Zwanze 2022 - Poivre de Gorilles
Brasserie Cantillon

 

Ah Zwanze day, where beer nerds get together and talk about the laughable things that happened to this space. Here we have the black pepper Zwanze. I was a little bit apprehensive, but ultimately happy with it.

Pours like a feint hazy ipa. Definitely not a big clarity kind of lambic, they rarely are, I don't know, does pepper dissolve and give it that turbid look, stay tuned. The aroma definitely carried the pepper. Usual lambic sour hay notes. Realizing this isn't just some kind of gimmicked ingredient, its legit in purpose and placement.

The taste continues to bang away, at times a saison like wheat influence, the pepper continues to soar, they say it melds with the acidity and it seems to replicate the commercial tug job for science. I wasn't the biggest fan, it did have a bit of a burn for a lambic of authentic origin. Still dry oaky finish. Carbonation was spot on for my desires. Glad i got to try it, but not even sure it cracks my top 10 Cantillon list even if its still pretty unique and good.

From notes. Bit cloudy on the pour with minimal head formation. Nose was fruity and peppery, as would be expected from a fresh cracked peppercorns or even pressed citrus peel. Rounded, earthy vibes. Taste follows - base lambic woodsy and citrus notes, but unmistakeable black pepper layered on top like a frosty, rather than fully integrated. Still, found this one a nice cap to a long day of memorable beers.

 

 

 

Shared the bottle at Cantillon with a friend. Poured a vibrant orange with a solid head. The nose immediately deviated from anything I've tasted from Cantillon. In talking to the guy at the bar, the pepper that was used is from the east of Africa. Once the initial burst of pepper, other strong herbal notes, grass, lemon, solvent come through. I loved it. Mouthfeel was great. All in all, the beer is masterfully integrated.

 

 

 

(~5 oz pour Nick & Nora-style glass at Monk's for Zwanze Day 2022... review copied from scant notes taken on my phone)

pepper nose, floral, lavender palate...

what I can add from memory: what a fantastic beer!... pale-hued and slightly (chill haze?) cloudy, little if any foam on the pour... the nose is vibrant, unmistakbly pepper infused, almost as if I plunged my nose into a bag of fresh peppercorns... peppery but not biting on the palate, a floral undertone fans out through the finish... what I found very curious and it only added to its interest and flavor spectrum was what to me was an unmistakably lavender note in the aftertaste... just an excellent concept and execution... took me awhile getting through this, only because I sipped light and savored each drop... one of the more fascinating, memorable brews I've had in recent memory... intense, yet maintaining distinct expressions in its shifting sequence... loved it (2042)

 

 

 

Zwanze Day at Beer Temple, 6-8 oz. sample. Bright gold, thin layer of foam, spotty lace. Aroma is complex, ginger, lemon, and cedar. Taste is similar, ginger and lemon dominate, backing some woody floral/fruity green peppercorn notes. Zero black pepper phenolics or astringency, not spicy. Very light and airy, nice carb. Easygoing and delicious.

People surely realize there's a broad range of peppercorn plants besides standard black pepper they’re already familiar with, right? Highly doubt anyone had Congolese pepper before today, and never in a beer before. It’s highly unique, and far more than “smells and tastes like pepper”, which says nothing about the actual expression of the ingredients.

 

Had a draft pour at the Veil for their Zwanze Day event.
L- Poured a dark orange color with a slight white head that dissipates quickly leaving lacing on the glass.
S - Smells of pepper.
T - Tastes of pepper with a slight tartness.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - Really tasty peppery lambic. I wasn’t sure how the pepper would affect the beer, but it was really good.

 

On tap at Redlight Redlight. Deep orange. Wow, this is distinctive. Strong black pepper, but not like smelling ground black pepper. Woody, citrusy, fruity, earthy. Never hints at spicy. Tastes like cedar wood throughout. Pepper is strong, but again not spicy. Woody, floral, earthy, with mild citrus sourness. Cedar wood lingers in the finish. This is outstanding. Unique, aggressive, and the black pepper works well with the lambic flavors.

Pours dark gold and hazy. The aroma is intense black pepper combined with cardamom-like herbs. The taste is a little reminiscent of Earl Grey tea, but with the expected Cantillon tartness and minerality.