Cantillon Zwanze (2010) Blanche de Quenast BHV

Brewed by Cantillon
Style: Sour Ale/Wild Ale
Brussels, Belgium

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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Pour is a golden amber color with a creamy white head that lingers for quite some time. The nose is huge of cob web, cellar musk, and an earthy dust. There is a citrus hop behind that does a pretty solid job balancing the funk. The taste is all over the place. Dusty cellar and cob webs, plant root, earthy dirty and some citrus hops all play around seperately and it lacks integration. Medium body, lower carb and creamy feel. A bit flabby, the earthy root flavors and citrus don’t fit together. Carb is too low and there is some malt sweetness that seems to creep up.

Tasted on Zwanze Day 2011 at Holy Grale. Pours cloudy light orange with a thick white head that slowly recedes to a thin layer of lace. The nose is lightly creamy with some herbal and vegetal aromas, quite funky, with a bit of some sour acidity and a nice hit of vanilla oak. The flavor is more sour, but still very funky with the same herbal and vegetal notes and some vanilla oak. The body is light with smooth, creamy carbonation, and a long, tannic, oaky, tart, and funky finish.

Served from a bottle on Zwanze day at Monk’s. I had this on-tap at Monk’s as well... A - Pours hazy yellow, with hints of orange around the edges, with a nice one finger tall white head leaving light lace down the glass. Very nice pour. S - Smells of strong lemon zest, apples, bready wheat, wet hay, light spice, and the ever present barnyard funk. This nose was a littler better than the last time I had it. T - Starts off with a big fruity twang up front; mostly lemon and sour apples; slowly giving way to a mix of chewy wheat, fresh cut grass, damp basement funk, and some light peppery spice. The finish is dry with some light funkiness, lingering on the pallet for a short period of time. M - Medium body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Crisp, light, feel with the perfect amount of carbonation. Even with all those strong flavors it remained easy to drink. O - Very good. I had this one on-tap about a month ago at Monk’s and it was very good, but I think I prefer it from the bottle. The fruit really came through this time and it really helped round things out. Another winner here.

750 ml. Bottle pour. Cloudy yellow color with a pretty good white head. Earthy and funky. Wheat malt shows up. Smooth and drinkable.

Oh well, perhaps not very fair.. I was expecting a true colors lambic and got a wild ale. Hence the rather low rating

Draft at Monk’s Cafe. Pours a cloudy golden yellow color with a one finger frothy white head that slowly fades into a thin ring.  Spotty lacing left behind. Funky, earthy aroma with vinegary acetic acid, crisp light fruit, funky bugs and earthy oak.  Sone bready yeast with subtle spices.  Lots of citrus and light fruit in the nose. Soft carbonation up front with a dry and tart mouthfeel that is nicely puckering without being harsh or overly acidic.  Not too sour or abrasive.  Slightly funky with some bugs and earthy oak followed by citrus light fruit and zesty spice.  Hints of lemon, apple and pear.  Well balanced with a lingering crisp dry finish.  Very quaffable.

Had on Zwanze day @ The Avenue Pub .. . Pours a banana skin gold .. light foam .. . very slick stuff .. . pickle, hay, more dill, and pineapple .. . unique and tasty .. . . ..
I’ve been on the phone for a half hour and you’ll never guess what happened.
You realized you forgot to dial first.
No.
You were holding the receiver the wrong way.
No.
You were talking into the TV remote instead of the phone.
No.
A shoe?
No, I’m not an idiot. - ....The TV has a remote?

Poured a clear golden color with a large frothy white head that mostly lasted with fair lacing. Moderate to heavy soft malt and wild yeast aroma. Medium to full body with a sticky texture and soft carbonation. Medium to heavy sour flavor with a medium to heavy sour & sweet finish of moderate to long duration. This is a solid beer for style.

Bottle. Pour is hazy gold with a white head that quickly dissipates. Aroma is strong lambic wild yeast, must, citrus, wood. Taste is nice: pleasantly tart with citrus and oak. Palate is clean, low carbonation, long sour finish. Really nice.

Bottle. Hazy gold pour, with a centimeter of white head. Aroma is quite funky, lots of lambic aromas, classic cantillon musty hay, lots of citrus, black pepper, coriander. Flavor is VERY citrusy up front, lots of grapefruit and lemon, nice lemony coriander witbier finale, tart finish. Palate is smooth and silky, slick carbonation and light body. Very refreshing, interesting blend of styles by Cantillon.