Oude Geuze Cuvée Armand & Gaston
Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen

 

(12.7 oz bottle, 6.9% abv, bottling date 26 JUN 18; purchased single off shelf at Benash today... poured into a Sapwood-branded wine glass almost identical to the stemmed vessels shown on 3Fonts website)

L: cloudy, amber liquid; persistent razor collar, but little foam upon pour.. looks like puddle piddle

S: classic, wet, glassy-grassy aromas... damp earth, spidery spice (must and mist)... just textbook, but missing some chlorophyllic zip

T: leathery-malty, funk-drenched, pizza-crusty (herbal, baked, earthy)... musty lemon pants persists... too booming bold on all fronts... arresting mound muncher, wow!... hints of sherry in the aftertaste; building, mounting... faint acv dank, but not zippy acidic

F: sloppy smooth, slightly sizzly... thick slide with some sultry heat... not the levity I crave with a gueuze, but it'd fit nicely with light, greasy meats or seafoods

O: a lot of dirty, brash, antique slosh... it holds up too well after 5 years here, but it shows subtle signs of becoming a relic raunch... I'd get bottles of this now at this age and price --- DO IT!!! (2238)

 

 

 

The beer pours a very bubbly white head that dissipates very quickly. The beer itself is a clear brownish orange color that looks nice.

The smell is very good. It has an orange note upfront with a bit of funk and oak underneath it.

The taste is delicious. It has a strong orange note with a light funk and light toffee finish. There is a light oak note to it.

The feel is very good. The beer has a light body to it but a good texture so that it doesn't feel thin. It has a tingling
sensation. The acidity is really nice. It's very similar to that of orange juice; not taxing for the average person.

Overall, a fantastic gueuze that's perfect for the hot weather to drink or to have something during the day. It isn't overly taxing on the palate.

 

 

Blend no. 77, season 17|18, bottled 21 sep 18 (based on the "best before" date, this is 2018-09-21), corked and caged 750ml bottle.

Clear golden orange, fizzy low head. Smells funky and bright, dirt floor plus flower. Tastes, wow, so much going on. Crisp acidity plus funk, some overripe fruit flavors, coming in waves. Feel is outstanding - light and tingly but lasting on the tongue. Really good stuff.

 

 

 

 

375 ml bottle - Season 17/18 Blend No. 80

poured a slightly cloudy orange golden in color, with off-white colored head. pretty good head retention. aroma and flavor a nice blend of sharp fruity tartness and dry oak tannins and a little funk. nice complexity. medium bodied, average carbonation.

Bottled in 2018, drank from a Teku glass. A most excellent Geuze. Complex flavors, with a hint of clove and some good sourness (but not too much). Very drinkable and refreshing despite its great body and complexity. I will try to find another bottle and let it age longer.

 

Blend No 57 - season 16|17 - wort from 9 different brews, aged in 8 different barrels - bottled November 14th 2017 - enjoyed on December 31, 2022. Poured from a caged-and-corked 750mL bottle into my Drie de Fonteinen tumbler.

Not quite clear amber body with an active champagne fist receding to a small fine cap. Vague, sloppy lacing; no legs. Very good retention.

Subtle yet complex aroma - herbaceous and floral with a delicate funk bringing to mind superior washed rind cheese.

Palate entry brings to mind alfalfa fields, sorrel, and salty sea breezes. Tart but not bracingly so. Low earthy bitterness comes and goes. Goat milk, lanolin, crisp malt, and raw nuts. Finishes dry with earth, minerality, umami, and a hint of funk.

Medium-light bodied, well carbonated, nearly refreshing, but still soft.

Hard to find a more authentic example of the style - rich, complex, rustic yet refined. Reasonable value given the time and labor involved. A good candidate for aging indefinitely.