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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5.5
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5

Very dark brown. Brown head, creamy, not very stable. Nose of brown sugar and mocca. Taste is expressly liquorice and malt sugar, maybe again some mocca. Seems poorly attenuated. Watery mouthfeel, despite the malt. Aftertaste = liquorice. it is strange. Northern France is riddled with good bière de garde producers. The two topmost famous (Bénifontaine and la Choulette) brew piss-poor examples, yet everybody seems to swear by them.

Tried on 19 Mar 2003 at 14:26


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

A yellow beer with an OK head. The aroma is is sweet with a nice malt nose. The flavor is primarily sweet with not enough bitterness to balance it.

Tried on 13 Mar 2003 at 16:10


3.1
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 3 | Flavor - 3 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 2.5

I already knew the French were not very good in brewing, but this cannot be called an "abbey tripel". It's a disgrace for all those quality triples, which are available around the globe. This is definitely more like a cheap pilsener. Hoppy and a bit sweet. Watery. Like the Fischer, another example of a french masterpiece ;-)

Tried from Can on 06 Mar 2003 at 08:28


6.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

Golden color. Some malt, hop and cork in the nose (it's a 750ml bottle, corked). Sweet, good body strength, some malt, some cork. Not impressive.

Tried from Bottle on 16 Nov 2002 at 15:17


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

Blond, misty. Sweet aroma, honeyish, fruity (banana,...). Sweet, some malt, no character, poor hop.

Tried on 10 Nov 2002 at 06:39


4.2
Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 4

Organic is a good way to describe this beer. My bottle was slightly skunked but luckily it did not carry over to the taste. Cloudy yellow with a medium head. Earthy, crushed berry flavor that didn't do too much for me. Now I can say I have tried a French beer.

Tried from Bottle on 09 Jul 2002 at 07:16


5.9
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6.5

............................................................................

Tried on 14 May 2002 at 12:12


4.1
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 4 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 3.5

Too sweet and tastes a bit like cork.......................................

Tried on 06 Feb 2002 at 11:52


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

Dryish, yeasty biere de garde with a decent level of complexity. One of the better examples, lying between Jenlain Noel and Choulette Ambree on ye olde ale list.

Tried on 27 Nov 2001 at 23:45


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

Suprisingly bland...........................................................

Tried on 25 Nov 2000 at 22:35