Tag Archives: iris

Cantillon Iris

Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Unblended)
Other Notes: Fresh hops, no wheat

Brewer Description: (from bottle) The Iris beer, a spontaneous fermentation beer made with pure malt, is really unique. It matures for two years in oak-wood casks and undergoes a natural second fermentation in the bottle afterwards. The fresh hops gives the beer a bitter flavour. This characteristic, combined with the absence of wheat, constitute the main difference between the Iris and the other Cantillon beers, that are made with Lambic. Keep and serve at a temperature of 12°-15°. To be drunk preferably within the 10 years after the bottling date.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.24
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.1

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, bottled on 9th January 2018. Poured into a Cantillon ballon glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy golden orange colour with a one and a half finger off white head that dissipates fairly quickly to a thin layer, while leaving some sparse lacing.
Aroma: Tart, funky barnyard, oak, apricot, grapefruit, citrus zest and rind.
Taste: Sour, lightly bitter, a hint of sweetness, funk, oak, apricot, peach, grapefruit zest, lemon and leather with a hint of floral and herbal.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation.
Overall: Very enjoyable and great to drink. Even better when aged properly for a few years.

Cantillon Iris Grand Cru

Brewery: Brasserie Cantillon
Country: Belgium
ABV: 5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Unblended)

Brewer Description: Similar to Iris, but bottled before the dry hopping process and aged in the barrel for an additional year for a total of three years.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.04
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 375ml bottle at the brewery, brewed on 5th March 2013, bottled on 26th May 2016 and poured into a Cantillon tasting glass.
Appearance: It poured a clear copper orange colour with pretty much no head and sparse lacing.
Aroma: Funky, sour, grapefruit, lemon, leather and oak.
Taste: Funky, barnyard, sour, caramel, bitter melon bitterness, grapefruit, lemon and oak.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with no carbonation.
Overall: This was nice and easy to drink and I preferred it over the Bruocsella Grand Cru. I’ve yet to try Iris though, so can’t compare it to that yet.

cantillon iris grand cru 1