Castelain

Regional Brewery in Bénifontaine, Hauts-de-France, France 🇫🇷

Established in 1926

Contact
13 Rue Pasteur, Bénifontaine, 62410, France
Description
Since 1926, brewing has no longer been a matter of chance at Bénifontaine, but rather is an art which has been passed down from generation to generation. From microbrewery to family business, Castelain Brewery has had a loyal following thanks to its artisanal beers and its respect for tradition. Thoroughness, patience, authenticity: these have been the key words for Castelain bières de garde and seasonal beers since the creation of the brewery.

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6.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

65cl bottle from Auchan, Calais. Hey my 100th different French beer and there was me thinking it was all Kronenbourg and Export 33. Clear gold colour with thick white head. Spicey lemon aroma. Very drinkable blond beer in the mouth, bit of spice, oranges too. Bit soapy on aroma and in mouth. Very soft mouthfeel. Finish has some interesting orange fruit notes. Yes, for my 100 not a bad biere de garde. Spice and orange fruit over a soft lager style body.

Tried from Bottle on 28 Nov 2006 at 14:42


5.5
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Bottled as Tesco Finest thought the strength said 5% but I may be wrong on that point. This beer poured very cloudy and looked a golden/orange colour with moderate carbonation.Aroma was wheaty and a bit citrusy, taste was crisp, wheaty again some bananeyness ’if there’s such a word’ but not that impressive. I left some of this as I just got a bit fed up with it.

Tried from Bottle on 27 Nov 2006 at 01:50


5.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6.5

Very dark ruby/brown with a medium lasting offwhite head. Aromas of malt, caramel, molasses, and hay. Sweet with a balance of dark malt and hops bitterness. somewhat thin and watery.

Tried on 09 Nov 2006 at 12:56


6.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

(Bottle at La Gueuze, Paris, 15 Oct) Clear yellow colour with huge, firm, white head. Malty nose with fresh cereal aromas and grassy notes. Malty, clean and fresh taste with notes of tropical fruit, pineapple and grassy hops in the fairly dry finish. Refreshing and enjoyable.

Tried from Bottle on 25 Oct 2006 at 13:58


7
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

This is a very simple beer. It is a little bit sour, there is brett and lots of yeast. Some barnyard. The flavor is one dimensional and not as complex as the aroma. Cloudy orange and an impressive, thick and tall white head, with some sediment. Dry palate.

Tried on 05 Oct 2006 at 00:55


6.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Bottled. Golden colour, fluffy big white head. Aroma is sweet caramel, fruits, hops and cooked vegetables. Flavour is caramel, malts, hops and slight barnyardishness/earthyness. Dry and hayish aftertaste.

Tried from Bottle on 04 Oct 2006 at 08:15


6.3
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

[Bottled at Monk’s Café, Stockholm] Pale golden, fairly lively. Almondy yeast aroma dominates the nose. Medium sweet withclean but firm mouthfeel and medium body. Vague estery notes of raspberries, but although pretty good, as a whole it’s like a Bière de Garde light, less extrovert and with less appealing malt character than the top examples of the style.

Tried from Bottle on 19 Sep 2006 at 03:28


7.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

St. Amand label - best before 04-04-07. Pours bright autumnal orange into a tulip. Tan micro head with good retention and slight lacing. Deep malt aromas. Fizzy and full with a crisp, dry lasting alcohol finish.

Tried on 11 Sep 2006 at 16:27


5.9
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

75cl bottle from Auchan, Calais. Cloudy, pale gold/green colour with lasting white head. Wheat, lemon and soapy hop aroma. The soapiness is just a bit too dominant. It has all the makings of a good blanche, but just fails.

Tried from Bottle on 03 Jul 2006 at 07:25


5.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Pour is a nice hazy looking orange with a small white head. Aroma is musty and citrus. Flavor is a bit thin and papery. There are some lemon notes and some hops but they are barley noticable. Boring.

Tried on 17 Jun 2006 at 14:37