Beer Review: Don Quijote (2008 Vintage)

Reviewing the infamous Don Quijote from Brasserie Cantillon out of Belgium. This grape lambic was brewed exclusively for the Goblin Pub in Italy.

Score: 98

2008 vintage bottle served in an Iris balloon glass and enjoyed on 04/25/14. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: Pours a lovely pinkish-brownish-orange color with gorgeous fade towards the edges. No head off the pour. No lacing or retention. Real nice color, however. 4.5/5

Smell: Bold and distinctive Kedeem Kosher-for-Passover concord grape juice mixed with a lovely and bright tropical fruitiness and a light oakiness. Hint of vinegar too. I really dig the sour tropical fruit-spiked grape juice nose here. No funkiness. 5/5

Taste: Less complex and bold than the nose, but nonetheless tasty. Upfront is a relatively mellowed grape juice flavor that does not come across as sugary-sweet as it did in the aroma. Good tartness upfront too. Muted fruitiness towards the finish, with a lasting sourness. The grape flavor is somewhat crisp, with the linger being more of the lemon, hint of mango and mineral water character typical of Cantillon. This beer is quite lovely tasting, but the taste is not quite the fruity Kedeem grape juice bomb that the nose is. No real funk, save for a hint of such towards the finish. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel: Super juicy mouthfeel with a lightly dry finish. Lovely tartness that is not too subtle nor too intense, and a marvelously balanced acidity. 5/5

Overall: Supremely well-balanced and pleasantly fruity with minimal, if any, funk. This is one of the few whales out there that lives up to its mythos. While not cheap, it was certainly worth the once-in-a-lifetime tick. My only regret is that there was not more in the bottle to sip and savor.

Cost: $900 for a 375 ml bottle.