 FlacoAlto (2142), Tucson, Arizona, USA
May 3, 2008
Vintage 2005; Sampled May 2008
Rating: 4.1 /8/4/8/4/18
A vigorous pour produces a very, large bubble consistency, initially fat-one-finger thick, pale off white colored head. The beer is a ruddy, light plum color and shows a lightly hazy, pink-tinged, copper color when held up to the light. The aroma is quite tart, with lactic notes up front and then butyric acid notes of Brett induced funk as a backdrop. A fruit skin aromatic note seems just perceptible, with maybe some imagined berry notes. Funk driven aromas of urea, funky-phenolics, damp horse blanket, some musty notes as well as some fruit-like acidity. I definitely think that the blueberry still contributes to the nose, it is quite soft, and I wouldn’t have noticed it if I didn’t notice this was a blue-berry beer, but it definitely adds something.
Bracingly tart as expected from a Cantillon product. As the head suggested this is only lightly carbonated, perhaps a touch more than a cask conditioned, real ale; the carbonation adds a hint of liveliness and more a texture than anything. The beer finishes with a touch of medicinal blue-berry character, though really the fruit character adds a slight roundness to the flavor that mellows the bracing sourness just a touch through the middle and finish of each sip. The substantial tartness reminds me a bit of sour-grapefruit, though the sourness is by and large contributed by lactic acid. Quite light, and if it wasn’t so acidic it would be down right quaffable; this is even on the light side for a Lambic as it doesn’t have an overly tannic structure to it that many have.
As the beer warms up the soft, non-specific, fruitiness becomes more noticeable. It really helps to soften the acidity, though to be honest for a sour beer lover the acidity was not too much to begin with. I could see many people having a hard time finishing a beer this sour. Fairly funky, though not over the top like the sourness. This has the requisite farmyard funk, some sweaty blanket notes and some wild mushroom character that provides a complexity boost behind the dominant sourness.
I believe this actually is a bit more sour than the Vintage 2007 version, but it also has less blueberry character, which makes the sourness a bit more pronounced. And this is most definitely on the hard side for a Lambic and even for a Cantillon; luckily I really find a bracing acidity quite nice, despite that fact that I can feel a slight burn in my stomach. I wonder how much this has changed since being bottled? I’ll never know, but I suspect the blueberry was just a bit more noticeable. Very nice, I haven’t had a hard Lambic in a while & this one definitely fit the bill and tickled my fancy.
Vintage 2007; Sampled April 2008
Pours with a frothy, initially two-finger thick, purple-pink stained tan colored head. The beer is a deep purple color, but shows a deeply hazy, plum-red color when held up to the light. As I was pouring this beer a scent of blueberries was noticeable. A closer inspection is much more accented towards the funky Lambic notes; lots of funky, phenolic, bandaid like aromatics, a definite acidity, ample butyric acid notes, musty cotton balls and cured leather. Behind all of this is a subtle, yet zesty, berry character that is distinctly of sweet-ripe blueberries; the blueberry notes are almost more noticeable in the nose when you are not trying.
Bracingly tart, with a fantastic sourness that almost causes me to pucker. I would swear that the ample sourness is magnified by tart fruit character, though it is mostly lactic in make up. The finish has a mouth-coating tannic character to it that is deeply stained with berry skin flavors. The flavor of this beer is not quite as funky or phenolic as the nose suggested, but this is definitely on the funky side of the spectrum with light bandaid phenolics and moldy cotton ball notes. The tannins, fruit and oak contribute a nice heft to the body of this brew though a zippy carbonation keeps this on the airy / light side; overall this is a beer to be quaffed in quantity, just like a Lambic should be.
As the beer warms up it picks up a bit more fullness and the acidity seems to mellow just a touch, becoming a bit more fruit accented, though still bracingly dry and tart. I really like the tannic structure that this beer has, it gives it a texture that is quite akin to the feeling while drinking black tea; this somehow provides some balance to this beer. My second pour seems to get just a touch of ripe-berry character to it, just enough to add an ephemeral touch of sweet fruit character without actually adding any sweetness. This is just getting more and more drinkable, it didn’t start out a slouch either, and I am suddenly left wondering what happened to my 750ml bottle & asking myself why I don’t have more to drink right now.
Wow, this is supposed to be the less tart / funky of the two vintages; I can’t imagine (or is it can’t wait) the 2005 vintage I have waiting for me being more sour than this. This is just quite funky right now, this definitely leans towards the hard side & I wonder how much of this has developed since bottling; especially since I see this as being less tart and more fruity than the 2005. This is fairly fruity, but certainly not in a dominant fashion (even by authentic Lambic standards), the fruit seems to more contribute to the tartness and tannic qualities of this beer rather than the ripe berry notes one might expect in a beer described as fruity. After having said all that, this is just a fantastic beer, as someone who really likes funky, sour beers and my fruit to be a supporting player, well this just hits the spot quite well.
lassem (125), Copenhagen, Denmark
Sep 30, 2008 Cantillon Blåbær Lambic - 3. edition. Bottle 75 cl. A rather red-cheeked gentleman..Barbarossa. Pours a red moisty deep red with a fine and neat white head. The nose is without swing but is rather light with sweet blueberries. The taste is mild and not very sour (as Cantillons normally is) Its round and mild with fine citrusnotes together with liquorice-root, wood, smoke and freshpicked berries - Very complex. Nice poky palate.
#123
Thx Jeppe
dalekliz (206), San Diego, California, USA
Sep 28, 2008 Bottle, sampled at RBSG 08, with thanks to ironchefscott. Pours a pinkish-red with a small white head. Huge sweet, ripe, blueberry aroma with sour notes. Taste is more sour / tart blueberry. Lingering sour blueberry flavors. Delicious and very refreshing, could easily drink a lot of this one.
renffisch (455), london, Greater London, England
Sep 25, 2008 75cl bottle from olbutikken, copenhagen. 2007 vintage. Deep red colour, red berry nose not so much blueberries more a bit like cherries to my nose. the blueberries only really come up in the after taste. good, smooth well carbonated mouthfeel. not as sour as some. lovely stuff indeed.
charlotte (1283), Vanløse, Denmark
Sep 18, 2008 Deep reddish colour with medium pink head.Aroma of blueberrys feels light sour with small bubbels and high carbonation,mild mouthfeels and sour finish.
radiomgb (1776), Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Sep 8, 2008 Deep red-purple in colour with a long lasting thin pink coloured head, excellent lacing. The aroma is very sour, quite tart, the blueberries work very well, light sweetness comes and goes, lightly acidic. The flavour is sharp, acidic and dry, good blueberry sweetness, grape skins, excellent Cantillon funk. Sweet, tart and dry mouthfeel, medium body, medium/high carbonation. Finishes long, dry, tart and juicy.
Wow, fantastic stuff. Unbelievable aroma thats right up there with Soleil de Minuit and Tyrnilambic. I see this aging very, very well as the blueberry flavour is quite strong. Nice job Jeppe, you have made lambic history.
750ml bottle obtained in a trade with footbalm, thanks Eric.
Opened on March 29, 2008.
Vintage 2007, bottled October 13, 2006.
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