Strawberry Lambic from Lindemans Gorgeous pinkish red beer with plenty of foam in the goblet. Wonderful strawberry jam aroma with a tangy nose. Deeply fruity with a real strawberry flavor. It's moderately sweet and the mouthfeel is on the unctuous side, but it's also rather tart in the finish. Stronger than the other Lindemans fruit brews. Overall this is one of the best fruit-flavored beers I can remember. It would be lovely to try this with some tangier beer for a cuvee. From the wee nip purchased on the West Coast with a Lindemans glass in the pack.
A bottle of St. Bernardus Abt 12 from the cellar. Dated best by 03 02 26, so I think a 2022 bottle (I believe there has been some conflicting information if these are dated for 4 or 5 years)
To sort of answer my own question - their website says the current dating is for 4 years https://www.sintbernardus.be/en/brewery/our-beers/stbernardus-abt-12-en
The old familiar Saison Dupont A pleasant sweetness is the first taste, followed by the Belgian rasp. Rather bitter aftertaste. Light body but nice carbonation on the tongue. Thirst-quenching and intriguing flavor, but nothing too wild. A thinner, sharper style of Saison. Hoppy bitterness gives a nice edge. Not my favorite Saison.
Brasserie Cantillon (Brussels, BEL) - BENEDIKTA 25 - Two-year-old Lambic with Cesanese grapes (7%). Good morning, Last Sunday (May 31, 2026) I attended the launch of Cantillon's BENEDIKTA, a beer celebrating the 25th anniversary of the "Ma che siete venuti a fa'" pub (although the actual birthday is later). The great Jean Van Roy and the graphic designer of Brasserie Cantillon were present, and he was kind enough to take a photo of us together. Since it was around 11:30 in the morning, I rinsed out my mouth with a Helles (the 1747 ORIGINAL from Brauerei Wirth Zum Löwenbräu) and a Pils (the ELCH-BRAÜ PILS from Thuisbrunner Elch-Bräu), both 4.9% ABV and both typical products of the Franconia region of Germany, before proceeding to taste this two-year-old Lambic on tap, made with local Cesanese grapes from Lazio from Cantina Damiano Ciolli (Olevano Romano, near Rome). The Cesanese grapes and pomace were shipped refrigerated to the Brasserie, which produced this spontaneously fermented beer and packaged it both in kegs and bottles. Obviously, this is a limited run, and take-out is not available to avoid speculation on the secondary market. However, a small "introduction tour" is planned in Italian and European pubs considered "friendly" to "Macchè." Notes I've noted: Ruby red color, minimal head only at the top. Aromas of red berries and woodsy notes. A very light beer. On the palate, the beer has a typical lambic structure, medium body but ample smoothness, with mineral and natural wine notes inevitably present. The taste opens with hints of rather fruity red grapes (wild strawberries, cherries, redcurrants). The acidic note is practically nonexistent; the "musty" sensation is present but well hidden by the grape flavor. The drink is quick and easy, not at all demanding even after two or three glasses. The finish is slightly drying on the tongue, while on the palate, a moderate but noticeable fruity aftertaste (of ripe red fruit) remains with the characteristic notes of the Cesanese grape. A beer whose freshness and fragrance are perceptible at the expense of a complexity that hasn't yet fully matured. A friend and I also purchased a 75cl bottle (€60...), bottled on November 14, 2025 (best before date not indicated), served in the classic Cantillon basket. I notice a more "concentrated" flavor, supported by finer carbonation. Fruity notes emerge slightly more intensely (wild berries: wild strawberries, cherries, raspberries). There's less saltiness (no saline notes lingering on my lips, unlike the same beer drunk from the keg). An astringent note (rather than acidic) is more noticeable than the draft. Quick to drink, with a drier and less enveloping finish. It seems slightly more elegant than the keg, but this is merely an opinion based on personal taste.
