:58:45 | More by ebin6

francisweizen

Australia

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

King of funk at spiders head
what can I say that has not been said
Turibd, flat, lifeless glass
Light brown honey is the draught

No more head whe presented to me
funky cob webs, spider-y
Had on draught at spiders head
for lambic lovers it goes straight to the head

Aromas of funk, and brett and yeast
this is wilder than a korean on a beach
Taste is funky sour citrus
when in Belgium, you can't miss this

Mouthfeel is light and flat and sour
So refreshing, can drink this all hours
of the day or of the night
drinkability stays just right

Oh pure lambic such a treat
Regular availability would be sweet !

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2008 02:45:45 | More by francisweizen

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Monk's in the back bar. The beer poured a hazy golden color with no carbonation into a tall flute glass.The aroma gives you citrus and a bit of farmy funk that you would expect from Cantillon beers. The taste is a very citrusy, barnyard mix that is enjoyable to the mouth and tastebuds. This is enjoyable for a sour beer as I found myself looking for another and another as it is drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2006 13:53:42 | More by ggaughan

ark57

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was quite happy to find this at Monk's not too long ago. I'm npot sure how many more chances I'll have to sample this, so I made sure I savored a few.

It was a hazy golden color with no head and no carbonation. The aroma is musty with some floral and citrus notes.

The body was light, but it has more mouthfeel than expected. It tastes of fresh lemon peal, honey, and of course barnyard. It finishes very clean for a sour beer and it leaves you with just enough to always want more. I don't feel it is as agressive as other Cantillon beers, but it is still fantastic. A wonderfully complex beer that I would enjoy any time, but I think it goes especially well at the begining of a meal.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2005 05:41:12 | More by ark57

99bottles

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was a keg from November 2002, put on-tap at Monk's Cafe.

The beer is a cloudy golden peach color with nothing in the way of a head. Only the slightest trace of carbonation can be found, and only that when the beer is drank. Smells of tart apple, wheat and tangy pear greet the nose. I realize this is straight lambic with no fruit added, but a non descript frutiness comes about from the funky Brett. The taste is quite clean on the pallete and starts with a muted sweetness and grassy flavor which quickly spins on it's head to a citric acidity and back again. Amazingly sour and amazingly refreshing. I could have drank this all night, and any ulcers would be worth the risk. The body is light and the beer drinks incredibly easy. Seeing as this is nearly 3 years old, I tend to think some of the sharp funkiness and biting acidity has been smoothed out. Although this probably won't be embraced by drinkers new to the style, the straight lambic Cantillon puts out is fantastic and is worth getting whenever it can be found. Many thanks to Monk's for bringing this treat to Philly.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2005 14:23:06 | More by 99bottles

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.55/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cantillon lambic is probably the hardest of all Cantillon beers to find, as it is only available in draft format, so you have to travel to Belgium to try it. (Saint Lamvinus is rare, but at least it is bottled and exported!!). Indeed, you will have to travel to Brussels itself to sample this beer. Because, I believe that it is only regularly available in only a small handful of places, the best of which is the In t' Spinnekopke (see BeerFly) which is located not that far from the Brasserie Cantillon, and is the highpoint of the walk back into Brussels Central from the Brewery itself.
This where I tried the beer on November 27th 2002. I believe that it is sold at about 1 years of age in the Spinnekopke.
The lambic arrived with quite a bit of life, but this does eventually settle to a usual fresh draft lambic looking fluid - almost flat and lifeless. The beautiful color of lambic is hard to describe other than to say that it looks like a draft lambic, this was a light brown color, though aged lambics may be darker and do change year to year. The odors are typical, mainly a mustiness, though not as extreme as say an Oud Beersel or Girardin lambic. The usual hints of the damp horse urine soaked straw, cow-shit and other musty marvellous fresh farmyard aromas are feint as they are somewhat masked by a lovely citric hint in the smell. Early on it is spritzy (a word often used to describe lambics/gueuzes and highly appropriate here). After time, it is less so. Tastes are of lemon drops mixed with some wood, oak perhaps, but this has a mild citric bite. All washed away in the end with the feint mustiness of freshly picked earth encrusted damp mushrooms. A dry beer, a totally astringent experience start to finish, and with no bitterness whatsoever, well maybe the very merest of hints.
You are drinking a beer that is still alive, and it shows.
Love It, or Hate It - this is a true experience everytime.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2002 13:42:49 | More by TheLongBeachBum

LeeryLeprechaun

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is a murky pale yellow/golden color. No head on the beer and no carbonation, still.

The beer is sour in aroma like vinegar. Notes of lemon grass, a lot of funk, some goat, and you can smell the acidity.

The beer bites your tongue, very sour and acidic with some lactic acid.

Mouthfeel is medium and a little hard to make our with the sourness.

The beer is very sharp in the finish, not a rounded sourness.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 22:22:29 | More by LeeryLeprechaun

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.88/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

20 month old lambic tasted at the brewery.

Looks like apple juice. Golden yellow and orange. Small white bubbles formed from the pour dissipate quickly as there is no carbonation.

The aroma is mostly apple vinegar with some funk/must and light white grape.

The taste mirrors the aroma but with an added sour bite. Sort of mild sourness compared to some of the other 'Loon offerings.

Light bodied so no carb is not a problem.

Nice to try the regular unblended lambic.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 06:00:02 | More by MattSweatshirt

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

New review. The bottle I had before was suspect. This time, I tried the beer at Moeder Lambic Fontainas. The next day I had this again at Cantillon.

The beer is hazy and copper hued with a thick head. The aroma is funky and fabulous, and of course, embodies that classic Cantillon scent I have come to love. The flavor is fabulous. Earthy, fresh, funky, musty, damp basement, rain, straw, hay, farm. Complex and yet so easy to drink. Light in body but not thin. A wonderful lambic.

***Original review 07 July 2012***

Bottle shared by ygtbsm94. Thanks Brad.

1998 vintage

The beer is transparent and copper to amber in color. No head whatsoever. The aroma brings basement, rain water, funk. The taste is much sweeter than anticipated. A bit of Cantillon funk in the finish, but not to the usual level. Notes of ripe fruit. Overall, this was just ok. I look forward to trying this from the source and comparing to this vintage bottle version.

Serving type: cask

10-30-2012 02:44:31 | More by Huhzubendah

Radome

Spain

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

Tasted at the brewery after taking the self-guided tour. The beer was introduced as the unblended base lambic, meant to demonstrate the building block that will be blended and fruit-infused to create other beers.

A - Golden with some orange highlights; fairly clear. No head at all, just a handful of thin bubbles around the edge of the glass.

S - Aroma is unexpectedly delicate. I get some dry malt graininess, and slight cheese-like funk; however, the biggest element is a gentle, sweet citrus. Others have called it lemony or lemongrass, but I get sweet oranges--mandarin oranges are the closest reference I've got.

T - Flavors are not assertive. There is a low, somewhat sharp blue-cheese note, low bready malt, and again the sweet orange note. No hops flavor, as expected.

M - Light body, no hops bitterness noticeable. No carbonation--totally flat. No alcohol sensation.

O - This is a very enjoyable, easy-drinking beer. I am not a huge fan of lambics, but this one is very impressive for a "work in progress" that is meant for blending and not intended to be sold on its own.

Serving type: cask

10-15-2012 21:27:41 | More by Radome

drabmuh

Maryland

3.55/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is the "oude" version, a 1998 bottle shared by Brad (I believe that was the date). Thanks Brad! Beer served in a snifter, at the time of this review, this is #5 on the "Top Beers - Lambic - Unblended" list on beeradvocate.com.

Beer is clear and still, amber with no head, no carbonation, interesting.

Aroma is mildly sour, a little cidery, interesting aroma, there are hints of the Cantillon style funk in there but mostly there is this almost sweet note to it.

Beer is medium in body, a little cidery on the nose, the finish is nice with a little tartness coming through, a shadow of funk is in there as well. I really am looking forward to one day trying this beer at the source.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 17:17:13 | More by drabmuh

oline73

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this on cask at moeder lambic fontainas. Served in a Cantillon tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a mostly clear orangish amber with a layer of off white head that fades to a ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell: This is a mild smelling beer, slightly tart and sweet with a hint of funk.

Taste: More assertive than the smell. Tart with a very slight funk. Just enough malt to back up the funky tartness. The finish is quite sour.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with almost no carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: The smell was nice but not strong enough. I enjoyed the balance and the fact that this one didn't try to kill you with tartness. I would have it again given the chance.

Serving type: cask

05-16-2012 01:22:18 | More by oline73