Cantillon Iris

Just got this from hopscotch, THANKS! Big Green champagne 2005 corked bottle with a cork that was difficult to remove. My first blended lambic. Lambic beers symbolize the epitome of the beer world, the original style beer is still the best style. As far as looks go, this is some what like cloudy pink brown yellow reminiscent of raspberry gingerale. The smell is a tart aroma, which I think I can smell it even before the slowly moving cork is totally removed. Raw unrefined odors abound. With the first taste I notice perfect amounts of tingle on the palate. Taste is beautiful tartness that is tempered by a goodly amount of what I dare to say is grapefruit rinds. However, it is not the medicinal dull bitterness of typical hops, it is more rough and simple, or possibly the word I’m looking for is basic. Overall, I’m surprised lambics can be so hoppy, I rather didn’t expect such bitterness in a sour beer. Left me with the impression of coarse fresh grapefruit juice from grapefruits that were not really ripe. The hoppiness distracted me a bit from the real sour tart attributes I desire and this kept me from rating it really high. Even tho this was a big bottle, I got to the bottom of it with very little effort, it was gone and I was sad. Has an almost undesirable bitter linger.

Bottle (2004)… This beer rocks!... Hazy golden ale with a mid-sized, creamy, white head. Good retention. The funky aroma is full of acetic and earthy notes… horse blanket, wet leather, sharp cheese and white wine vinegar. Medium-bodied and abrasive with soft carbonation. The flavor is of underripe fuzzy fruits. Medium sourness, moderate bitterness and little to no residual sweetness. Lengthy, medium sour, mildly bitter, drying finish. Another world class lambic from Cantillon!

a clear golden body with a foamy white head. aroma is very vinegary, with some citrus and floral notes. flavor is super tart and astringent, with hints of lemon peel and damp grass.

Bottle. Vintage 2005. Clear, sparkling, deep golden color with a pretty white head that disappears rather fast. Acidic and earthy aroma, some barnyard notes, flowers and lemon. A rather dry sour flavor with citrus and some subdued malt sweetness. Finishes with a slightly weird mix of sourness and bitterness. Medium-bodied. Very good stuff.

2004 Delicious. The sourness is very present in the beginning when chilled, but mellows a lot upon becoming warmer. I really like it warmer. I think it could deal with a bit more aging. If you can hang with the sours, this is one that should be on the try list.

Thanks Maria for helping me complete my styles. 2003 vintage. Aroma was so so. Mostly funk and wet blanket with a hint of vinegar. Pour was a nice hazy burnt orange with no head. Taste was a little thick with a nice tart bitterness. Lemon and vinegar but more subdued that a guezue. Slight acidity on the tongue. The bottle has 5 years on it so maybe it has mellowed. A nice lambic.

Unclear amber of color with a beige head. A aroma of wood, spice, horseback, wet dog, dry and sour. A flavor of sour fruits, bitter, wood, spice, sour malt, bitter and sour finish.

Bottle vintage 2005 opened at 000 hours on New Years 2008., served at room temperature. It pours a cloudy golden orange with a quickly diminishing pale-orange head. Due to a recent head cold, one nostril is backed up. So, I’m having some slight difficulty assessing the aroma. I do sense some clean, sour notes with a light caramelly sweetness. Spices also seem to be pretty apparent. The flavour has a real nice mix of sour and bitter, somewhat like a lemon rind. Sourness becomes more subdued in the finish as the hops become a little more prominent. I would like to revisit this when my senses are at 100% working order. But I promised myself I’d open this on New Years. As for now, this is an enjoyable first beer of 2008.