Oude Geuze Vintage
Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen

2019 vintage.

 

 

 

 

been wanting to track this one down for a really long time, finally its happening, with my brother to share no less! 2019 vintage, 6.8% abv, small format, real neat label not like any i have seen from these guys before i dont think, except the 1998 50th anniversary release, and in pictures, art on the front rather than words, and it peels back to an artist profile not written in english, way cool! the beer is splendid, as refined and masterful as any lambic blend ive ever known really, a little more color than expected, rusty pale orange but its absolutely immaculately clear all the way down to the bottom of the bottle, pristine and sparkling, sporting a full inch of snow white head airy and fizzing and popping, sort of a sunset tone to this not way off from the color of the label really, insane refinement. the nose is actually somewhat sweet and richly malty, mature too but in a way rarely encountered, woody but not heavy from it, grainy but not faded and old for how old this really is, even fairly light on the green glass character, hints of apricot, honey, and like peach blossom or something, faint toast, earthiness, sauternes, white balsamic vinegar, and neat and familiar wild lambic funkiness, striking, somewhat quick for being on the malty side as these go. the label says the weighted average of age for the blend is more than 52 months, and the bottle is old now too, but there is a brightness and even freshness of sorts to this that is totally unexpected, wow. the flavor is real compelling too, sweeter at first, a little slower to unfurl than most, delicate all things considered, again stone fruity to me up front with the subtle honey and toast of the grain, white and yellow florals, an almost oceanic minerality, and layers of white wine, graham cracker, and even mango come out. things like vanilla and cedar or sandalwood or something emerge as well, and the acidity rises and falls but never gets too sour at all, more and more funk as it sits, so light to drink it seems almost impossible. the carbonation is racing and beautiful and there is an airy ease about this thats difficult to communicate. as good as it gets really, and while i could make cases for more funky or fruit heavy blends from these guys to be my favorite, ive never known one this refined, not even close, and it scores off the charts as a result. a magically special little bottle, i hope to encounter more vintages of this in the future, this is way way up there with the legendary lambics!

 

Had this at 3 Fontaine in September 2019. Amazing beer.

2012 version. Super crushable. Great effervescent mouthfeel with the classic lambik sour funk that is not overpoweringly sour.

Look - great clear copper early in the bottle with great rimming
Smell - super funky woody stone fruit
Taste - same as the smell, not so funky but still tart with slight apple
Feel -medium body and a fizzy carb
Overall - fantastic

 

2016, 375 capped and caged poured into a HOTD tulip.

 

Vintage 2019 No 116-18/19
Solid amber orange color with no head.
Nice funky sour aroma with notes of horse sweat, grapefruit, Belgian old hops and faint malt.
Flavor with notes of lemon, white pepper, lactic acid, grapefruit, aged Belgian hops and dark berries. Dry sour long aftertaste.
Light to medium body with perfect carbonation of tiniest bubbles. Alcohol of 6.8% is completely absent.
Superbly balanced Oude Geuze with assertive grapefruit and aged Belgian hops notes.

2012 vintage, 37,5cl bottle with no label, at the brewery in the Lot neighborhood of Beersel just outside of Brussels on the S2 line. The aromas are not of this world. Like funky cheese and aged fruit and some serious old barn. Plus the subtle wood of the barrel comes through. Wow. The acidity and the way it puckers your cheeks. This is simply incredible. Aged perfectly.

 

375ml Bottle 2016 - pours a cloudy dirty orange with 1.5 finger foam head that dissipates to leave good lacing. On the nose it is incredibly complex with sour notes of vinegar/white wine, followed by fruitiness and funk & pepperiness. Taste wise, incredibly complex but follows the nose (you can understand why it's complex so!). Beautifully balanced nonetheless and an astonishing gueuze, definitely on of the best I've had, if not the best (and priced accordingly!).