Hanssens Experimental Cassis - Hanssens Artisanaal bvba

beachbum1975

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a midly cloudy blood red with grapefruit mixed. Head retention doesn't last long.

Smells like dog shit. Sorry, I wish I had finer words to describe this beer, but I really don't. Nasty like a basement with mustiness and mold and old growth. Astringency.

Flat mouthfeel. Taste reflects the nose.

Hated the body on this one, but I'd have again.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 00:14:46 | More by beachbum1975

jcurtis55

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I've had this one for a few months and decided to pull it out today, as I was in the mood for a sour beer. And it's definitely sour. Drank it in my Sam Adams beer glass.

Appearance: A rich looking brown with just some red-plum tones. No head whatsover, as there is very little carbonation. Just a few bubbles on the side of the glass. Still, a very attractive beer.

Smell: Funk. No over the top vinegar, but primarily sour. The dark currants don't seem to be present in the aroma.

Taste: Still primarily sour, but the currants are there at the back. Definitely closer to a straight funky lambic, rather than a fruit lambic. I don't find this overly sour, but then again, I really like sours.

Mouthfeel: Pretty thin. Doesn't cling to the glass or your mouth.

Overall: A good but not great lambic. It's not going to convert any non-sour drinkers but pleasant enough if you enjoy your beer on the funky side. There is no date on the bottle, so I don't know the age of the beer. I would definitely drink it again, but wouldn't go out of my way to find it like I would a Cantillon.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 16:43:08 | More by jcurtis55

oldedog

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

05-05-2013 00:47:52 | More by oldedog

dogfishandi

New York

4.2/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2010 Vintage (3 years of age)
12.7 cork and caged green bottle at fridge temp poured into a snifter. Lot A.

Pours out a nice pure red color, maybe some hues of purple. The total lack of carbonation is noticeable with pretty much no head.

Nice sour funk, tart lemons, lactic funk, sour pie cherry. Smells more gym sock funky as it warms up.

Lots of sour, acetic and lactic acids, tart lemons, sour pie cherries, maybe some rotted wood and almost a hint of a cork like flavor. Hard to pull out much currant, maybe because I've never really tasted one, but there are definatly some grape and berry like notes.

Coats the palate with some really sour citrus that lingers. No carbonation, but it doesn't other me at all as this was to be expected.

A pretty exceptional lambic, there are better ones out there, but a lot more that are worse. Age has done this well and ill definatly be seeking out more Hanssens in the future.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 00:04:03 | More by dogfishandi

take_it_sleazy

Vermont

3.94/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12.7 oz bottle into lindemans flute glass

A: deep ruby red, almost a lighter shade of plum. What little carbonation that is present rests alongside the bottom of the glass. Actually a pretty beautiful lambic.

S: balsamic, berry funkiness. Hints of lemongrass and cheddar cheese. Pleasent, but pretty mild and nothing especially unique.

T: barnyardy, but I like it. Kinda like what you get with goat cheese or something. Aged beachwood, current, mild plum flavors all poke through.

M: unique, astringent appeal. Very dry, what small carbonation that was present is just for show, folks. sits and hangs out on your tounge long after you've taken a sip.

O: would recommend to those seeking to try a new lambic or sour of another nature. Maybe not something a diehard sour fan would be itching to get at, but worth a try. Fruit flavor could shine a little more, but other than that a solid lambic.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 02:40:25 | More by take_it_sleazy

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

From: Friar Tuck's, Savoy, IL
Date: None, but "Lot B" is notched
Glass: Girardin degustation glass

Hanssens' experimental currant lambic is a very tart, but vinous and berry-like fruit beer that is complex and satisfying when in the mood for the style. A bit on the expensive side, but locally available, which makes this a probably go-to when looking for a fruit-influenced lambic.

Pours a 1cm light purple to pink colored head of small to medium-sized bubbles, which fizzle fairly quickly to a thick ring around the center of the glass and some ghostly ripples of wispy foam atop the body of the beer. Body is an amber purple color, with light bringing out brighter amber red hues with a touch of purple and orange. Carbonation is visible through the transparent body, fairly minimal though rather active.

Aroma is quite pungent and sour, of very strong lemons combined with acetic and lactic acids with noticeable hints of strong red wine that are undoubtedly contributed by the red currants. There's a bit of light brettanomyces-influenced composting farm hay in the background, and with time, a bit of oak and graham-cracker crust peek through as well.

Overall flavor is quite sour, puckering, but berry-like and delicious. The tongue tingles from the tartness even some time after the sip is swallowed. Opens with light tartness, slight vinous characters, and berrylike fruit esters, particularly red and blackberries. Mid-palate finds tart Meyer lemons, oak, acidic and berry-like wine, fruit esters as from dark blackberries and raspberries. Back of palate is strongly tart with very flavorful berry-like esters and some oak and light funk. Aftertaste of oak, residual tartness from acids, and lingering dark raspberry and blackberry flavors.

Beer is medium to medium-light in body, with carbonation of low intensity, resulting in a faint effervescence that goes well with the sourness and tart fruit of the beer. While the carbonation could be stronger and aid this beer, the tartness effortlessly moves this across the palate. Closes quite dry, as one would expect, with little residual stickiness on the tongue and long-lingering mild astringency. In general, this doesn't feel poorly, but just average.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 02:15:15 | More by falloutsnow

MystikCelt

New York

3/5  rDev -17.8%

03-31-2013 07:10:44 | More by MystikCelt

mynie

Indiana

3/5  rDev -17.8%

03-23-2013 15:00:16 | More by mynie

BeerThursdays

Delaware

3.25/5  rDev -11%

03-16-2013 12:30:36 | More by BeerThursdays

Psychmusic

Rhode Island

3.25/5  rDev -11%

03-16-2013 02:13:58 | More by Psychmusic

AmitC

Indiana

4/5  rDev +9.6%

03-15-2013 23:26:58 | More by AmitC

spycow

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

03-09-2013 22:41:42 | More by spycow

JohnQVD

New York

3/5  rDev -17.8%

02-17-2013 22:53:18 | More by JohnQVD

Etan

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

375ml into a tulip.

A: Pours a dark magenta color with a tiny bit of light purple lacing.

S: Intensely funky aroma. Rotted wood, wet hay, lots of horseyness from the brett, light lactic notes and currant fruitiness.

T: Brett is equally as expressive in the taste. Very gamey, lactic and pedio acidity, very mild currant fruitiness (almost not there).

M: Medium-bodied, very light carbonation.

O: More carbonation would be good, as well as a little more balance in the bugs department. The brett is a bit overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:41:37 | More by Etan

xdefeatsy

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

02-13-2013 19:39:11 | More by xdefeatsy

GrindFatherBob

New York

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%

01-24-2013 13:23:25 | More by GrindFatherBob

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

01-11-2013 20:00:41 | More by Thorpe429

Hugonaut13

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -11%

12-02-2012 15:13:47 | More by Hugonaut13

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

12-01-2012 19:37:41 | More by mothman

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Cheers to eagles22 for hooking me up with a bottle of this. Thanks again Ed! The brew pours from a 375ml bottle into a snifter, a clear ruby red color that is reminescent of cool aide. A few bubbles collect around the edge when swirled.

The smell is earthy with funk and lactic hints. Mild vinegar and its overall well.. a bit poopy. There is a wet wood character blending into some suggestions of berry and cheese and more funk. As it warms up, it give off a hint of plastic.

The flavor is dry with plenty of oak and tannin-like astringency. Funky wild character and hints of yogurt, cheese and vinegar are present before the onset of a mild fruity berry taste/alcohol ester. As it warms up some plastic and phenolics emerge mingling with minerals that almost leaves a meaty aftertaste inside the mouth.

This is a light bodied, still brew with a little booze impact. It is overall kind of nice and unique with a pleasant berry inclusion but with a big funk impact that isnt exactly clean. Its worth a try if you havent had it but its also not something I would see myself returning to considering the other options available.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 16:53:45 | More by stakem

shigg85

Japan

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%

11-01-2012 15:38:48 | More by shigg85

Myst

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

10-22-2012 22:27:01 | More by Myst

wd40

New York

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I actually refrained from reviewing this beer thinking that I had received a bad bottle with no carbonation. After reading a few reviews I realize that a lot of people had this problem! The beer was actually very good despite the lack of carbonation. I hope Hanssens will brew this again and fix whatever went wrong in the process that so many of us got bottles with little to no carbonation. It was a very nice and refreshing beer with some definite potential.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 04:06:58 | More by wd40

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2009 vintage 375 ml pours a clear red color with little to no head and no collar.

Nose is cantillon sour with a serious raspberry notes. Wonderful and totally awesome!!

Taste is one-dimensionally good. Man, the berry tartness is unbelievable and the roundness of the flavors are super. The mouthfeel is great and the beer even better. This is one of the best sours I have had recently. Mouthfeel - great. Flavor-subtle. Sourness factor- medium. I don’t know if ageing had something to do with it, but it is a tasty beverage fo sho!

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 03:31:04 | More by twiggamortis420

t0rin0

California

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%

10-10-2012 03:17:10 | More by t0rin0