Cassis De Hill
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

Cassis De HillCassis De Hill
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From:
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
 
United States
Style:
Fruit Lambic
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 12.95%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
18
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 27, 2013
Added:
Nov 28, 2008
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by tpd975:
Photo of tpd975
Reviewed by tpd975 from Florida

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Big thanks to jdubfl for this one.

A: Pours a dark maroonish brown hue with a nice pink tinged head. Light retention and no lace.

S: Lots of dark berry, with milder notes of dark fruit. There is a mild earthiness with a nice underlying tartness.

T: Currents, cherries, with a hint of rotting grapes. Mild tartness that is backed by a nice fruit sweetness. The tartness lasts longer in duration than the sweetness leading to a nice tanic berry tartness.

M: Medium in body, smooth somewhat dry in the finish.

D: Good, one of the better cassis beers.
Feb 20, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of wisrarebeer
Reviewed by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

3.97/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Purchased a Wilmington location $25/bottle, closer to a Flanders Red than a lambic

A: beautiful, clear light copper color with slight red hue, tiny bubbles and thin head
S: mild but aged with solid funk, definite tartness
T: tart with definite fruit qualities, some oxidation, a bit too much acetic acid-like taste, could use a bit more balance
M: clean with definite tartness, no major off flavors
Apr 27, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by t0rin0 from California

Oct 15, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 11, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by jh1982 from Nevada

Nov 29, 2011
Photo of ditmier
Reviewed by ditmier from Idaho

3.58/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
2008 Bottle - Thanks JohnGalt1!! - Pours a clear ruby with a small off white head...aroma is massive funk, acid, earthy, very defined currant aroma, tart oak and tons more fruit...flavour is vanilla and cassis liqueor matched with massive upfront acidity, fruit skins...sour is fleeting, and finishes lighter and thinner with a slightly herbal note...really enjoyed this one!
Aug 20, 2011
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to ClockworkOrange for sharing this on 12/11/10.

Poured into a snifter, this brew appears ruby in color with a pink stained head that doesn't hold well and clings close to the side of the glass. Faint spotty patches of lace cling to the glass.

The aroma of this brew is sweet with a scent of currents before turning sharp and funky. The scent of this brew is lightly cheesy, lactic and a bit of sulfur notes are evident as well.

The taste of this brew is tart with a fruited flavor that is not in the least bit sweet as the aroma suggested. It is immediately dry and acidic with a lightly puckering quality about it. It lingers with a light touch of lactic and lingering funky sourness.

Light in the feel with a modest amount of carbonation. Quite tart and drinkable but I could not drink more than a few ounces as this offering is a heartburn inducer for sure. Very dry with a big salivation factor that kept me going back for sips.
Jan 03, 2011
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.92/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Kevin for this one. Shared at Lost Abbey.

A: The pour is a nice dark pink-purple-red sort of color with a minimal pink-white head forming that quickly dies away.

S: A fairly funky as well as fruity nose. Good currant notes along with some sweet blueberries. A bit of musty funk and a strong aroma of funky blue cheese (good call on that, Javi). Some slightly spicy oak notes and a mild acetic character.

T: The flavor is not quite as full and rich as I was expecting from the nose. Still plenty of fruitiness, though, mainly currants with a fair amount of sweet berries. The sourness is subdued here, and is mainly acetic, with a soft mustiness.

M: The body is medium with a soft, smooth carbonation that is definitely appropriate for a lambic.

D: Better than I recall the other Iron Hill lambics being (especially the fruited varities). Really nice nose, but the flavor does fall a bit short. That said, still easy to drink and enjoy.
Nov 16, 2010
Photo of BearsOnAcid
Reviewed by BearsOnAcid from Massachusetts

2.29/5  rDev -40.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
So the better of the three fruit sours from Iron Hill finally appears. This beer had a muddy ruby color. Clear and not really carbonated. Basically laid still in my glass but looked nice. It smelled like a very generic American sour. Not really complex. Acetic acid up front, little brett, and sweet black currants.

The flavor was not as mouth wrenchingly sour as the others. This one was actually drinkable. One could actually split a bottle with someone but that may even be asking too much.

The taste had a tolerable amount of acetic acid. Slightly pungent and black currants were still in there somewhere. A little jammy. Reminded me slightly of Consecration but I'm probably saying that because that's the only other sour I've had with black currants. If you swirled it around in your mouth the acid became overwhelming. But with all that was going on in the beer the flavor suddenly vanished once you swallow. Nothing really lingered. It didn't leave much of an impression either. I'd say this is the best attempt I've had so far.
Sep 01, 2010
Photo of JohnGalt1
Reviewed by JohnGalt1 from Idaho

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Received this one from MrBendo way back in Nov. '08... Thanks a ton Todd for a great trade. Opened with the usual suspects over the weekend.

Pours with a foamy very lite pink head... dies pretty quickly leaving splotchy lacing... he brew is red with some orange when held to a light...

The nose is incredibly funky and sour... lactic... bile with a mild fruitiness..

Jesus... the flavor is the nose 10x.... stomach acid.. some cheese... the "cassis" is there for sure, but it gets devoured by the funk.. lite acetic elements ... still the lactic qualities dominate and combine with currant skins and oaky tannins to dry out my mouth like almost nothing I've had before.

Body is medium with a lighter than expected carbonation.

Later pours were more integrated ... but the surprising funk also grew and jumped out of the glass.

Thanks again Todd!! I've been waiting along time to share this with the Boise Boys... it did not disappoint.

4/4/4.5/3.5/3.5
Jun 03, 2010
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A corked and caged 750 mL bottle from the Wilmington release about a year ago. Shared with ksak.

A: This is the most appealing of the three fruit lambics. The other two were thick with sludgy yeast while this one has just a thin layer at the bottle of the bottle. The color is cranberry red with a mild touch of amber. Despite the audible pop when the cork was removed, there is little sign of carbonation.

S: The nose is sharp and citric, loaded with zesty lemon. A vinegary thread is a good complement to the acidic citrus. Sour currants and brett finish things off.

T: The first few drops of each sip don't seem as acidic as the nose indicates. Trust me though, give it a few seconds. The citric flavors, lemon principally with star fruit playing a lesser role, is nearly pucker-worthy. Currants add a naturally sour flavor, mild and semi-sugary. The sourness comes to a crescendo just before each sip is swallowed, leaving a nice dry bite in my mouth.

M: The ale isn't heavy, although the sourness at the end of each sip seems to fill me up.

D: The zest is nice but, as I mentioned in the mouthfeel, the ale is very filling. Glad to have someone to share it with.
Mar 06, 2010
Photo of illidurit
Reviewed by illidurit from California

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle shared at Woodshop 5.0. Pours a hazy opaque brownish purple hue with a nice little white cap of foam. Sharp acidic aroma of berries, raisins, currants, maybe a hint of bretty solvent character. Flavor is mildly sweet with the berry notes but it fades into a tannic seedy note along with unripe drupelets. Medium acidity. Very nice American "lambic."
Feb 24, 2010
Photo of GbVDave
Reviewed by GbVDave from Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into two snifters. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

A: Pours a cloudy dark rose color with the tiniest sliver of bright white foam on top. Carbonation is quite active which feeds the smooth ring and leaves a little bit of lace on the glass.

S: Aromas of vinegar, tart berries, oak, red wine, and musty funk.

T: Initially, a bracing blast of vinegar hits the tongue. Eventually though, as it warms a sweet earthy characteristic takes over with flavors of mixed berries, leather, and tangy orchard fruit. Excellent.

M: Tart and acidic with a surprising amount of sweetness. Hints of butter and dry oak in the finish.

D: We knew nothing of this beer going in and we were very pleased by it. Tart and sour mixed with some soft sweetness and pleasant earthiness.
Feb 20, 2010
Photo of Proteus93
Reviewed by Proteus93 from Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served with a room of good company.

A: This looks similar to a strawberry smoothie or the like. Thick looking, quite hazy, with a nice pinkish head that retains very nicely.

S: Fruity and tart, with plenty of funk going on. Light and easy going on the nose.

T: This is a tasty beer! Tart fruits, with the currants sitting in there a little more modestly than some of the others tried along side it. The oak aging adds a nice smoothness, and there's a nice funkiness that adds into it very nicely.

M + D: Smooth, and almost slick. It goes down very nicely, with a gentle finish. Good drinking, this is an excellent lambic.
Aug 01, 2009
Photo of Floydster
Reviewed by Floydster from California

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
750 ml unlabeled corked and caged bottle acquired in a trade with hopdog, consumed two weeks ago, reviewed from notes, poured into an ovesized wine glass, color was a cloudy pink mixed with a light red, bubbly head that disappeared quickly, no lacing, smell consisted of funkiness, cherries, currants, vanilla, oak, brettanomyces, raspberries, and other sweetness, flavor was what I was expecting after smelling it but more tart and sour which I was not complaining about, starts off a little tingly, malty and fruity in the middle, tart in the finish with a lot of wood and sweet vanilla, sour, sweet, and fruity mouthfeel, medium bodied, fitting level of carbonation, could have drank this whole large bottle myself and actually got quite close to doing so, light on the stomach and well hidden alcohol, sourness is not overwhelming, hope to drink again, recommended
Jan 25, 2009
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

3.8/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Bottle courtesy of my secret santa! Pours a deep, cloudy red with hardly any head. Aroma of wood, sweettart candies, and mustiness. Flavor is super tart and sour initially with a woodsy and fruity (black currents, berries) finish. Some earthy notes too. Puckeringly sour (not as sour as Cantillon though). Hard to drink a lot of this, but it is quite good.
8/4/8/3/15 (3.8/5)
Jan 13, 2009
Photo of hopdog
Reviewed by hopdog from Pennsylvania

4.62/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle - I brought this one out to San Diego to share at the Strong Ale Festival. It was nice to have it watching the sunset from the beach.

Poured a pinkish tinged reddish amberish color with a smaller sized head. Aromas of currants, funky, wood-oak, vanilla, and bretty. Tastes of vanilla, oak, funky, cherries, and currants. Nice tart finish. I really enjoyed this
Dec 09, 2008
Photo of Gueuzedude
Reviewed by Gueuzedude from Arizona

3.97/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served lightly chilled, the beer pours into my 25cl tulip glass with an almost three-finger thick, amber tinged, pale tan colored head. The beer is a hazy, cherry red color that shows a bright red color with gold highlights when held up to my desk lamp. The aroma is quite tart and there is a substantial currant note to this beer, though no sweetness; both of these aromas are noticeable as I am visually inspecting the beer. A deeper inspection of the nose yields a lot of funkiness; sweat-dried, musky blankets, musty / moldy hay, barnyard funk and butyric muskiness seem to be the most noticeable part of the nose. Some oak character contributes to the nose as well, though it seems heavily influenced by the Brettanomyces funk; must wood, a hint of buttery oak and perhaps a hint of vanillin are noticeable in the nose.

Tart up front the beer finishes with a tannic, palate coating note that seems to be contributed both by the fruit and some barrel notes. The second sip sees the sourness softening quite a bit, more of the fruit flavor starts to come through as some soft berry-like notes become noticeable. There is a background phenolic note here that suggests hints of nail polish (this also seems to be contributed by the currants somehow). The acidity here is nice, it is predominantly lactic in character but does seem to have a bit of an acetic edge to it that adds some complexity and, in combination with the fruit, hints at red wine vinegar.

This is fairly well carbonated, but somehow the carbonation does not have a big effect on the texture. My second pour of this is a bit chunky as sediment has been stirred up from the bottom of the bottle. This is incredibly quaffable, it is light enough, but still has some velvety texture to it to keep things interesting and to smooth out the sourness. This is not an overly sour example, but still has enough to give me a solid sour fix. Strangely for a 750ml bottle, I feel like this beer disappeared way to fast. The currant impact here is actually fairly soft, I am pretty sure I wouldn't be able to guess the fruit in a bland tasting. In fact, while there is a certain wine influence here, I could almost see mistaking this for a Flemish sour; the touch of acetic and the fruitiness actually are fairly reminiscent of this style. Either way though this is a really nice beer. I had a couple sips of the Framboise at the GABF and was not really impressed, but this definitely has me excited to try all of the Iron Hill Lambic flavors fully.
Nov 28, 2008
Cassis De Hill from Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 18 ratings