Now this is something different borne from a collaboration of sorts between the two oldest Brussels breweries – Cantillon and Brasserie De La Senne.
De La Senne is known as a quite traditional brewery, producing traditional Belgian styles; albeit with a bent toward generous hopping. Here they have tried to recreate a traditional 19th Century Belgian saison.
It was common then for saisons to be heavily hopped (for the preservative effect of the hops), and were often made with some local lambic mixed in. De La Senne have made this generously hopped saison, dry-hopped it as well and mixed it with some lambic from their Brussels neighbours, Cantillon. And then barrel aged it for 3 years for good measure.
The result is a truly interesting and quite delicious beer. The aroma is very much leaning to the lambic nature with that enticing green apple, leather and wood character, with the funky saison notes sitting below.
Tart, bitter and dry in the mouth, the flavours linger on the tongue and dance around the gums. Light but assertive, this beer is super refreshing, intriguing, full of character and just plain yum. Exactly as you’d expect from this duo.