Cantillon Iris

Brewed by Cantillon
Style: Lambic - Unblended
Brussels, Belgium

0.375 bottle (2003) shared with ogivlado who received it in a trade with faroeviking (thanks to both of them). So... my first unblended lambic... yup, couldn’t wait. Now, I’m not all that experienced with lambics. I mostly liked what I’ve had so far and I wondered how this would compare. It certainly looked good. A murky light brown-orange colour with a small thick white head. A typical lambic aroma (ok I’m a heretic probably for saying that)... nice and funky/sulphury. The taste is remarkably balanced and quite pleasant. A balanced seesaw with the strong, lemony sweetness on one side and the typical sulphury funkiness on the other. A lingering sourish aftertaste. Wasn’t all that complex in the malt department but it was certainly interesting and tasty. It didn’t rock my world like I hoped it would but I’m certainly looking forward to trying some other Cantillons.

I must admit, I always approach Cantillon with apprehension. I’m as fanatic about lambic as one can be, but time and time again Cantillon has never quite done it for me. Still, I appreciate the beauty of the effort; it’s sad to see the tradition wane and for that reason alone I feel compelled to continue enjoying their brews as much as I possibly can. The Iris pours a cloudy but bright orange hue, glowing deeply with the color of a fresh apricot. The creamy off-white head is fairly ordinary which makes me wonder why crazy head formations are rarely seen among lambics. The aroma is exciting, and bests most Cantillons I’ve had before. Beautifully funky, the house character is present but softer and perhaps more cheesy than usual (a positive note, in my regard). Apricot lends a certain tartness, as do the tangerines and peaches. Cheesecake and brown sugar add a luscious sweetness to balance the nose. Surprisingly ash also is apparent, giving a slight smoky note that I wouldn’t have expected. The flavor isn’t as puckering as usual but Cantillon’s touch is certainly present. Perhaps more dilute, this lambic is greatly refreshing especially served on the cool side. The minerality is pleasant, working well with both fresh hops and fresh cheese. Green apple and melon add zest and balance while the long finish continues to echo a flavorful cheesy funk profile. Didn’t think I would attain Cantillon enlightenment on this brew, but I’m certainly happy I did. An excellent lambic!

Big bottle, vintage 2005. Let’s begin with the bottle. Be careful not to remove the (difficult) label to try to get to the cork, because it will leave unusually disgusting label gunk all over the bottle, which you will then have to waste time cleaning off. So gross. On to the beer. Lively head during the pour, but vanishes very quickly. Pours a hazy dark gold color. Sweetish but primarily tart and acidic aroma reminiscent of yellow grapefruit. Nice mouthfeel, feels light on the tongue but has some depth and viscosity to it, almost like gum syrup in a cocktail. Carbonation is somewhere between the Grand Cru and the kriek. Taste is citrus rind tempered with bitterness of pith; grass and hay; develops in stages and finishes surprisingly sweet, almost like beginning with yellow grapefruit and winding up with a red one. A really interesting lambic, and perhaps a good stepping stone between Cantillon’s fruit lambics and the more intense Broucsella Grand Cru?

0.75 l bottle. Hazy yellow brown color with almost no head. Sweetish, perfumed and strongly acidic aroma with strawberry, raspberry and sulphur. Dry, acidic and grassy flavor with strawberry, grapefruit, lemon, menthol, sulphur and spicy bitterness. Not my favorite Cantillon, but very exotic. Hop flavor is very grassy which I don’t like.

Bottle from Hopduvel, Gent. Pale amber in colour with a moderate, tight head and decent carbonation. Dusty, musty lambic aroma with some lemon, floral hops and yeast. Full mouth feel, with flavours of orange peel, the barnyard and tart fruit. Plenty of grassy hops leading to a long, bitter finish. Excellent.

golden orange with white head. flavor is very unique due to all barley, making it more traditional ale tasting but still finishes with the lambic sourness and with a stronger hop presence than a traditional lambic. very good

[Vintage 2004]. Pours orange into the glass with a small low head. Sour and flowery aroma, dominated by perfumed hops and a bit of sweat. Nice balanced flavours, wood, grape, pine and lemon being present with a sour-acid ending.

July ’07 tasting. Orange gold color with a light head. Aroma of horseblanket, hay, and light citrus. Initial taste is honey, citrus, leather, and earthiness followed by a tart acidity and hops bitterness along with earthiness and citrus.

I shared a 4 year old bottle of this with JB from Boulevard last night and I was reminded how wonderful it is. The beer is dripping with wonderful brett flavors and the extreme sourness I was bracing myself for, since this is Cantillon, was not there. It was sour, but pleasantly so. Thanks JB!