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

Dark amber with a shortlived head. Honey aroma, with some hay and alcohol. Quite bitter flavour with a long finish.

Tried on 17 May 2004 at 12:53


3.6
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3.5

Bottled. Golden colour. Sweet and raw, fruity and buttery. Rounded mouthfeel. Perhaps the worst example there is of the style.

Tried from Bottle on 17 May 2004 at 10:27


4.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5

Bottled. Dark brown. Sweet and lightly roasty, fruity, raw and sugary. Some grassy bitterness in the end.

Tried from Bottle on 17 May 2004 at 10:26


5.2
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5

On draught (pression) at Falstaff in Paris. Clear orange color with light bubbles and a medium thin off-white head. Very thin lacing. The aroma is mildly malty and hoppy. Rather thin body with an blandly sour malt flavor coupled with sweet caramel and yeast. The finish comes up a little short, making for a misfire as far as this beer is concerned.

Tried on 13 Apr 2004 at 14:17


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

Clear-golden; big bubbles to slim white rim. Cookies, crystal malts and white candi sugar in the nose. Taste is again quite malty, this time with both honeyish notes, as well as faint grassy hops. Definitely honey retronasal. Rather light palate and mouthfeel. Undercarbonated. I hate these new-style bottles. I wonder if the low carb is a result. To me, Br. Castelain is the North-French equivalent of Br. D'Achouffe here. Became too big and too preofessional to do anything technically wrong, and too big to do anything brilliant. And this is not a real Bière de Garde character anymore.

Tried from Can on 30 Dec 2003 at 14:33


5.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Bottled, 0.7 liter, BB '97 (>8 years old). Very dark red-brown color, small head. Aroma is very weak, some malts and alcohol. Taste is a bit stronger, definitely port-like, strong fruity and a bit alcoholic. Sirupy texture.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Dec 2003 at 04:51


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

Bottled, 0.7 liter, BB '97 (> 8 years old). Hazy orange coloured, small but lasting head. Aroma is obviously aged, cork wood, port, a bit cinnamon, some hops. More watery taste, some sweetness.

Tried from Bottle on 24 Dec 2003 at 04:48


5.4
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5.5

Honeyish malt aroma. Golden, champagne bubbles, lowish head. Light flavor, honey malt base,slight fruity overtones. Yeast finish. Lightbody, fizzy mouthfeel. Refreshing,but not really special.

Tried on 31 Oct 2003 at 13:44


5.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6

Brown colur, rich head. Malty aroma with notes of cork. Sweet flavour with a touch of liquorice and anise.

Tried on 04 Oct 2003 at 13:54


4.6
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4.5

Dark amber color, big head. Light aroma of roasted malt and paper. Too simple taste, vegetable, very light roasted barley and caramel. Too simple palate.

Tried on 18 Sep 2003 at 05:37