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Iris
Brasserie Cantillon
- From:
- Brasserie Cantillon
- Belgium
- Style:
- Lambic
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 6.5%
- Score:
- 97
Ranked #730 - Avg:
- 4.36 | pDev: 8.94%
- Reviews:
- 529
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 09, 2023
- Added:
- Dec 05, 2002
- Wants:
- 727
- Gots:
- 485
SCORE
97
World-Class
97
World-Class
It is a completely original beer which, contrary to the other products of the Brewery, is not brewed with 35% of wheat. The Iris, which is only made with malt of the pale ale type (giving a more amber colour to the beer) conserves the typical flavour of the spontaneous fermentation, the complex aromas and the vinous taste.
The hopping is different too. Lambic is made with 100% dried hops, for the Iris we use 50% of dried hops and 50% of fresh hops. The latter cause a superb acidity, the former, due to their tannins, enable to conserve the beer while preserving all its qualities. After two years in the barrel, the Iris undergoes a second fresh hopping two weeks before the bottling. A linen bag, filled with hops, is soaked in the beer for two weeks. This technique, called "cold hopping", gives the beer a more intense savour and makes the smell and the taste more bitter.
Iris is brewed only once every season and all the beers come from the same brewing. This is why the beer is dated. The second fermentation is obtained by adding liquor. Although it is a spontaneous fermentation beer, the Iris is very different from the Lambic. The amber colour and the bitter and slightly caramelized taste make it a complex beer.
The hopping is different too. Lambic is made with 100% dried hops, for the Iris we use 50% of dried hops and 50% of fresh hops. The latter cause a superb acidity, the former, due to their tannins, enable to conserve the beer while preserving all its qualities. After two years in the barrel, the Iris undergoes a second fresh hopping two weeks before the bottling. A linen bag, filled with hops, is soaked in the beer for two weeks. This technique, called "cold hopping", gives the beer a more intense savour and makes the smell and the taste more bitter.
Iris is brewed only once every season and all the beers come from the same brewing. This is why the beer is dated. The second fermentation is obtained by adding liquor. Although it is a spontaneous fermentation beer, the Iris is very different from the Lambic. The amber colour and the bitter and slightly caramelized taste make it a complex beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Shiredave from New York
4.3/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A yearly treat I have missed a few times. The first few years I had it there were subtle changes in malt depth and hop presence though always a less sour beer than expected
Tall, dense clotted head forms quickly and slumps slowly.
Sour notes explode with the tiny bubbles along with wiffs of ripe apple and crushed berries.
Malt sweetness balances the tart acidity while grassy, earthy hop spice adds depth and character.
Finish is long and mildly sour with lingering hop bitterness.
Oct 26, 2023Tall, dense clotted head forms quickly and slumps slowly.
Sour notes explode with the tiny bubbles along with wiffs of ripe apple and crushed berries.
Malt sweetness balances the tart acidity while grassy, earthy hop spice adds depth and character.
Finish is long and mildly sour with lingering hop bitterness.
Reviewed by 5toutman75 from Illinois
4.4/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
I love the color of this beer. The carbonation is absolutely perfect and head remains after a vigorous pour. I get more funk on the nose than on the pallet. I wish it had more to taste. On the pallet it’s complex but I’ve had other beers with more. Overall a great beer and worth getting again if I can get it at a good price. I would love to age this and see how it changes.
May 22, 2023
Reviewed by JohnnyHopps from Indiana
4.33/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - The beer poured a hazy shade of amber his a huge bubbly white head. This beer could not wait to get out of the bottle!
Smell - The nose was like a rustic dry sour presence with a definite green apple presence.
Taste - The profile was pleasantly Earthy. It initially had a floral quality that brought to mind herbal tea. Also included were notes of oak, lime, and green apples. The sour notes were steady, not screaming for attention or melting dental fixtures. The beer had a nice dry finish.
Mouthfeel - After the head finished rising, the carbonation was only moderately intense.
Overall - This was a solid lambic, though not necessarily one I would seek again.
Jun 12, 2022Smell - The nose was like a rustic dry sour presence with a definite green apple presence.
Taste - The profile was pleasantly Earthy. It initially had a floral quality that brought to mind herbal tea. Also included were notes of oak, lime, and green apples. The sour notes were steady, not screaming for attention or melting dental fixtures. The beer had a nice dry finish.
Mouthfeel - After the head finished rising, the carbonation was only moderately intense.
Overall - This was a solid lambic, though not necessarily one I would seek again.
Reviewed by Holderness from Massachusetts
4.33/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2021 bottling. Medium amber in the glass with some haziness and a finger of dense off-white head that retains fairly well and leaves minimal lacing. The maltiness here is quite unique indeed, almost like a Flanders Red -- getting some toastiness and cherry pie notes in the aromas and flavors. Moderately acetic with a fluffy and lively effervescence. The hops impart a lightly bitter herbal flavor, but it's not too overwhelming and compliments the oaky barrel character. Happy new year!
87/100
Jan 01, 202287/100
Reviewed by zac16125 from South Carolina
4.32/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
750mL bottle into a Teku
Bottled: 25 Feb 2019
Pours translucent with the slightest degree of haze. Golden copper in color with 2 fingers width of off white colored head. Aroma is very floral, grassy fields, some nondescript fruity esters and pungent cheese like funk. Tart citrus acidity rounds out the aromas. Very complex nose. Taste is somewhat tart upfront but not nearly to the degree of most Cantillons I’ve had and it’s also notably more funky with barnyard and pungeant cheese like funk. Prominent bitterness on the finish. There is a fairly prominent sweetness to balance. Mouthfeel is vibrant with high carbonation and excellent drinkability. Overal, far from my favorite Cantillon but a complex and exceptionally well done beer.
4.5/4.25/4.25/5/4.25
Apr 08, 2021Bottled: 25 Feb 2019
Pours translucent with the slightest degree of haze. Golden copper in color with 2 fingers width of off white colored head. Aroma is very floral, grassy fields, some nondescript fruity esters and pungent cheese like funk. Tart citrus acidity rounds out the aromas. Very complex nose. Taste is somewhat tart upfront but not nearly to the degree of most Cantillons I’ve had and it’s also notably more funky with barnyard and pungeant cheese like funk. Prominent bitterness on the finish. There is a fairly prominent sweetness to balance. Mouthfeel is vibrant with high carbonation and excellent drinkability. Overal, far from my favorite Cantillon but a complex and exceptionally well done beer.
4.5/4.25/4.25/5/4.25
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
4.34/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
750 ml corked and capped green bottle, vintage 2007, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6%. Deep golden to orange colour, moderate off-white head. Beguiling complex aroma, notes of farmhouse, rustic kitchen, oxidised apples, apple cider vinegar and hops. The flavour is sour but not extreme, hints of oxidised apples and spices, unlike other lambics it also has a distinct hoppy bite in the finish.
Mar 18, 2021
Iris from Brasserie Cantillon
Beer rating:
97 out of
100 with
2185 ratings
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