RateBeer
Score
9996
OVERALLStyle
Brewed by Cantillon
Style: Lambic - Unblended
Brussels, Belgium
Serve in Flute, Tumbler

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag | edit barcodes |
RATINGS: 833   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.79   EST. CALORIES: 150   ABV: 5%
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
The Cantillon brewery is closely linked to Brussels, a city which has the iris as its symbol. As the name indicates, the "marsh iris" is a plant growing in humid areas. The historical center of Brussels is built on swamps where this flower used to grow abundantly.
In 1998, the Brussels Museum of the Gueuze celebrated its 20th anniversary. The Cantillon brewery decided to make a new spontaneous fermentation beer for this occasion, named after this symbolic flower.
It is a completely original beer which, contrary to the other products of the Brewery, is not brewed with 35% of wheat. The Iris, which is only made with malt of the pale ale type (giving a more amber colour to the beer) conserves the typical flavour of the spontaneous fermentation, the complex aromas and the vinous taste.
The hopping is different too. Lambic is made with 100% dried hops, for the Iris we use 50% of dried hops and 50% of fresh hops. The latter cause a superb acidity, the former, due to their tannins, enable to conserve the beer while preserving all its qualities.
After two years in the barrel, the Iris undergoes a second fresh hopping two weeks before the bottling. A linen bag, filled with hops, is soaked in the beer for two weeks. This technique, called "cold hopping", gives the beer a more intense savour and makes the smell and the taste more bitter.


4.2
   AROMA 10/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
fata2683 (2066) - Tucson, Arizona, USA - OCT 15, 2010
bottle thanks to Savvy, you rock! Pours hazy orange with no head. Aroma is out of this world, sour apple, lemon, musky wood, a nice herbal grass note as well. Flavor is mellow apple skin, bitter citrus rind, funky barnyard yeast, and a lingering acidity. Nice stuff.

3.9
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
Archibaldo de la Cruz (762) - FINLAND - OCT 15, 2010
75cl bottle. Hazy deep golden colour with a small white head. Aroma is fruity with some brett and oak. Flavour is dry, sour and fruity with oak and lemon.

3.9
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
Nickls (1297) - SE DC, Washington DC, USA - OCT 8, 2010
Tap (2007 label). Two fingers of head that is only slightly off-white on a rich ruby red organge, slightly hazy, body. Nice funkiness in the aroma, but not overpowering. Raspberries slightly, funky, tart, and a touch puckering...a bit acidic. Really nice.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
Atom (589) - Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA - OCT 4, 2010
From bottle dated Feb 17th 2010 Vintage 2007 pours golden orange with nice bubbly white head. Aroma is sour and fruity, lemon, yeast, and hay. Taste has a great sour lemon flavor, hay, grass, yeast, spices, dry. Very nice crisp and sour extremely enjoyable.

4.3
   AROMA 9/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20
oakbluff (382) - Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA - OCT 3, 2010
2007 vintage- poured into a Cantillon logo wine glass. Thought I would review a relatively fresh version of Iris vs. more aged versions previously had.Popped the cork and not a wisp of air- concerned about carbonation but was not an issue. Pours dark golden/copper with a nice level of carbonation and head. Micro bubble lacing that coats the glass.Nose- apricots, lemon, green apple, oak, but overall very fresh fruit forward. Taste- hops are definitely in the foreground- woody bitterness intertwine with the moderate acidity. Lack of wheat gives the malt more sweeter flavour to the malt. Finish is drying from the hops and cheesy.

4.2
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 18/20
obguthr (2385) - Poquoson, Virginia, USA - SEP 26, 2010
Musty pear and granny smith apple nose. Hazy amber, medium yellow head. Musty and sour flavor of unripe strawberries, apple core, and grass. Pilsner hops in the finish, good transition from sour to bitter. Very beery for a lambic.

4.3
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 18/20
joeneugs (1423) - Livermore, California, USA - SEP 24, 2010
07 on tap at the Trappist. It pours a golden orange color with a creamy white head. The aroma is inviting with some tart fruit like lemons, cherries, hints of Brett, leather and oak. The flavor is outstanding with a distinct wildness. Lots of oak and leather. Some lemony tartness, but well balanced by a touch of fruity sweetness and floral hops. It has a very hoppy finish of strong citrus peel and flowers that sets this apart from the other lambics I’ve tried so far. Perfect body, mouthfeel, and carbonation. Loved it!

3.6
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 14/20
gunnar (2279) - Sandnes, NORWAY - SEP 23, 2010
Shared bottle with Bernt at Håndverkerstuene, Oslo. Pours hazy deep golden with a small white head. Aroma of farmhouse, yeasty fruits. Taste is an explotion of fresh sourness, nice and dry, and with a lingering end, this was a good experience. Will have more of this.


We Want To Hear From You



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

Join Us »



View Page
1 « 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 » 84


Tick this beer
  • Currently 0/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5



Rating Notecard:
Beer: Cantillon Iris Rating Avg: 3.79 No. of Ratings: 833
Copyright © 2000-2012,
RateBeer LLC. All rights
reserved.
about us
About RateBeer
FAQ
Feedback?
New Beers
add
Advanced Search
Add A Beer
Add A Brewer
Add A Place
membership
Log In
Edit Personal Info
Premium Membership
Your Messages
the best
100 Beer Club
The Top 50