Oude Gueuze Cuvée René
Brouwerij Lindemans

Oude Gueuze Cuvée RenéOude Gueuze Cuvée René
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From:
Brouwerij Lindemans
 
Belgium
Style:
Gueuze
Ranked #36
ABV:
6%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,052
Avg:
4.1 | pDev: 10.98%
Reviews:
962
Ratings:
2,274
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 20, 2024
Added:
Sep 18, 2002
Wants:
  141
Gots:
  345
Gueuze Cuvée René is one of the jewels of our brewery. With its golden colour, its sparkle and its beautiful sherry aromas, this is the queen of gueuzes.

This old gueuze is a blend of old and young lambic matured in large oak barrels called foudres. It is then bottled in a beautiful champagne bottle where a second fermentation takes place. After 6 months, the gueuze obtains a golden colour and is slightly carbonated and tart. But kept in a cellar for a few years, it becomes truly exceptional!

The use of a champagne bottle dates back to an uncertain time period when lambic brewers specialized in recovering empty bottles from great restaurants and other establishments where a lot of champagne was consumed. That is why we chose the most noble of bottles to hold our noblest beer.
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Ratings by weizenbob:
Photo of weizenbob
Reviewed by weizenbob from Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This 355 ml green bottle is foil wrapped, capped and corked. It was purchased at Siciliano's Market in Grand Rapids, MI for $7.19. The bottling code indicates that this was bottled in July 2010. The cork came off with a nice pop. It was poured into Lindeman's proprietary glassware.

As with every Lindeman's product I've ever purchased, this is a volatile brew. The pour, though careful, produced well over 50% head in the glass. The head begins to dissipate rapidly at first, but retention begins to stabilize a minute later. Lacing holds steady where the massive head had once been. A high degree of lively carbonation is seen through the glass. The beer is just a shade darker than yellow, with a nice soft wheaty look. It looks like a celebration

With such a lively amount of carbonation it comes as no surprise that this is fairly aromatic. Anyone who has sampled any Lindeman's product is familiar with this smell. Lactic sourness up front combines with some fruity, melon-like sweetness that is soft yet assertive on the nose. Wheat makes a solid appearance. It is a pleasant aroma that surpasses any of their fruit lambics, while adhering to the primary characteristics that are unique to this brewery.

This style of beer also produces an assortment of unique flavors. Tartness washes over the tongue like dry granny smith cider. Other fruity essences include melon and a tinge of banana. The acidic bite is similar to that of a raspberry and somewhat puckering to boot. Fruity as this is, it is very dry with no hop bitterness to be found. It finishes clean and leaves the palate completely neutral. It is very different from the norm, and quite remarkable.

The beer is light bodied; and though the extreme level of carbonation aides to give the body some additional lift, the rush of bubbles becomes mildly abrasive in the mouth. However, with such a dry, clean flavor and such a light body, this spontaneously fermented beauty is very refreshing. It is perhaps the most refreshing grain-based brew of them all.

Lindeman's Cuvee Rene' scores highly where it counts. It is easy on the eyes, a temptress in the nostrils, and a joy to imbibe. It is pretty easy drinking and is one of the most unique beers on the planet. The biggest negative going for this is the relative high cost, as $7.19 could grab 6-packs of other lesser, though solid, beers. Still, for the cost and style, I would much rather be ringing in a New Year with a flute of Cuvee Rene' than I would with sparkling wine. Cheers!

---

The Two-Schlitz Scale: (reference my profile for an explanation)
I give two Schlitz about this Belgian treat and standard bearer of the style.
Dec 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of kitch
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

4.17/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A 750ml gold foil covered and corked bottle, bottled on 14th April 2016. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen gueuze glass.

Appearance: A lightly hazy golden orange colour with a big two finger white head that had pretty good retention and left some nice lacing.

Aroma: Pear, green apple, apple peel, funky, damp wood, with notes of wood shavings.

Taste: Lightly sour, tart, lemon, fruit sweetness, apple peel, apple, pear, white wine grapes, funk, wet wood, with oaky notes.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall: Easy drinking and extremely quaffable.
Mar 20, 2024
 
Rated: 4.84 by Monty89

Mar 03, 2024
Photo of azi5757
Reviewed by azi5757 from Minnesota

3.42/5  rDev -16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I became interested after watching Michael Jackson’s “The Beer Hunter,” as I’m sure many others did. Very strange beer. Smell-wise, it smells like nail polish remover (I saw any review mention this), maybe with hints of dates, plums, or raisins. The taste is sour. I think I would need to drink it again to look past that and develop impressions beyond that. It was nice to try a true Old World beer made with wild yeast.
Mar 01, 2024
Photo of LampertLand
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Brouwerij Lindemans 'Cuvee Rene Oude Gueuze' @ 6.0% , 2021 blend served from a gold foil cap/corked 375 ml bottle
A-pour is light gold from the bottle to a hazy gold in the glass with a small size white head leaving a spotty lace along the teku glass
S-similar to a sherry upfront , lots of pear & apple in the background
T-true tart & refreshing lambic , very complex , acidic finish
MF-ok carbonation (fizzy) , medium body
Ov-I will buy and cellar this beer , it's that good
prost LampertLnd
Jan 20, 2024
Photo of Holistervildercamp
Reviewed by Holistervildercamp from Oklahoma

4.96/5  rDev +21%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
I think I had the 2018 version recently, a couple times. It definitely is better if you leave all the shit on the bottom. It's got as much shit in it as kombucha. So, let It settle, pop the top and enjoy a refreshing tart beer, that is overpriced. Someone who is familiar with the smell of nail polish remover may try to tell you that's what it smells like. Listen not. Accept nature's fickle funky odors and commerciality be damned!
Oct 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.84 by TheIPAHunter from California

Oct 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by shigg85 from Japan

Jul 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.7 by a_pal0 from Italy

Jun 11, 2023
Photo of C-Stockwell
Reviewed by C-Stockwell from Rhode Island

4.32/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2018 Blend.

L: opaque burnt orange with thick white head
S: orange cream, lemon, honey, and peach flower
T: tart, almost like a lemonade, grape juice, orange, and fruit candy
F: excellent carbonation

An interesting, tart beer. Probably would go well with a greasy but mild food like sausages. No alcohol bite.
May 15, 2023
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.66/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
750ml bottle into a tulip. 2015 vintage.

Looks quite nice, slightly hazy honey colored body with a small bright white head. Aroma and taste are lightly sour, and the the finish is a little off. Not as good as I hoped.
Apr 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.31 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Apr 20, 2023
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
2018 vintage

With this being considered “the only Lindemans beer that matters” and things of the sort, I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to get around to it. Not that it hasn’t been available, I’ve been seeing this one at my local shop for quite some time now, but it just wasn’t calling my name until yesterday. Now I’m excited, let’s get into it

Pours a slightly cloudy yellow gold with 3 fingers of soapy off white head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves nice lacing

I know this is a style that tends to have a musty vibe, but goddamn this one really just runs with that. I’m picking up on aromas of wet hay, petrichor, crabapple, sharp oak, lemon juice, crackery malt, white wine vinegar, light honey, white pepper, and leather

In taste it’s simultaneously mustier and funkier, just more intense in general. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting lemon juice, white wine vinegar, sharp oak, wet hay, leather, dried apricot, grass, wildflower honey, and crackery malt. The swallow brings notes of dried apricot, lemon zest, crabapple, wet hay, crackery malt, tannic white wine, white pepper, dry oak, and wildflower honey

A light medium body pairs with moderate carbonation, resulting in a crisp and puckering beer. Finishes absolutely bone dry with a tart and earthy balance

This isn’t nearly the best Gueuze I’ve had, but it has a certain charm to it. Quite cheap for the style and still nicely done. I may have to pick up a few more bottles to cellar
Mar 02, 2023
Photo of dacrza1
Reviewed by dacrza1 from New Jersey

4.06/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
DATE: February 25, 2023... OCCASION: celebrating Will's sixteenth birthday without him, as he continues to retreat at Antioch... GLASSWARE: Lindemans fluted pokal... pours a fizzing, lively orange amber body roiling with bubbles that build a creamy, third-of-a-finger snow-white head... its center sports a jacuzzi jet... pear and apple, metallic noble hops, ginger, garden herb, white grape, and heavy candied sugars... wow, this is tart! a buzzing, vibrating presence at the teeth that dives just as aggressively to the throat... medium-bodied, quite acidic, and warming--bigger than its 5.5% presence... its dryness late makes its pokal appropriate.... crisp apple and pear, white wine, rust, pepper, garden herb, and tart sugars--again, bigger than its body, a calling card of the lambic experience... this packs a bunch of flavors into each sip, with a staunch mouthfeel that lingers long after each sip... an enjoyable, complex beer that is a worthwhile, slow sipper whose ABV doesn't necessarily require that care...
Feb 26, 2023
Photo of LanceBiggums
Reviewed by LanceBiggums from Canada (AB)

3.43/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Well this was certainly something else. My first lambic I think. Pours apple juice yellow, with only half a finger of white head. Smell is dominated by funky yeast, with a bit of straw and pepper in the background. The taste likewise begins with that yeasty funk, and a very tart sourness, giving way to a distinct apple note. Being as tart and sour as it is, I can't say it goes down super smooth, but it does make you want to drink more. Overall an interesting beer but not one I would reach for regularly.
Jan 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by Shiredave from New York

Jul 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.38 by RoyalKaiju from Kentucky

May 15, 2022
Photo of skyballs
Reviewed by skyballs from Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Purchased several in Hancock, Michigan in 2002. Cellared for 20 years. I remember I tried one right away, I was very turned off by the musty smell and taste. Since then I have had many more wild and sour beers, so it's possible my taste has changed just as much as this oude gueuze. Popping the cork did not cause the bottle to erupt like I feared. Color is a deeper golden than I remember. The head is just as thick and long-standing as it was back then. Smells strongly of raw apple cider and wet hay with additional esters. Taste is similar, mostly right down the center of the tongue, but then the alcohol begins to warm the edges. I thought I'd had enough after one glass, but the lingering acid was so nice I went back for more, only to find that sitting open for half an hour might have improved it. If I could do it all over again I would.
May 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Jan 29, 2022
 
Rated: 4.11 by edthehead from Maryland

Dec 26, 2021
Oude Gueuze Cuvée René from Brouwerij Lindemans
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 2274 ratings