I actually don’t find this a whole lot different from the younger ones. Maybe it’s me. I will do a side by side comparison when I open the other 2 bottles in a couple more years. I do think the intense citrus of this beer’s youth is giving way to a more dried-citrus, funk-dominant profile, more reminiscent of Girardin or Hannsens, while maintaining the Cantillon elegance (for gueuze, of course). With the slightly reduced role of fruit, I get more of a sense of what I can only call minerality. The first distinction is more clear on the nose than it is on the palate, the second is equally noticeable in each. Anyway, here’s my impression:
The nose shows a mixture of dried and fresh lemon with hints of similar grapefruit, chalk, steel, green apple, dusty earth, barnyard, a hint of puke (I hate to use this descriptor, but I can’t put it any other way), and some dried flower elements. The palate has slightly brighter, fresher fruit, but features all of the same elements, with high sourness and acidity. The flavor evolves nicely while maintaining good integration of flavors. I also get a little kick of lime somewhere in the midpalate. long finish
I love this beer young and I love it now maybe slightly more, but it does seem that it takes quite a while for it to evolve, unlike most other beers I’m familiar with. Anyway, it’s fun to try, and when I have more storage space I’ll probably hold on to a bunch to see what happens.
Does anyone else have experience aging these? Have you had any significantly older than this?
It does take some while for these beers to change considerably. I haven’t aged any Cantillon, but did put together a Drie Fonteinen vertical many months back. My notes from that event are here: Gueuze and Lambics - Beer and Spirits - WineBerserkers – look at Post #91 in that thread: we had the following vintages on taste that day: 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
A couple years ago, I had a 2001 Boon Mariage Parfait Gueuze, and it was significantly more mellow than a typical Gueuze when young.
I would expect a 2008 Gueuze to still show very young, as you experienced with your Cantillon.
I do remember reading your post with great interest. I guess my experience shouldn’t have surprised me. Even though I had read/heard similar views on the aging curves of these beers, I somehow had it in my head that this is, after all, beer, and 3+ years should have a significant effect. I guess I have to be more patient. As much as I enjoy these beers young, I don’t see myself ever hanging on to any significant quantities, but I will try to experience at least once or twice a more mature example.
Yeah, for whatever reason, it’s hard for me to get myself to age my beers. It really requires buying multiples. I think storing my beers at my off-site location will make things significantly easier for me, as many of my attempts to age beer have been ruined by a drunken evening at home with a particular friend of mine who has a beer tooth very similar to mine; having 'em out of the house simply makes it impossible to ruin ageing efforts on evenings like those.
Best brewery on the planet IMO. If you went there you’d be appalled where it is in Brussels, and that it makes Henri Bonneau’s cellar look like some Harlan’s cellar.