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Don Quijote
Brasserie Cantillon
- From:
- Brasserie Cantillon
- Belgium
- Style:
- Fruit Lambic
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 100
- Avg:
- 4.58 | pDev: 11.14%
- Reviews:
- 47
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Aug 21, 2018
- Added:
- Jun 12, 2010
- Wants:
- 466
- Gots:
- 8
A fruit lambic brewed with Italian grapes similar to Concord grapes or Fox grapes (Vitis Labrusca) brewed exclusively for a Florence, Italy, Pub in 2008.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by scottfrie:
Reviewed by scottfrie from California
4.86/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.86/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
A very special thanks to colonelforbin for opening The Don.
A: Pours a deep murky iced tea amber with a very thin bubbly white head.
S: Super sweet smelling with dominating notes of sugary grapes. There is a decent amount of funk beneath the sweetness that reminds me of Pez candy mixed with cheese and used baby diaper.
T: Heavy grape mouth. The grapes really do taste similar to Concord, and I can’t help but be reminded of grape jelly or grape juice. Light funk, cranberry juice, drying tannins and a little bit of grease come through alongside a bit of lemony citrus acid. Not as much baby poop as the nose. This is one of the best combination of sweet and funky flavors I’ve had the pleasure of drinking.
M: Extremely dry and extremely smooth. Sweet fruit balanced the dryness, and the acid is smooth and mellow.
O: A delight to be savored. All that were present can attest to how long it took me to drink my glass. I’ve never tasted a beer with this unique grape flavor profile. Definitely lives up to the hype.
Sep 12, 2012A: Pours a deep murky iced tea amber with a very thin bubbly white head.
S: Super sweet smelling with dominating notes of sugary grapes. There is a decent amount of funk beneath the sweetness that reminds me of Pez candy mixed with cheese and used baby diaper.
T: Heavy grape mouth. The grapes really do taste similar to Concord, and I can’t help but be reminded of grape jelly or grape juice. Light funk, cranberry juice, drying tannins and a little bit of grease come through alongside a bit of lemony citrus acid. Not as much baby poop as the nose. This is one of the best combination of sweet and funky flavors I’ve had the pleasure of drinking.
M: Extremely dry and extremely smooth. Sweet fruit balanced the dryness, and the acid is smooth and mellow.
O: A delight to be savored. All that were present can attest to how long it took me to drink my glass. I’ve never tasted a beer with this unique grape flavor profile. Definitely lives up to the hype.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by lawsonciv from Oklahoma
5/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This beer is unbelievable. I have never had a beer so hyped (and so damn expensive) but it was worth every penny. The hype is real on Mr. Donnie Quijote. Tons of grapes on the nose with a more subtle grape flavor in the taste. I imagine a bit of the grape has gone away in the last 6 years this bottle has been aging. Beautiful beer. I would spend $100 an oz again. haha
Jan 31, 2015Reviewed by jegross2 from Illinois
4.87/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.87/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Reviewing the infamous Don Quijote from Brasserie Cantillon out of Belgium. This grape lambic was brewed exclusively for the Goblin Pub in Italy.
Score: 98
2008 vintage bottle served in an Iris balloon glass and enjoyed on 04/25/14. Review is from iPhone notes.
Appearance: Pours a lovely pinkish-brownish-orange color with gorgeous fade towards the edges. No head off the pour. No lacing or retention. Real nice color, however. 4.5/5
Smell: Bold and distinctive Kedeem Kosher-for-Passover concord grape juice mixed with a lovely and bright tropical fruitiness and a light oakiness. Hint of vinegar too. I really dig the sour tropical fruit-spiked grape juice nose here. No funkiness. 5/5
Taste: Less complex and bold than the nose, but nonetheless tasty. Upfront is a relatively mellowed grape juice flavor that does not come across as sugary-sweet as it did in the aroma. Good tartness upfront too. Muted fruitiness towards the finish, with a lasting sourness. The grape flavor is somewhat crisp, with the linger being more of the lemon, hint of mango and mineral water character typical of Cantillon. This beer is quite lovely tasting, but the taste is not quite the fruity Kedeem grape juice bomb that the nose is. No real funk, save for a hint of such towards the finish. 4.75/5
Mouthfeel: Super juicy mouthfeel with a lightly dry finish. Lovely tartness that is not too subtle nor too intense, and a marvelously balanced acidity. 5/5
Overall: Supremely well-balanced and pleasantly fruity with minimal, if any, funk. This is one of the few whales out there that lives up to its mythos. While not cheap, it was certainly worth the once-in-a-lifetime tick. My only regret is that there was not more in the bottle to sip and savor.
Cost: $900 for a 375 ml bottle.
May 21, 2014Score: 98
2008 vintage bottle served in an Iris balloon glass and enjoyed on 04/25/14. Review is from iPhone notes.
Appearance: Pours a lovely pinkish-brownish-orange color with gorgeous fade towards the edges. No head off the pour. No lacing or retention. Real nice color, however. 4.5/5
Smell: Bold and distinctive Kedeem Kosher-for-Passover concord grape juice mixed with a lovely and bright tropical fruitiness and a light oakiness. Hint of vinegar too. I really dig the sour tropical fruit-spiked grape juice nose here. No funkiness. 5/5
Taste: Less complex and bold than the nose, but nonetheless tasty. Upfront is a relatively mellowed grape juice flavor that does not come across as sugary-sweet as it did in the aroma. Good tartness upfront too. Muted fruitiness towards the finish, with a lasting sourness. The grape flavor is somewhat crisp, with the linger being more of the lemon, hint of mango and mineral water character typical of Cantillon. This beer is quite lovely tasting, but the taste is not quite the fruity Kedeem grape juice bomb that the nose is. No real funk, save for a hint of such towards the finish. 4.75/5
Mouthfeel: Super juicy mouthfeel with a lightly dry finish. Lovely tartness that is not too subtle nor too intense, and a marvelously balanced acidity. 5/5
Overall: Supremely well-balanced and pleasantly fruity with minimal, if any, funk. This is one of the few whales out there that lives up to its mythos. While not cheap, it was certainly worth the once-in-a-lifetime tick. My only regret is that there was not more in the bottle to sip and savor.
Cost: $900 for a 375 ml bottle.
Reviewed by cfrances33 from Illinois
4.92/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.92/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Bottle decanted and poured into a Cantillon tulip. Pour is a mildly hazy, juicy magenta. A finger of pink head. Smell is beautiful, rich grape and lemon acidity. A good dose of funk as well. Jammy grapes and lemon acidity on the taste. Grape flavor is rich, but not too sweet... balanced well with one of the cleanest funk profiles I’ve ever encountered. Minerally and delicious. Mouthfeel is rich, juicy, yet untterly drinkable. Dry finish. Overall... this might be tied with Blauw for the best beer I’ve ever had. Certainly the best fruited lambic. Perhaps we will meet again one day!
Feb 04, 2014Reviewed by joel66 from New York
4.83/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.83/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
If i could have sex with a beer, id fuck the shit out if don q. Its that good!
Grape jam , flavor and taste, ton of fruit, light tartness, incredibly well balanced. Pinot di aunis is a very close second but jesus this beer is good. If only it was readily available!
Until we meet again
Dec 31, 2013Grape jam , flavor and taste, ton of fruit, light tartness, incredibly well balanced. Pinot di aunis is a very close second but jesus this beer is good. If only it was readily available!
Until we meet again
Don Quijote from Brasserie Cantillon
Beer rating:
100 out of
100 with
83 ratings
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