If Trois Pépins is normally the cider that presses all the right buttons for dryness and saltiness, Belle Brutale takes this to an entirely different level. On the first sip, the "brutale" part of the name is warranted. Its dryness and saltiness will catch you off-guard: they are jaw-dropping. But once past the element of surprise, you will notice Belle Brutale's incredible precision and clarity, and its beautiful texture. It lives in the world of sea water very subtly flavored with heirloom apples and citrus, of fino sherries, of the fresher, more acidic of the Cantillon bottlings, and beverages based on noble bitters. It is a VERY adult drink, a minimalist exercise on salinity that could have a place in a museum of modern art.