Lambic - Aged In Sixth Use Lambic Barrel
Brasserie Cantillon

 

As the flavor of light, zesty and tangy gueuze beer has seduced a generation of sour ale appreciators, the true unblended lambic in all its rusticity, funk and earth is largely lost on a whole host of beer drinkers. But thanks to the premiere sour ale makers of Cantillon, this highly authentic lambic lives on.

Still, lifeless and dulling honey amber, the beer's lack of exuberance is a throwback to ale a millennia ago. Life fine sherry, its tawny oxidized hues prelude a scent of curing leather, weathered citrus, oak, pepper and the pungent funk of parmesan. Low lying sweetness is barely detectible, noticed only in its grain and toast early palate.

And then the magic of the beer is in the lack of carbonation that allows the quiet ale to seep deeply into the softer tissues of the mouth for a full middle palate of steely caramel, peanut skin and oak the trends tart, vinous and dry with red wine, leathery limes, lemon and grape. A balance of straw, hay and pepper has a pleasant phenolic offset to fruit and acidity as the ale trends funky with the taint of cork, damp burlap and retro-olfactory action of saddle leather, horse hair and other barnyardy perfumes.

Dry, light, and oddly enough- wet, the beer's acidity is moderate while its musty and earthy character of extended aging has tempered the brazen acidity of young lambic. Oaken tannins are soft and gives the beer a drying digestibility in lieu of carbonation for a texture of tart sherry wine with a short aftertaste of funk and fauna.

 

 

Gold-amber with no head, looking almost like a Madeira.

Smell is burnt caramel, almost bourbony oak, and ash.

Taste converts greatly to grapefruit and cherry mostly, very acetic and dry.

 

 

2016 Shelton Brothers Festival