Cantillon Faro - Brasserie Cantillon

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

After touring Cantillon, Elaina and I sat down to a few glasses of Geuze and Kriek. I inquired about the possibility of getting a glass of Faro and was told that they didn't have any Faro. I explained that I traveled all the way from Wisconsin to drink their Faro and would be happy to pay amply for a glass. I asked if they might have a bottle hidden somewhere that I could purchase. They told me that they don't bottle their Faro because it would explode within three weeks of bottling due to the active yeast and high sugar content but then something wonderful happened. The employee began digging through an old wooden crate. After a minute or two I was presented with a white plastic jug, the type that usually contains chemicals like anti-freeze, and a tumbler glass. So I guess, I list this serving as coming from a growler???

The beer poured dead flat. Not a bubble could be found and there wasn't a trace of lacing. The body was a dark amber, almost chestnut color. The aroma was quite mead like with strong apricot notes. In fact, I could have easily been convinced that this was an apricot mead I was drinking. The taste started like the nose - honey and apricot sweetness but that gave way to an oaky center and a interesting funky finish. Characteristic Cantillon funk was there but the strongest note was of cream. In fact, this beer left an aftertaste in my mouth long after each sip similar to half and half and reminded me of working on a dairy farm. This trait was also quite similar to something I have found in some Drei Fonteinen beers and is very pleasant. An excellent and highly unique experience.

Serving type: growler

11-19-2009 17:35:21 | More by DaPeculierDane

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.86/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-cask at Moeder Lambic Fontainas on 4/7/2013. Pours a burnt orange hue with a fluffy, 2.5 inch bright white head. Nose smells a bit like feet, followed by a sweet quality. Taste starts of sweet, somewhat akin to caramelized sugar, followed by an earthy/herbal quality, citric acid and some medicinal notes towards the back with a hint of artificial sweetener at the finish. Mouthfeel is light in body with a still carbonation; however, there is a bit of substance to body as well as a slightly creamy texture. Overall, this beer is good for what it is - a sour beer infused with candi sugar. Not a beer I need to revisit, but I found it considerably better than my first impression of the style (Lindemans).

Serving type: cask

04-15-2013 22:38:19 | More by Jwale73

SStein

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.8%

04-07-2013 08:31:59 | More by SStein

mtbdonn

United Kingdom (England)

3/5  rDev -22.9%

03-12-2013 12:23:29 | More by mtbdonn

Franch

New York

1/5  rDev -74.3%

01-22-2013 06:44:47 | More by Franch

Agold

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -29.3%

01-12-2013 02:53:22 | More by Agold

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.8%

01-10-2013 03:14:29 | More by spycow

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.55/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this at the brewery and is poured out of a small looking brown keg plastic thing...dunno how to classify that.

Slightly transparent yellow in the light. More orangey out of it. A small ring of bubbles clings to the glass.

Not really funky. The added sugar mellows it out. A little caramel.

Light bodied and smooth. Slight sweetness takes off most of the tart bite usually present in lambic.

Easy to drink as there is no sourness, but it loses a lot of the best characteristics of most Cantillon beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 06:04:22 | More by MattSweatshirt

pperez38

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

12-18-2012 00:47:14 | More by pperez38

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -10%

11-28-2012 19:29:34 | More by mendvicdog

brikelly

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

11-11-2012 22:30:53 | More by brikelly

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at Moeder Lambic Fontainas.

The beer is light copper hued with a half inch of head. The aroma is funky and smells like cantillon, with the addition of some sweet, fruity tones. These scents carry over into the flavor. Sweet, but not cloying, with tartness and funk playing supporting roles. Light bodied and fizzy on the palate, with lingering sweetness, reminiscent of a soda. I'm not a huge fan of faros, but this is likely the best I have had in the style.

Serving type: cask

10-30-2012 02:48:36 | More by Huhzubendah

dannyancient

California

4/5  rDev +2.8%

10-23-2012 00:27:37 | More by dannyancient

Radome

Spain

3.48/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Served from cask into a wine glass at the brewery following the self-guided tour. Brewery employee told me it has to be drunk quickly after blending, or the added fermentables will cause bottles to explode.

A - Color is a light amber with some red highlights. It is mostly clear with a hint of cloudiness. No head; in fact, no bubbles at all.

S - Aroma is an unusual mix of sweet and spicy smells. It has a slight, lemon-like tartness. It reminds me more of ice tea than beer, but it is still somehow inviting.

T - Sweet and tangy up front, followed by tart acid at the back of the throat. Again I am reminded of room temperature ice tea. Not like any beer I've had before.

M - Medium body. No carbonation at all. Overall smooth and creamy feeling. No alcohol detected.

O - A strange beer in regards to aromas and flavor. Not very pleasant to me. I will not seek it out again. I love the brewery and the tour, but this beer is not one I could love, despite my best effort.

Serving type: cask

10-19-2012 22:32:57 | More by Radome

WynnO

Florida

4/5  rDev +2.8%

09-08-2012 04:39:03 | More by WynnO

M27

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%

09-06-2012 21:42:32 | More by M27

Cnorrisl

Rhode Island

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%

08-24-2012 17:46:04 | More by Cnorrisl

nsheehan

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

08-16-2012 04:55:34 | More by nsheehan

hanlonrn

4/5  rDev +2.8%

07-10-2012 11:55:39 | More by hanlonrn

bsuedekum

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev -10%

06-25-2012 17:47:20 | More by bsuedekum

Heretic42

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%

06-03-2012 14:05:00 | More by Heretic42

UTCengOwl

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%

05-24-2012 00:27:27 | More by UTCengOwl

oline73

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this on cask at Moeder Lambic Fontainas in Brussels. Served in a tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a slightly cloudy amber with a finger of off white head and good retention.

Smell: Sweet as expected with a slight funk. There is also a citrus tartness and some Belgian yeast spice.

Taste: Sweet like the smell with some tart and funky notes. Reminds me a bit of a sweet champagne. The finish is tart and a little bit bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with fluffy carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: I admit that this isn't my favorite style, but I enjoyed this one enough. The sweet and bitter is weird when combined this way.

Serving type: cask

05-13-2012 19:03:08 | More by oline73

pixieskid

France

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%

04-24-2012 07:03:24 | More by pixieskid

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cask at Moeder Lambic Fontainas, served in a Cantillon tulip. Style tick #103(? - I can't be totally sure, since my stats are unavailable during the site overhaul, but I'm pretty sure this is the penultimate style I've yet to review).

A: Clear orange-amber body with a thin head of large impact bubbles. Looks nice in the tulip.

S: Sweet + sour, with green apple, toffee, lemonade, and some grassiness. Balanced, fresh, enticing.

T: Follows the nose: lots of tart apple, some sweet brown sugar and caramel, a bit of oakiness, some lemon, and a sticky sweet-tart finish. Exactly what I expected a great Faro to be.

M: Still, slick, and a bit sticky. Appropriate.

O: This didn't deliver the depth of funkiness I love in a Geuze or straight Lambic, but the sugary notes gave it great complexity and superb approachability - I shared my glass with several people at my table who were highly skeptical about my love affair with Lambics, and one of them even ordered his own Faro. A fascinating beer in its own right, and a potential gateway for those just beginning to show interest in the broader family of spontaneous brews.

Cheers!

Serving type: cask

04-04-2012 12:49:45 | More by woosterbill