Mort Subite Blanche
Brouwerij Mort Subite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-tap at à la Mort Subite in Brussels, so you know it's fresh. On to the beer:

An inch of creamy head and a show of good lacing top this washed out yellow colored beer. Despite the color, you can't see through it. The aroma brings a white cranberry note and a little tartness. If it were in my mouth, I would have a little pucker.

The taste is soft, modest. There's that white cranberry taste, but it tastes a little watered doen. It's not sour, only slightly tart. The beer is light bodied with a subtle wateriness and a gentle sizzle of carbonation.

This is a "safe" choice for a fruit lambic. It's not too intense, and it's not wild and super tart. Authentic, I think not.

From: Etre Gourmet
Date:
Glass: Cantillon gueuze glass

Pours a 1cm head of slightly off-white bubbles, small to medium in size, with above average retention, lasting about two minutes. Fades to a thin cap atop the body of the beer with substantial lacing left on the sides of the glass, mostly some thick lines and clumps sticking to the sides of the glass. Body is a rich, cool yellow color, with modest orange highlights Light brings out paler orange and yellow hues. Body is hazy, about 40% opaque, with visible and fairly active carbonation.

The beer has the scent of peach nectar, lemon rind, and wheat malt, but no real hint of sourness or funk, as I'd expect from a product labeled "lambic." I'm torn about how to rate this: the beer smells appetizing, but is not really what I'd think of as representing the style at all.

Front of the palate picks up wheat malt sweetness, peach nectar, and some coriander. Mid-palate sees an intensification of peach juice, with coriander, lemon zest, modest wheat malt character, and extremely faint tartness. Back of palate finds what malt and peach juice, leading to an aftertaste that is largely the same.

The beer is medium-light to light in weight, with carbonation of medium intensity, which foams this

 

 

It's maybe a bit ironic that a brewery called "Sudden Death" rolls out a bitter of such whimsy and finesse and with a kiss of delicate fruitiness and pleasantries. Where the brewers give a great deal of skill and care to the outstanding witbier underneath, the decoration of fruit and spice delivers a softer and kinder palate.

The witbier pours with with a richer coloration than is expected for the style- a copper-peach hue diffuses light in a glowing manner with its yeasty haze. The sprite carbonation springs the to the rim of the glass with near-champagne activity, yet it builds a creamy white sheet of foam that retains and laces impressively.

Fruity aromas garner the nose with the predictable lemon and apple acidity, but an obvious peach overtone is wonderfully unexpected. True ripe peach with all its juicy pulp and tart skins seem well represented in the nose. A sprinkle of white pepper, cumin, and tangerine zest accompany the vinous notes in balance.

Without any confirmation of actual fruit additions, the taste of peach is first and foremost from sip to finish. As the taste of fruit strikes the tip of the tongue, both sultry tang and spice weave across the palate alternating with sweet fruit pulp and then dry peppery spice. Where balance can be noted, so can an embattled spirit between sweet and spice. The soft impressions of wheat and powdered sugar support the spice and allow the fruity notes to seem more ripe, plump, and sun-sweetened. Tangy sourdough and herbal hops also plays out in counterpart to the sweetness and fruit.

Light on the palate, its a combination of fruity tartness, peppery spice, and zesty carbonation that gives a champagne-like bounce off of the tongue. As the beer glides over the tongue, the middle palate is caressed with soft bready wheat and a delicate vinous tartness to finish. Light alcohols and complex pepper notes signal the finish and leaves the mouth refreshed and yearning for more.

The beer world is full of criticize over fruit in beer; and often those comments are indefensible. But when the fruit notes are authentic, bold, and in balance with a high quality base beer underneath- the beer is fully capable of speaking for itself.

Pours a slightly hazy powdered straw color with a solid half inch white head that lingers. Eventually coats the glass with lacing.

Bruised peach and confectioners sugar dominate the aroma, with light floral notes and subtle herbal hops adding intrigue.

Flavor is more bitter than suggested by the aroma, with earthy peach forming the backbone. There's a subtle tartness that gives way to peach pit at the finish. The body is lightly bready, a touch sweet and floral. Very subtle for the style, with a lightly peppery finish.

Body is moderate, with fairly moderate carbonation. It's somewhat creamy.

Overall, a very peach forward brew, favoring subtlety. It's somewhat one note. But you really can tell the peach flavor is authentic.

Pours a cloudy, maize color. 1/2 inch head of a white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong apricot, slight sweet malt, sugar, and a hint of pale malt. Fits the style of a Lambic - Fruit. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of apricot, slight sugar, slight sweet malt, hint of pale malt, and a hint of alcohol. Overall, good blend, but the tartness/acidity level is too low.