Hanssens Experimental Cassis - Hanssens Artisanaal bvba

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

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

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

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

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

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.43/5  rDev -6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The beer is basically still. Radiant orange hued and pretty hazy. The aroma offers tart raspberries, funk. Very acetic. Berry presence is there, with a bit of vinegar in the finish. Tartness gains intensity as I progress through the beer. Lacking the complexity and depth found in my favorite raspberry lambics. Light in body and devoid of carbonation. Overall, this was ok, but I don't see myself purchasing this again, especially with the high price tag.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 01:32:57 | More by Huhzubendah

brystmar

New York

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Lot B, thanks Denise!

Deep purple body, minimal pinkish head. Aroma seems off: sulfuric fault is reminiscent of the scrambled eggs I had at brunch. Covers up almost everything else here, pretty lackluster so far.

Hearty currants dominate the taste; mild egg whites carry over from the aroma as well. Yeast imparts bitterness. Crisp tartness towards the end, and although the fruity character has depth it doesn't grab me the way other fruited lambics have in the past. Still, the taste is the best part of the experience -- and that's what *should* shine, right?

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 18:41:53 | More by brystmar

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

Hanssens Experimental Cassis
Style: Lambic - Fruit
ABV: 6.00 %

LOOK: Corked and caged. Opens with a decent pop. Pours a bright pinkish red color, just a ring of small bubbles around the glass other than that really no head. The final pour made the beer a bit cloudy.

SMELL: Funk, vinegar, shoe polish, feet, leather and berry are all there in full force. The scent is so strong when the bottle was opened it filled the room.

TASTE: Upfront straight acetic sour, and pretty much remains sour. It is wine like, with a small berry presence. Lemon, warheads candy, earthy oak, white wine vinegar, and a touch of alcohol that is more felt than tasted. Unripe berries in the finish with some funk that sticks to the palate.

FEEL: Light bodied, with a very soft, low carbonation level. Has enough life to it to carry the beer. Delicate carbonation like a very well aged sparkling wine. Soggy wood, berry wine and drying tannins round out the finish.

OVERALL: Hanssens Experimental Cassis is a traditional lambic beer with the intense sourness that is now coveted by extreme beer fans in the states. Has a good depth of flavor and a sharp dryness. Mellow feel but the flavors the real deal.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 15:12:18 | More by Stinkypuss

BostonHops

Massachusetts

2.35/5  rDev -35.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12.7 corked and caged bottle served in an oversized wineglass.
no freshness info. (ABV 6%)

pours a murky dark purple shade wth the complete absence of a head. lackluster pop from the cork hinted at that. nose is decent; very tart smelling with strong notes of funk and yeast. my mouth is puckering just from the aroma.

flavor, unfortunately, is a letdown. the funky and yeast are there with the currants, but just over the top tart/sour and vinegary; very dry. not enjoying this one. medium bodied mouthfeel with virtually zero carbonation.

the long and short of this one is it's just not for me... $14 down the drain, pretty literally. will not buy again.

(originally reviewed: 05-16-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 04:34:46 | More by BostonHops

pokesbeerdude

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12.7 oz bottle from Wilburs in Ft. Collins, around $10. Into an old school NB Globe. Lot #B.

A: Pours a nice deep red verging on purple color. An aggressive pour yields a light pink head with practically no head retention. Nice clarity.

S: Straight up acetone, not much else going on. Slight amount of funk, and a little fruity, but for the most part this smells like fingernail polish remover.

T: Much better than the nose leads on, still a fair amount of acetone on the tongue but a lot more currant flavor. Tart berries, sour lemons, and a bit of oak barrel combine for a flavorful lambic, but it is a bit lacking. The sour is definitely there, would like a little more funk though.

M: Just a small amount of carbonation, nice amount of lacto to make the spit a little thicker. Finish is nice and dry. Not too bad.

O: If the acetone were knocked back a touch and the fruit flavor brought to the forefront, I think this would be a much more enjoyable beer. Still a good beer, I wish there were more cassis out there.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 22:10:50 | More by pokesbeerdude

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.03/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Pours murky purple with no head or lacing.

Smells of grapes and sour musty brett. Pretty good aroma.

Lots of wine like flavors. Tannins, tart berries and a little bit of bretty mustiness. Finishes with a dry tartness. Tart, but not overly sour.

As with everything else Hanssens almost completely lacking carbonation although mouthfeel is good.

Some good flavors here. I just wish Hanssens would have some semblance of carbonation. Probably the best of theirs I've had although it could still be better.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 23:53:24 | More by jmarsh123

ArrogantB

Colorado

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml bottle that I paid the outrageous sum of $16 for the pleasure of sampling this crazy lambic. I normally wouldn't pay so much but I really wanted to try this one. Dark reddish-purple color, minimal bubbles. Smell is funky like manure and fruit.Flavor is slightly sour and has a pretty robust fruit flavor that almost reminds me of blackberries. I have no experience with black currants so this is the closest thing I can reference. Overall this is a good fruit lambic but given the cost this will be my only bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 03:19:21 | More by ArrogantB

russwbeck

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: This beer pours out of the bottle a deep red with an amazing lack of head. No bubbles foam up, nothing. The color is really nice, but there's nothing else there.

S: Pretty focused on the sour, funky side of the Lambic style. The Black Currants are definitely noted where I typically like the cherries to be, but don't do enough to balance the aroma. Oak barrel aging is also noted without a doubt. Nice and tart, but not a whole lot else.

T: The taste is certainly much more balanced than I expected, but is still a bit light. A really nice tart sour character with the fruitiness to back it up and curb the oakiness I was expecting. It's goes down tart, with a fruity albeit watered down middle, and a dry oaky finish.

MF: Very light body completely void of carbonation. The finish is pretty clean, but I wish it had some bit of carbonation. The drinkability is not hit, however, which is a true testament to how well this was crafted.

O: I really liked this, but I wanted it to be a little better. Nice Lambic, but probably not worth the price tag.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 00:03:57 | More by russwbeck

UCLABrewN84

California

2.65/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Lotnr B.

Pours a murky dark cranberry juice color with no head and no lace. There is some sediment floating around in the beer after the pour into the glass. Smell is of balsalmic vinegar and a sour/tart black currants. Taste is of watery balsalmic vinegar, watery and mildly sour black currant juice, and an off cork-like flavor on the finish. This beer has no carbonation with a super flat mouthfeel. I was expecting this when the cork came out without even the slightest pop. Overall, this just isn't a very good beer for many reasons but it is definitely much better than the Oudbeitje Lambic of theirs. That isn't saying much however.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 04:06:52 | More by UCLABrewN84

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

330mL bottle poured into tulip - thanks to cjo

Pours a hazy bright cherry color with some pinkish hues. Head is pretty nonexistent, minus a few wisps of bubbled film around the collar.

Fairly sour and acidic in the nose with some oaky tannins. Tart cherries are prevalent with some wet funkiness.

Pretty intensely sour up front with a load of liquid sour cherry flavor. Some funkiness lurks underneath the lactic sourness. Finishes with a lingering, intense dry sourness that grips the tongue for a while after swallowing.

Medium body, nearly completely flat, lingering and dry on the tongue. This has a nice sour cherry flavor going on but I don't get why these Hanssens lambics are flat so often.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 00:42:53 | More by xnicknj

DCon

Missouri

4.7/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought a 12.7 FL OZ bottle of this @ The Hair of the Dog in St. Louis, MO for $14. Poured from the Scroll looking label w/ Pink writing & outlining into a 12oz Tulip Glass. Has lotnr: H stamped off on the side.

Aroma- Has a big time "stinky" aroma including big time barnyard and a "horse blanket" attribute I've found in many of these. An unknown fruit aroma is blended but definitely compliments all of the sour notes nicely. Well planned out aroma!

Appearance- Pours almost no head at all and same goes for the non-lace finish. Has the darkest red/light-medium brown colored body that has good clarity but deep.

Flavor- Black currants are the main attraction here! A very ripe and dark cherry/sour berry flavor comes in next. Most acidic brew I may have ever tasted! High barnyard level and has a bit of oak in the finish. Wonderful!

Mouthfeel- Light Bodied, HIGHEST carbonation level, Puckers the mouth big time, and finishes tart with berries and a taste never enjoyed before. You have to have this yourself!

Overall Impression- While finding that after each drink, it made my mouth water and pucker up, I would have to say they did a fantastic job of aging and making this one of their most complexed brews! May be one of my favorite sours this month so far! Pick up a 12.7oz bottle and share if your not brave enough to take on this type of brew. For me, this was spot on!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 00:13:24 | More by DCon

Gushue3

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

A No head as its poured into a Hill Farmstead Wine glass. Red hazy raspberry colored body.

S acidic and sweet nose. Sweet and tart berries are hiding behind the acidity

T Sweet and tart off the bat with the tartness really comming through in the middle to the finish. Mainly getting acidic tastes with some sweetness. The currents can be tasted, but muted.

M Unfortunately this is flat as a pancake. Medium bodied feel that otherwise feels pretty nice, but lack of carbonation isn't helping at all.

O Decent tasting stuff but the carbonation really killed it.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 03:49:54 | More by Gushue3

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a clear ruby red with absolutely no head whatsoever. There is no visible carbonation and no lacing present on the glass.

S: The aroma of this beer is very offputting, pungent, and slightly unpleasant. There is a certain sour mustiness to aroma which is very intense but not altogether enjoyable.

T: The flavors of this beer are also slightly unpleasant with hints of vinegar, sour, musty, and slightly metallic.

M: Light bodied with very little carbonation and a little bit of tongue puckering caused by the flavors.

O: This beer reminds me of aromatic cheeses which are something that I really enjoy but this is not a beer that I would want to sample again.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 15:35:54 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is relatively clear red in color and poured with only a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are very strong and pungent musty and sour aromas in the nose, similar to what you would expect from a very aromatic cheese.
T: The taste is very sour and has hints of black currants. It is a lot more palatable compared to the smell and isn’t nearly quite as funky.
M: It feels light-bodied and tart on the palate with little if any carbonation.
O: The strong funky aroma of this beer is not for the faint of heart, but the drinkability isn’t that bad if you can get past the smell.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 23:42:41 | More by metter98

jsanford

Georgia

3.35/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

375ml bottle poured into a Tumbler.

Pours a still burgundy-red with some very slight bubbles around the edges. Big, funky aromas of tart berry, jam, funky cheese, oak, and a touch of vanilla. Tart and funky flavors follow over from the nose, lots of currant, oak, and cheese. Gnarly sour, but surprisingly not as intense as I expected. Mouthfeel is light and crisp, with a fairly thin body, borderline watery really, with zero carbonation and a puckering, mouth-drying finish. I know it's supposed to be flat, but I'd kill for a few bubbles in the Hanssens beers. Overall it delivers on the "Sour" promise, but not like I expected. Underwhelming, watery, and a bit bland.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 18:29:05 | More by jsanford

MasterSki

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at West Lakeview Liquors a while back. Served in a Cantillon tulip.

A - Still. Body is moderately hazy purplish-brown color, with a nice fiery glow to it. There are a few tiny spots of lace left behind as the beer is consumed. I'm not particularly bothered by lack of carbonation in a beer like this.

S - The funk is somewhat rancid and bilious, with notes of diaper and barnyard present as well. Tart currants, vinous oak, and nostril-tingling acetic sourness round things out. The sulfur and manure notes dissipate quite a bit as the beer warms up, revealing some musty attic and hay flavors I didn't initially perceive.

T - The taste is largely puckering tart currants and medium-high levels of acetic acid. There's some dry oak, earth, and mushroom in the finish. The complexity and depth suffers quite a bit compared compared to the aroma, and the acidity is somewhat excessive. Still, fairly enjoyable.

M - Intensely dry, medium body, with plenty of barrel tannins lingering well into the finish. Texture is vinous and slightly oily. No alcohol present, but the acidity incites some stomach churning after nary a few ounces.

D - Some bubbles might have brightened up the flavors a bit, but as is this is a pretty enjoyable cassis lambic - particularly if you like them sour. I prefer Spontancassis as the fruit and lambic flavors are a little better balanced. Much better than the barbaric Experimental Raspberry - I had no problem slowly working through 375ml on my own.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 23:11:11 | More by MasterSki

ehammond1

California

2.78/5  rDev -23.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bottle

Holiday Wine Cellar
Escondido, CA

This beer pours a dark magenta and purple with very little carbonation. There's no head to speak of and very little cling to the glass. A pretty color, but a disappointing pour.

A very muted aroma; there simply isn't a lot here. That being said, what is here is nice. There's sweet and tart aromas of currants and a bit of tart sourness, but everything is all very faraway. As the beer warms, a mild funky yeast becomes present, the fruit becomes a bit stronger, and overall the aroma succeeds admirably.

A watery flavor with muted flavors of currants and a very mild sourness. Fruity, but also very watery. Disappointing, especially because I've had such fine examples from Hanssens.

Medium bodied with nearly no carbonation.

A very disappointing lambic mainly because I've had such fine beers from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 02:50:36 | More by ehammond1