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Zwanze 2015 - Wild Brussels Stout
Brasserie Cantillon
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Brasserie Cantillon
- Belgium
- Style:
- Lambic
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 92
- Avg:
- 4.13 | pDev: 8.47%
- Reviews:
- 28
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jan 06, 2019
- Added:
- Aug 03, 2015
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 3
With its Zwanze 2015, in its own way Cantillon wanted to perpetuate this typically Belgian surrealist mindset. In doing so, a few changes were made to the recipe for a traditional stout. Specifically, I fermented some raw wheat to improve mellowness and enhance storage characteristics and did not use roasted barley to avoid further accentuating the dry aspect, which was already present as a result of spontaneous fermentation.
The recipe is that of a stout, the colour is that of a stout, and spontaneous fermentation followed by 28 months of maturing in a cask has given birth to a “surreal” stout.
The dry and tart notes of a spontaneous fermentation beer combine with the roasted, slightly burnt and delicate chocolate flavours sometimes found in certain stouts.
For the 28 months of maturing we used three types of casks: 50% of the casks had already contained lambic, 25% had already been used for Côtes du Rhône wine and 25% had already been used for Cognac. Beers that have matured in old Cognac casks take up the warmth of the alcohol while those from casks having contained red wine adopt winey and fruity characteristics.
This “wild” stout’s fruitiness and “cooked” side reveal rancio flavours that are characteristic of Madeira or Banyuls wines. The ideal tasting temperature to fully enjoy these fragrances and flavours is 15 °C - 18 °C (59 °F - 64 °F).
The recipe is that of a stout, the colour is that of a stout, and spontaneous fermentation followed by 28 months of maturing in a cask has given birth to a “surreal” stout.
The dry and tart notes of a spontaneous fermentation beer combine with the roasted, slightly burnt and delicate chocolate flavours sometimes found in certain stouts.
For the 28 months of maturing we used three types of casks: 50% of the casks had already contained lambic, 25% had already been used for Côtes du Rhône wine and 25% had already been used for Cognac. Beers that have matured in old Cognac casks take up the warmth of the alcohol while those from casks having contained red wine adopt winey and fruity characteristics.
This “wild” stout’s fruitiness and “cooked” side reveal rancio flavours that are characteristic of Madeira or Banyuls wines. The ideal tasting temperature to fully enjoy these fragrances and flavours is 15 °C - 18 °C (59 °F - 64 °F).
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jrallen34:
Rated by jrallen34 from Illinois
3.22/5 rDev -22%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Oct 02, 2015
3.22/5 rDev -22%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Oct 02, 2015
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Alieniloquium from Florida
3.62/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.62/5 rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Redlight Redlight. Served in a wine taster. Deep brown, almost black. Reddish in the light. Faint head. Strong oak aroma. Heavy roast. Dark fruits and vinous notes. Taste is sour and a little vinegary. Heavy roast. Strong dark fruit tartness. Bitter coffee in the finish. Medium low carbonation. Medium body. Not as bad as I expected. A good expression of a sour dark beer, but that doesn’t always say a lot.
Jan 06, 2019Reviewed by Huhzubendah from District of Columbia
4.24/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.24/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Draft at Churchkey for Zwanze 2015.
Mahogany body and clear with a sparse head of broken bubbles, rapidly fading to nil, giving a still appearance.
Aromas of funk, cherry, leather. More of an oud bruin character than that of a stout.
Smooth on the palate, with no carbonation. Cherries and Cantillon funk with a touch of musty earth. Vinous, tannic, oaky.
Overall, an interesting beer. Not my favorite Cantillon, but still tasty. Again, more of a Flanders style sour than a stout.
Oct 08, 2016Mahogany body and clear with a sparse head of broken bubbles, rapidly fading to nil, giving a still appearance.
Aromas of funk, cherry, leather. More of an oud bruin character than that of a stout.
Smooth on the palate, with no carbonation. Cherries and Cantillon funk with a touch of musty earth. Vinous, tannic, oaky.
Overall, an interesting beer. Not my favorite Cantillon, but still tasty. Again, more of a Flanders style sour than a stout.
Zwanze 2015 - Wild Brussels Stout from Brasserie Cantillon
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
146 ratings
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