Drie Fonteinen Golden Doesjel | Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen
Brewed by:
Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen
Belgium | website
Style: Gueuze
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.00%
Availability: Limited (brewed once)
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by beerpirates on 12-19-2013
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 34 | Ratings: 264
4.25/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 4/13/12. Poured into a stemmed HF glass.
Sat on this guy for a couple years, more out of laziness than any sort of connoisseur knowledge. So, I have no idea if this was the optimal age. Nonetheless, I'm enjoying the hell out of it. As advertised, there's almost no carbonation. It's deep golden amber and icy translucent. Smell is musty and funky, more earthy than cider. Golden Doesjel is fantastically smooth, with notes of grass, sourdough bread, lemon peel, and even a little ginger root. It's a spicy as it is funked up, and totally light on the tongue even without the effervescence. A real treat; wish I had more.
★ 629 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottled 4/13/12. Poured into a stemmed HF glass.
Sat on this guy for a couple years, more out of laziness than any sort of connoisseur knowledge. So, I have no idea if this was the optimal age. Nonetheless, I'm enjoying the hell out of it. As advertised, there's almost no carbonation. It's deep golden amber and icy translucent. Smell is musty and funky, more earthy than cider. Golden Doesjel is fantastically smooth, with notes of grass, sourdough bread, lemon peel, and even a little ginger root. It's a spicy as it is funked up, and totally light on the tongue even without the effervescence. A real treat; wish I had more.
★ 629 characters
4.58/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Talk about an interesting beer. I know with this style low carbonation is too be expected , but this had even less then low. Cork didnt even pop out when opened. Even with the lack of carb it was still very tasty. I love how its sour and funky at the same time. Not one style dominant , but every sip a bit different . These are the kinda beers that make me wanna homebrew something similar and let sit for awhile to see what comes out.
★ 436 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Talk about an interesting beer. I know with this style low carbonation is too be expected , but this had even less then low. Cork didnt even pop out when opened. Even with the lack of carb it was still very tasty. I love how its sour and funky at the same time. Not one style dominant , but every sip a bit different . These are the kinda beers that make me wanna homebrew something similar and let sit for awhile to see what comes out.
★ 436 characters
4.61/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Poured a gorgeous cloudy orange body with no head at all. Overall impression of appearance is of a very nice unblended lambic, as the brewery stated. Wonderful to look at as a result. Scents of sour funk with horse blanket, barnyard, lemon juice and light lactic aromas, fruit aromas are present at moderate levels and balance with the funk consisting of grapefruit, light apple, sour apple, sour cherry and white grape, further depth is added by light aromas of oak, honey, hay and vanilla. Overall impression of aroma is of a very complex, appealing sour, one with a depth of character brought by the perfect integration of its many aromas. Remarkable. Flavor begins sour with notes of sour funk, rather acidic, with a quality of lemon juice and fresh grapefruit, light apricot pit flavors and very light white grape are also present. Middle picks up in tartness as the grapefruit and apricot pit flavors grow more pronounced and are married with a light flavor of oak and medicinal hops. Finish is dry and rather sour with notes of tart veined cheese, grapefruit and lemon juice at medium-high levels, married to lesser notes of apricot pit and light levels of oak and medicinal hop bitterness. Aftertaste is sour and dry beginning with lemon juice and grapefruit before moving into a light bitterness with notes of oak and vanilla. Overall impression of flavor is of a rather sour Geuze, one reflecting the drier side of the style and without many of the fruit flavors seen in other examples. In spite of this, it blends the sour flavors on display wonderfully and keeps the beer from being simple. Mouthfeel is medium-light bodied with light carbonation and a moderate puckering quality throughout that is especially pronounced on the finish. Overall impression of mouthfeel is of an unblended lambic, refreshingly light and easy due to body and a lack of filling carbonation. Quite pleasant. Overall this is a fantastic Geuze. It showcases a great deal of complexity in both aroma and flavor that perplex the drinker, yet it is still easy to drink due to its light mouthfeel. A fine example of the style, even if it is not the most accessible.
★ 2,149 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Poured a gorgeous cloudy orange body with no head at all. Overall impression of appearance is of a very nice unblended lambic, as the brewery stated. Wonderful to look at as a result. Scents of sour funk with horse blanket, barnyard, lemon juice and light lactic aromas, fruit aromas are present at moderate levels and balance with the funk consisting of grapefruit, light apple, sour apple, sour cherry and white grape, further depth is added by light aromas of oak, honey, hay and vanilla. Overall impression of aroma is of a very complex, appealing sour, one with a depth of character brought by the perfect integration of its many aromas. Remarkable. Flavor begins sour with notes of sour funk, rather acidic, with a quality of lemon juice and fresh grapefruit, light apricot pit flavors and very light white grape are also present. Middle picks up in tartness as the grapefruit and apricot pit flavors grow more pronounced and are married with a light flavor of oak and medicinal hops. Finish is dry and rather sour with notes of tart veined cheese, grapefruit and lemon juice at medium-high levels, married to lesser notes of apricot pit and light levels of oak and medicinal hop bitterness. Aftertaste is sour and dry beginning with lemon juice and grapefruit before moving into a light bitterness with notes of oak and vanilla. Overall impression of flavor is of a rather sour Geuze, one reflecting the drier side of the style and without many of the fruit flavors seen in other examples. In spite of this, it blends the sour flavors on display wonderfully and keeps the beer from being simple. Mouthfeel is medium-light bodied with light carbonation and a moderate puckering quality throughout that is especially pronounced on the finish. Overall impression of mouthfeel is of an unblended lambic, refreshingly light and easy due to body and a lack of filling carbonation. Quite pleasant. Overall this is a fantastic Geuze. It showcases a great deal of complexity in both aroma and flavor that perplex the drinker, yet it is still easy to drink due to its light mouthfeel. A fine example of the style, even if it is not the most accessible.
★ 2,149 characters
3.84/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pour is golden amber with a small amount of tight white head. Nose is softer than some other 3F, light cob web, a touch of funk, tangerine and golden fruits. Everything seems a little soft and not as bright. Flavor is the same. A bit dusty, slightly malty, a touch sweet, tangerine behind, slightly sour. Lighter body, strong carb, dry finish. May need some time, just not as expressive as their other gueuze.
★ 415 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pour is golden amber with a small amount of tight white head. Nose is softer than some other 3F, light cob web, a touch of funk, tangerine and golden fruits. Everything seems a little soft and not as bright. Flavor is the same. A bit dusty, slightly malty, a touch sweet, tangerine behind, slightly sour. Lighter body, strong carb, dry finish. May need some time, just not as expressive as their other gueuze.
★ 415 characters
4.1/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a 375mL bottle into an oversized wine glass. 2013 bottle.
Not much head on this---as a matter of fact, none at all. Just an odd-shaped lace formed in the middle of the glass. Carbonation ripples upwards and sticks to the side of the glass. The beer looks cider-like, a tinge of amber altering the golden color that can be seen at the base of the glass. 4.25
It smells of tart cherries and apples. Vinous with a touch of sweet vanilla. 4.25
Starts off with a bit of peach or apricot taste before becoming vinous with a flavor like white wine. A burnt cherry flavor weaves in and out. The finish is an earthy funk. I find some nice flavor here, but the fruit doesn't have the pop that I want. It becomes less pronounced, unfortunately. 4
Tart and vinous, in case I hadn't mentioned either enough. A slight funk but it's tasteful and not overdone. The body is light and this drinks pretty refreshing, like a lemonade perhaps, but with a touch of maltiness mid-palate. 4.25
It's 3F so of course it's good, but it doesn't have the fruit flavors of the Golden Blend nor the delicate sweetness that brew had.
★ 1,112 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a 375mL bottle into an oversized wine glass. 2013 bottle.
Not much head on this---as a matter of fact, none at all. Just an odd-shaped lace formed in the middle of the glass. Carbonation ripples upwards and sticks to the side of the glass. The beer looks cider-like, a tinge of amber altering the golden color that can be seen at the base of the glass. 4.25
It smells of tart cherries and apples. Vinous with a touch of sweet vanilla. 4.25
Starts off with a bit of peach or apricot taste before becoming vinous with a flavor like white wine. A burnt cherry flavor weaves in and out. The finish is an earthy funk. I find some nice flavor here, but the fruit doesn't have the pop that I want. It becomes less pronounced, unfortunately. 4
Tart and vinous, in case I hadn't mentioned either enough. A slight funk but it's tasteful and not overdone. The body is light and this drinks pretty refreshing, like a lemonade perhaps, but with a touch of maltiness mid-palate. 4.25
It's 3F so of course it's good, but it doesn't have the fruit flavors of the Golden Blend nor the delicate sweetness that brew had.
★ 1,112 characters
4.25/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a golden straw color with only a very thin egg shell colored head that faded almost immediately into a med-thin collar without wisps. Poor lacing but fair legs. Aroma is lightly tart, grassy, oaky, with a white grape mustiness to it. Taste is identical to the aroma but with the elements in a different order with each sip. Medium body, nicely sticky, fairly effervescent and bright on the tongue.
★ 407 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a golden straw color with only a very thin egg shell colored head that faded almost immediately into a med-thin collar without wisps. Poor lacing but fair legs. Aroma is lightly tart, grassy, oaky, with a white grape mustiness to it. Taste is identical to the aroma but with the elements in a different order with each sip. Medium body, nicely sticky, fairly effervescent and bright on the tongue.
★ 407 characters
4.03/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
375ml caged and corked bottle - another offering from this brewery apparently back from the dead.
This beer pours a cloudy, medium tarnished apricot amber hue, with a very thin cap of purely bubbly dirty white 'head', which leaves absolutely nothing in the way of lace anywhere near the glass as it quickly blows off.
It smells of tart, indistinct fruity acetic acid (so, lemon then), funky barnyard yeast, bready, grainy pale malt, white cheese, musty old wooden boards, and leafy, wet hay-like hops. The taste is gritty, grainy pale malt, subdued lemon vinegar, a tepid earthy funkiness, moldy basement (this, I know), ethereal stale white cheese, a subtle soaked woodiness, and plain leafy, weedy hops.
The bubbles are unsurprisingly similar to the opening act - damned near nonexistent - the body on the light side of medium weight, and generally smooth, neither the acidity nor wood really in the mood to trifle, it would seem. It finishes just off-dry, the inherent fruitiness not so far gone to the tartness dark side that it can't still proffer a wee touch o' the suggah.
A fairly approachable version of the style, the sour, tart, and funky characters all kept within more than sensible ranges. That said, I'm now wishing for a bit more sassiness, that Gueuze edginess usually found in spades, but I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for that. Good for what it is, then, i.e. maybe a, heh, 'gateway' example.
★ 1,425 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
375ml caged and corked bottle - another offering from this brewery apparently back from the dead.
This beer pours a cloudy, medium tarnished apricot amber hue, with a very thin cap of purely bubbly dirty white 'head', which leaves absolutely nothing in the way of lace anywhere near the glass as it quickly blows off.
It smells of tart, indistinct fruity acetic acid (so, lemon then), funky barnyard yeast, bready, grainy pale malt, white cheese, musty old wooden boards, and leafy, wet hay-like hops. The taste is gritty, grainy pale malt, subdued lemon vinegar, a tepid earthy funkiness, moldy basement (this, I know), ethereal stale white cheese, a subtle soaked woodiness, and plain leafy, weedy hops.
The bubbles are unsurprisingly similar to the opening act - damned near nonexistent - the body on the light side of medium weight, and generally smooth, neither the acidity nor wood really in the mood to trifle, it would seem. It finishes just off-dry, the inherent fruitiness not so far gone to the tartness dark side that it can't still proffer a wee touch o' the suggah.
A fairly approachable version of the style, the sour, tart, and funky characters all kept within more than sensible ranges. That said, I'm now wishing for a bit more sassiness, that Gueuze edginess usually found in spades, but I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for that. Good for what it is, then, i.e. maybe a, heh, 'gateway' example.
★ 1,425 characters
4.1/5 rDev -2.1%
Has a golden- amber color, with almost no head.
Citrusy crispness, as well as a tart funkiness, both with almost the same intensity, define the first impression of the nose. The fruit aspect gets enhanced by aromas of young green apples, supported by flowery qualities and old, musty hops, as well as leathery malts and cheesy yeast.
Has almost no carbonation at all, which gives the citrus peel fruitiness a lot of space on the palate to unfold. This goes along with very earthy, bready malts, both blending into a short glance of toffeish sweetness, reminding me of a lemon bonbon, which then immediately gets washed away, to introduce an intense dryness to the palate. Lemon rind qualities shine in this dryness, while malts vanish to a minimun, in which they are barely recognizable any longer. Finishes still very sour, almost fruity, due to the juicy lemon flavor, which got a resinous dryness to it, gluing the outside of my teeth. Very refreshing, complex, sour and well balanced Gueuze.
★ 997 characters
Has a golden- amber color, with almost no head.
Citrusy crispness, as well as a tart funkiness, both with almost the same intensity, define the first impression of the nose. The fruit aspect gets enhanced by aromas of young green apples, supported by flowery qualities and old, musty hops, as well as leathery malts and cheesy yeast.
Has almost no carbonation at all, which gives the citrus peel fruitiness a lot of space on the palate to unfold. This goes along with very earthy, bready malts, both blending into a short glance of toffeish sweetness, reminding me of a lemon bonbon, which then immediately gets washed away, to introduce an intense dryness to the palate. Lemon rind qualities shine in this dryness, while malts vanish to a minimun, in which they are barely recognizable any longer. Finishes still very sour, almost fruity, due to the juicy lemon flavor, which got a resinous dryness to it, gluing the outside of my teeth. Very refreshing, complex, sour and well balanced Gueuze.
★ 997 characters
4.39/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle pour
Pours out with some slight fizz! Slight hints of white head stick around. The body is a golden orange.
The aroma is immensely deep. Layers of old musty funk pile up with fruity apricot and citrus notes.
A hint of carbonation is there but nothing of worth really. Musty, cheesy, apple, lemon, apricot, and ends dry.
Superb stuff as to be expected.
★ 363 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle pour
Pours out with some slight fizz! Slight hints of white head stick around. The body is a golden orange.
The aroma is immensely deep. Layers of old musty funk pile up with fruity apricot and citrus notes.
A hint of carbonation is there but nothing of worth really. Musty, cheesy, apple, lemon, apricot, and ends dry.
Superb stuff as to be expected.
★ 363 characters
4.31/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12.7 oz. bottle into a Peg's snifter glass.
A: No "pop" when removing the cork. Pours a clear bright gold, no head forms, and just a few stray orphan bubbles cling to the sides of the glass.
S: Barnyard funk, oak tannins, and tart. Some light apricot and lemon-fruity undertones as well.
T: Barnyard and musk, lactic tartness, and oak tannins add dryness on the back of the tongue. Lemony citric tart, some funk, hay, and light cheese with bits of apricot and pineapple. Finishes quite dry with some lingering tartness.
M: Light body and low alcohol presence. Low carbonation sensation though it doesn't come across as completely flat.
O: An interesting beer with such low carbonation. The tingly tart sensation does something to compensate for that missing part of the "standard" mouthfeel. The flavors are nicely complex and integrated. Tasty, and recommended.
★ 900 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12.7 oz. bottle into a Peg's snifter glass.
A: No "pop" when removing the cork. Pours a clear bright gold, no head forms, and just a few stray orphan bubbles cling to the sides of the glass.
S: Barnyard funk, oak tannins, and tart. Some light apricot and lemon-fruity undertones as well.
T: Barnyard and musk, lactic tartness, and oak tannins add dryness on the back of the tongue. Lemony citric tart, some funk, hay, and light cheese with bits of apricot and pineapple. Finishes quite dry with some lingering tartness.
M: Light body and low alcohol presence. Low carbonation sensation though it doesn't come across as completely flat.
O: An interesting beer with such low carbonation. The tingly tart sensation does something to compensate for that missing part of the "standard" mouthfeel. The flavors are nicely complex and integrated. Tasty, and recommended.
★ 900 characters
4.31/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
375ml bottled April 13th 2013, poured into a wine glass.
Appearance: Pours a dark golden color. Pours with no head save for a thin white ringlet that forms around the edge of the glass. Body is lightly hazy.
Smell: Barnyard funk, musty basement, lemon, hay, oak, mineral, green apple. Signature 3F funk, only turned up a notch.
Taste: Citrus, funk, slightly grassy, hay, mineral, mild cheesiness. Medium sourness.
Mouthfeel: Fairly light bodied and slick with very low carbonation (not flat though). Finishes dry.
Overall: Another great beer from 3F. Noticeably more funky and complex than regular 3F geuze and just the right amount of carbonation. Definitely worth picking up.
★ 682 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
375ml bottled April 13th 2013, poured into a wine glass.
Appearance: Pours a dark golden color. Pours with no head save for a thin white ringlet that forms around the edge of the glass. Body is lightly hazy.
Smell: Barnyard funk, musty basement, lemon, hay, oak, mineral, green apple. Signature 3F funk, only turned up a notch.
Taste: Citrus, funk, slightly grassy, hay, mineral, mild cheesiness. Medium sourness.
Mouthfeel: Fairly light bodied and slick with very low carbonation (not flat though). Finishes dry.
Overall: Another great beer from 3F. Noticeably more funky and complex than regular 3F geuze and just the right amount of carbonation. Definitely worth picking up.
★ 682 characters
4.44/5 rDev +6%
Pours a clear, copper color. 1/5 inch head of a white color. Slight retention and slight lacing. Smells of sour, hint of alcohol, hint of citrus, and a hint of tea. Fits the style of a Gueuze. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation. There is also a strong dryness. Tastes of sourness, slight sweet malt, hint of hop, hint of pale malt, and a hint of alcohol. Overall, average appearance and aroma, good feel and blend, great body and great lack of faux sweetness.
★ 491 characters
Pours a clear, copper color. 1/5 inch head of a white color. Slight retention and slight lacing. Smells of sour, hint of alcohol, hint of citrus, and a hint of tea. Fits the style of a Gueuze. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation. There is also a strong dryness. Tastes of sourness, slight sweet malt, hint of hop, hint of pale malt, and a hint of alcohol. Overall, average appearance and aroma, good feel and blend, great body and great lack of faux sweetness.
★ 491 characters
4.05/5 rDev -3.3%
This is another one of those brews I've been aching to find...I did with the help of Gillagorilla, thanks bruddah! Ok time to get my hands dirty. She pours a nice rich golden honey body with a small amount of head lacing. Looks ok, time for a smell. Very earthy and citric with faint dead leaf autumn crispness. Hints of acidity with some sweetness in the background. Now my favorite part, the taste. First hits of a very tame acidic sourness, that's has a welcoming wood backing. There is also a bitter-sweet finish that's dry as a bone. There is a lingering dead leaf in the aftertaste. The feel is light and smooth with a very mellow carbonation.
Overall: This is a very good brew that I would drink again. Nothing earth shattering yet not disgusting either. I liked it better than I thought I was going to. I can recommend this brew to anyone, it plays in the "safe" line on Gueuze style yet balanced. This brew is Recommended.
★ 933 characters
This is another one of those brews I've been aching to find...I did with the help of Gillagorilla, thanks bruddah! Ok time to get my hands dirty. She pours a nice rich golden honey body with a small amount of head lacing. Looks ok, time for a smell. Very earthy and citric with faint dead leaf autumn crispness. Hints of acidity with some sweetness in the background. Now my favorite part, the taste. First hits of a very tame acidic sourness, that's has a welcoming wood backing. There is also a bitter-sweet finish that's dry as a bone. There is a lingering dead leaf in the aftertaste. The feel is light and smooth with a very mellow carbonation.
Overall: This is a very good brew that I would drink again. Nothing earth shattering yet not disgusting either. I liked it better than I thought I was going to. I can recommend this brew to anyone, it plays in the "safe" line on Gueuze style yet balanced. This brew is Recommended.
★ 933 characters
4.1/5 rDev -2.1%
Corked and caged 375mL bottle from Total Wine (St Petersburg, FL). 19.99. Bottled 04/13/12. Served in a Barrel and Barley teku.
Pours an opaque orange gold with only a superfluous cap of bubbles. Remains flat with neither head nor lace.
Aromas of citrus, a fruity tartness, vinegar, musty and funky.
Tastes more sour than tart. Musty, earthy & funky with wet wood, hay, lemon, white grape skins, bark, old fruit and crumbly bread.
Flat and dry with a light feel. Dry oak and soured fruit aftertaste.
A dry, complex and all around enjoyable experience. Softly sour and very easy to drink. After this and their Oude Geuze, I'm Convinced that I need to try more of Drie Fonteinen's offerings.
★ 700 characters
Corked and caged 375mL bottle from Total Wine (St Petersburg, FL). 19.99. Bottled 04/13/12. Served in a Barrel and Barley teku.
Pours an opaque orange gold with only a superfluous cap of bubbles. Remains flat with neither head nor lace.
Aromas of citrus, a fruity tartness, vinegar, musty and funky.
Tastes more sour than tart. Musty, earthy & funky with wet wood, hay, lemon, white grape skins, bark, old fruit and crumbly bread.
Flat and dry with a light feel. Dry oak and soured fruit aftertaste.
A dry, complex and all around enjoyable experience. Softly sour and very easy to drink. After this and their Oude Geuze, I'm Convinced that I need to try more of Drie Fonteinen's offerings.
★ 700 characters
4.44/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Sampled from a 375ml bottle dated Apr 13, 2012 and purchased at High Spirits in Providence, RI. Split with my wife and sampled in our Bruges Beer Festival sampling glasses.
A - A beautiful golden hue with a slight haze. Minimal bubbles upon pouring but then no head or bubbles in sight.
S - Funk and lemon. Good complexity.
T - Tart but reserved. Blends nicely with the barnyard funk and fruity aspects. Excellent depth and complexity.
M - Silky and virtually no carbonation.
O - A fantastic and thought provoking beer.
★ 524 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Sampled from a 375ml bottle dated Apr 13, 2012 and purchased at High Spirits in Providence, RI. Split with my wife and sampled in our Bruges Beer Festival sampling glasses.
A - A beautiful golden hue with a slight haze. Minimal bubbles upon pouring but then no head or bubbles in sight.
S - Funk and lemon. Good complexity.
T - Tart but reserved. Blends nicely with the barnyard funk and fruity aspects. Excellent depth and complexity.
M - Silky and virtually no carbonation.
O - A fantastic and thought provoking beer.
★ 524 characters
4.47/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
375ml bottle into a 3F fountain tumbler.
A: Clear orange-amber body with a thin but noticeable off-white head. The fine foam disappears entirely after a minute or two, though. Not totally still, but definitely far from a typical Geuze.
S: Classic, magnificent 3F funk, with extra emphasis on wet oak and barnyard. Hay, grass, mushroom, and peach are also significant, with some relatively light citrus acidity behind it all. Perhaps not as bright and exciting as other offerings from Armand, but every bit as deep and rich.
T: Lemon and peach fruitiness up front, followed by mild bready malt and wave after wave of delicious funk. Wood, hay, earth, flint, and grapefruit tartness on the long, dry, complex finish. Sour but not really puckering. Delicious.
M: The carbonation is light but delightfully soft, and present in every sip. Far better than I was expecting for this particular beer.
O: Yet another tremendously enjoyable beer from my favorite Belgian beer-maker. I don't know if it's starting to wake up or if this is as carbonated as it will get, but right now it's at a delightful midpoint between the stillness of an unblended Lambic and the spritziness of a Geuze. I'll definitely pick up at least one more age for the long haul, but it's hard to justify one of these over two Oude Geuzes, enjoyable as it is.
Cheers!
★ 1,337 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
375ml bottle into a 3F fountain tumbler.
A: Clear orange-amber body with a thin but noticeable off-white head. The fine foam disappears entirely after a minute or two, though. Not totally still, but definitely far from a typical Geuze.
S: Classic, magnificent 3F funk, with extra emphasis on wet oak and barnyard. Hay, grass, mushroom, and peach are also significant, with some relatively light citrus acidity behind it all. Perhaps not as bright and exciting as other offerings from Armand, but every bit as deep and rich.
T: Lemon and peach fruitiness up front, followed by mild bready malt and wave after wave of delicious funk. Wood, hay, earth, flint, and grapefruit tartness on the long, dry, complex finish. Sour but not really puckering. Delicious.
M: The carbonation is light but delightfully soft, and present in every sip. Far better than I was expecting for this particular beer.
O: Yet another tremendously enjoyable beer from my favorite Belgian beer-maker. I don't know if it's starting to wake up or if this is as carbonated as it will get, but right now it's at a delightful midpoint between the stillness of an unblended Lambic and the spritziness of a Geuze. I'll definitely pick up at least one more age for the long haul, but it's hard to justify one of these over two Oude Geuzes, enjoyable as it is.
Cheers!
★ 1,337 characters
4.32/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle into 3F tumbler. Vintage 2013.
Pours flat, filtered apple cider appearance to the T.
Aroma is pleasantly fruity, funky, and bright like most 3F lambics. Clean citrus with key lime and loquat, apple peel, Camembert, and white grape juice.
Taste is also bright with citrus, light white wine, fresh pasture, and green apple. Not as complex as a lot of lambics can be, but what it lacks in that department makes up in juicy flavor. Very nice.
Mouthfeel is light with flat carbonation. Drinks much like a filtered apple juice would. The lack of carbonation seems to make this even easier to drink than a standard Gueuze.
Very nice straight lambic beer with bright flavors and crazy drinkability. Given the price of this, it's too damn drinkable. Crushed it quick. Though it's nice, I do prefer the carbonation of Gueuze. But that aside, it's a beautiful offering by Drie Fonteinen.
★ 892 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bottle into 3F tumbler. Vintage 2013.
Pours flat, filtered apple cider appearance to the T.
Aroma is pleasantly fruity, funky, and bright like most 3F lambics. Clean citrus with key lime and loquat, apple peel, Camembert, and white grape juice.
Taste is also bright with citrus, light white wine, fresh pasture, and green apple. Not as complex as a lot of lambics can be, but what it lacks in that department makes up in juicy flavor. Very nice.
Mouthfeel is light with flat carbonation. Drinks much like a filtered apple juice would. The lack of carbonation seems to make this even easier to drink than a standard Gueuze.
Very nice straight lambic beer with bright flavors and crazy drinkability. Given the price of this, it's too damn drinkable. Crushed it quick. Though it's nice, I do prefer the carbonation of Gueuze. But that aside, it's a beautiful offering by Drie Fonteinen.
★ 892 characters
4.28/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
375ml bottle sealed with C&C.
bottling date of APR 13, 2012.
poured into HF Wine Stem.
Appearance: Glowing orange bodied beer with a yellow huge. This beer is slightly opaque. Thin cap of white colored head resulting from a hard pour. No lacing on the glass. No head retention as the head dies out to a very thin ring on the perometer of the glass.
Smell: Moderate to high levels of acetic sourness in the nose. White wine and massive amounts of oak presence in this nose to match the intensity of the sourness. Lots of funk in this nose too. Its remenicent of Golden Blends funkiness. As soon as you smell it you know its that signature 3F funkiness. Barnyard mustiness and rotten hay with some horseblanket for good measure. Deep earthy and fruity brett aroma as well.
Taste: well that is a surprise. I was expecting a sour bomb based on the nose, but that is not the case at all. Mild tartness pairs with earthy brett and wet oak to start things off. Mild bitterness in the middle that I cant quite place. Moderate funk presence that translates in to the flavor just like the nose. It is full of barnyard mustiness and rotten hay with some horseblanket plus a hint of lacto cheesiness like plain greek yogert. Very earthy. Finishes with lemon, white wine, and a hint of apple cider vinegar. Fairly balanced flavors without anyone thing over powering other elements in the flavor profile with the exception of the level of funkiness in this beer. The funkiness seems to be the start of the show in my opinion. Nice and complex beer that is like a unblended lambic/gueuze hybrid.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with almost non existant carbonation levels. The beer feels watery and slippery (like what uncarbonated acid would feel like in your mouth), then it has a semi dry finish. I need this beer to have more carbonation for this gueuze to be great. Surprising drinkablilty.
Overall: In the battle of Golden Blend vs Golden Doesjel. Golden Blend is the definately the better gueuze by far. Another quality gueuze by 3F. This is honestly like a flat version of Golden Blend. Golden Doesjel also reminds me more of an unblended lambic than a Gueuze. Still a treat to try another 3F beer!
★ 2,198 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
375ml bottle sealed with C&C.
bottling date of APR 13, 2012.
poured into HF Wine Stem.
Appearance: Glowing orange bodied beer with a yellow huge. This beer is slightly opaque. Thin cap of white colored head resulting from a hard pour. No lacing on the glass. No head retention as the head dies out to a very thin ring on the perometer of the glass.
Smell: Moderate to high levels of acetic sourness in the nose. White wine and massive amounts of oak presence in this nose to match the intensity of the sourness. Lots of funk in this nose too. Its remenicent of Golden Blends funkiness. As soon as you smell it you know its that signature 3F funkiness. Barnyard mustiness and rotten hay with some horseblanket for good measure. Deep earthy and fruity brett aroma as well.
Taste: well that is a surprise. I was expecting a sour bomb based on the nose, but that is not the case at all. Mild tartness pairs with earthy brett and wet oak to start things off. Mild bitterness in the middle that I cant quite place. Moderate funk presence that translates in to the flavor just like the nose. It is full of barnyard mustiness and rotten hay with some horseblanket plus a hint of lacto cheesiness like plain greek yogert. Very earthy. Finishes with lemon, white wine, and a hint of apple cider vinegar. Fairly balanced flavors without anyone thing over powering other elements in the flavor profile with the exception of the level of funkiness in this beer. The funkiness seems to be the start of the show in my opinion. Nice and complex beer that is like a unblended lambic/gueuze hybrid.
Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with almost non existant carbonation levels. The beer feels watery and slippery (like what uncarbonated acid would feel like in your mouth), then it has a semi dry finish. I need this beer to have more carbonation for this gueuze to be great. Surprising drinkablilty.
Overall: In the battle of Golden Blend vs Golden Doesjel. Golden Blend is the definately the better gueuze by far. Another quality gueuze by 3F. This is honestly like a flat version of Golden Blend. Golden Doesjel also reminds me more of an unblended lambic than a Gueuze. Still a treat to try another 3F beer!
★ 2,198 characters
4.68/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours golden, light amber with a faint white head that fizzles away immediately. Despite the name and description, I wonder if it sat long enough, it would eventually carbonate. The bottle is already two years old though. The beer has some "legs."
Tart lactic acid, barnyard, hay, some oak, and just a hint of acetic acid in the aroma. Very balanced. Nothing is overpowering. The brett character is present, but not over the top.
Tart upfront followed by earthy brett character. There are remnants of unfermented malt character as well, though just barely. Only enough that it just adds more complexity to the beer. Still an impressively dry beer. Oak tannins and some residual bitterness round out the flavor.
Just a drop of carbonation. Slick mouthfeel, but not heavy at all. Despite the no carbonation, the flavor fills the mouth quite nicely.
Even though this beer is essentially a mistake, it's still quite amazing. Every sip brings out different flavors.
★ 964 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours golden, light amber with a faint white head that fizzles away immediately. Despite the name and description, I wonder if it sat long enough, it would eventually carbonate. The bottle is already two years old though. The beer has some "legs."
Tart lactic acid, barnyard, hay, some oak, and just a hint of acetic acid in the aroma. Very balanced. Nothing is overpowering. The brett character is present, but not over the top.
Tart upfront followed by earthy brett character. There are remnants of unfermented malt character as well, though just barely. Only enough that it just adds more complexity to the beer. Still an impressively dry beer. Oak tannins and some residual bitterness round out the flavor.
Just a drop of carbonation. Slick mouthfeel, but not heavy at all. Despite the no carbonation, the flavor fills the mouth quite nicely.
Even though this beer is essentially a mistake, it's still quite amazing. Every sip brings out different flavors.
★ 964 characters
4.04/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Rich golden color with a noticeable copper tint. No head when poured. Nice rich aroma that is slightly sweet and a strong sour finish. Taste matches the smell. Starts slightly sweet, then progresses to lemon/lime with a nice tart finish at the back of your tongue. Nice sour beer to sip and enjoy slowly. Body is medium to heavy; slightly syrupy and relatively flat; makes your mouth pucker a little bit. Overall I enjoyed this beer; I would like to drink it again yet it did not have a "wow" factor for me. It was almost wine-like in some regards; more of something to drink slowly and enjoy rather than a beer to drink a few back-to-back like at a BBQ or sports event. Would pair well with a meal, but not with Italian red sauce.
★ 731 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Rich golden color with a noticeable copper tint. No head when poured. Nice rich aroma that is slightly sweet and a strong sour finish. Taste matches the smell. Starts slightly sweet, then progresses to lemon/lime with a nice tart finish at the back of your tongue. Nice sour beer to sip and enjoy slowly. Body is medium to heavy; slightly syrupy and relatively flat; makes your mouth pucker a little bit. Overall I enjoyed this beer; I would like to drink it again yet it did not have a "wow" factor for me. It was almost wine-like in some regards; more of something to drink slowly and enjoy rather than a beer to drink a few back-to-back like at a BBQ or sports event. Would pair well with a meal, but not with Italian red sauce.
★ 731 characters
4.29/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
375ml corked and caged bottle poured into a HF stemmed wine glass. Bottled 4/13/12 (just over two years ago).
A- Cork pops off with just a light hiss. Pours a clear yellowish golden color with a faint white head that quickly recedes to a thin color, fairly minimal carbonation but definitely not completely flat. Nice glowing complexity as it sits in the glass.
S- Light lemons, typical 3F funk with a bit of mustiness, pepper, and balanced oak in the background. Vibrant, complex, definitely on the funky side but nicely balanced.
T- Lemon juice that isn't overly acidic, faint touch of pepper, a bit of mustiness, slight cheesiness, finishes with a bit more pronounced funky pepper that is nicely balanced. This is an awesome gueuze with typical 3F funk that is vibrant but still nicely balanced without being too acidic.
M- Medium bodied, low carbonation but doesn't take away anything from the beer- if anything fits the beer nicely, very drinkable without being overly dry or acidic like some beers of the style.
O- This is an awesome gueuze that is extremely underrated (riding at barely above a 4 right now) and among the best in 3F's lineup in my opinion. I finished the 375ml bottle no problem and was already craving more. My only knock on this beer is that it is on the expensive side, going upwards of $26/bottle. Definitely worth it in my opinion though.
★ 1,373 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
375ml corked and caged bottle poured into a HF stemmed wine glass. Bottled 4/13/12 (just over two years ago).
A- Cork pops off with just a light hiss. Pours a clear yellowish golden color with a faint white head that quickly recedes to a thin color, fairly minimal carbonation but definitely not completely flat. Nice glowing complexity as it sits in the glass.
S- Light lemons, typical 3F funk with a bit of mustiness, pepper, and balanced oak in the background. Vibrant, complex, definitely on the funky side but nicely balanced.
T- Lemon juice that isn't overly acidic, faint touch of pepper, a bit of mustiness, slight cheesiness, finishes with a bit more pronounced funky pepper that is nicely balanced. This is an awesome gueuze with typical 3F funk that is vibrant but still nicely balanced without being too acidic.
M- Medium bodied, low carbonation but doesn't take away anything from the beer- if anything fits the beer nicely, very drinkable without being overly dry or acidic like some beers of the style.
O- This is an awesome gueuze that is extremely underrated (riding at barely above a 4 right now) and among the best in 3F's lineup in my opinion. I finished the 375ml bottle no problem and was already craving more. My only knock on this beer is that it is on the expensive side, going upwards of $26/bottle. Definitely worth it in my opinion though.
★ 1,373 characters
3.81/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A - Golden blond with hardly any head.
S - Faint funk with a little lime tartness.
T - Curdled milk. Tastes 'off'. A little of the citrus carries over.
M - Very flat and surprisingly syrupy.
O - Not a huge fan. It's flat, oily, medicinal and tastes like spoiled dairy.
★ 272 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A - Golden blond with hardly any head.
S - Faint funk with a little lime tartness.
T - Curdled milk. Tastes 'off'. A little of the citrus carries over.
M - Very flat and surprisingly syrupy.
O - Not a huge fan. It's flat, oily, medicinal and tastes like spoiled dairy.
★ 272 characters
4.01/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
another well made blended lambic beer. this one is as old as four years, and had some issue with carbonation apparently. its really not that flat, and not that different from other lambic types in terms of mouthfeel. acidity is high, and there is a ton of oak on this, more than usual, giving it a woody and semisweet finish, despite enormous levels of lactic acidity. a little copper hazy to the golden almost still beer. funk and sour both are present, hayloft wildness and hefty wheat malt go back and forth. when i hold this in my mouth i get an acidic tickle right on the center of my tongue, which essentially takes the place of the carbonation, so i think a critique on mouthfeel grounds is unfair here. my critique is hat for the price (over 20 bucks), its just not that different, or frankly better than any of the others. i can get a 750ml of other gueuze for less money than this little guy, and while i appreciate it, the wow factor is missing for me, and i expect it at this price. very lactic sourness and a longer finish for the style. i like all the oak, and the age really makes it dynamic, but it still to me blends in with the crowd (albeit a small crowd) of fine gueuzes.
★ 1,191 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
another well made blended lambic beer. this one is as old as four years, and had some issue with carbonation apparently. its really not that flat, and not that different from other lambic types in terms of mouthfeel. acidity is high, and there is a ton of oak on this, more than usual, giving it a woody and semisweet finish, despite enormous levels of lactic acidity. a little copper hazy to the golden almost still beer. funk and sour both are present, hayloft wildness and hefty wheat malt go back and forth. when i hold this in my mouth i get an acidic tickle right on the center of my tongue, which essentially takes the place of the carbonation, so i think a critique on mouthfeel grounds is unfair here. my critique is hat for the price (over 20 bucks), its just not that different, or frankly better than any of the others. i can get a 750ml of other gueuze for less money than this little guy, and while i appreciate it, the wow factor is missing for me, and i expect it at this price. very lactic sourness and a longer finish for the style. i like all the oak, and the age really makes it dynamic, but it still to me blends in with the crowd (albeit a small crowd) of fine gueuzes.
★ 1,191 characters
3.87/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
bottled 4/13/12
The beer pours a flat, dull looking golden amber with a no sediment, little head, and loose carbonation clinging to the bottom of the glass. The nose has a wheaty sweetness and citrus fruit tartness bathed in funk and skunk. It's surprisingly sweet, possibly due to the fermentation snooze, but still has the gueuze flavors I'd expect - a washing of funk upfront, citrusy tartness, and lingering grain in the finish. The mouthfeel is flat, but not syrupy, old and funky feeling (not nearly as tart/dry as I'd expected), pronounced grain flavor and a slightly lingering bitterness in the finish. This beer is not superior to 3F's standard gueuze, yet double the price. I can't see myself investing additional time/money in this beer.
★ 748 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
bottled 4/13/12
The beer pours a flat, dull looking golden amber with a no sediment, little head, and loose carbonation clinging to the bottom of the glass. The nose has a wheaty sweetness and citrus fruit tartness bathed in funk and skunk. It's surprisingly sweet, possibly due to the fermentation snooze, but still has the gueuze flavors I'd expect - a washing of funk upfront, citrusy tartness, and lingering grain in the finish. The mouthfeel is flat, but not syrupy, old and funky feeling (not nearly as tart/dry as I'd expected), pronounced grain flavor and a slightly lingering bitterness in the finish. This beer is not superior to 3F's standard gueuze, yet double the price. I can't see myself investing additional time/money in this beer.
★ 748 characters
Drie Fonteinen Golden Doesjel from Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen
4.19
out of 5
based on 264 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Orange hued golden color. No head of course.
Funky. Nice barnyard flavor. Not very sour or tart. Very little acidity. Some lemon and fruitiness. Cobweb and basement musk.
Light bodied. Flat. Ends clean.
Very nice beer. Interesting because it's stoll
★ 252 characters