Symbiose
Boerenerf

A 750ml corked and capped bottle, 2021 vintage, with a best before date of 23rd January 2027. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.

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

Aroma: Sweet, honey, green apple, apple cider, musty, funk, with a splash of lemon.

Taste: Moderately sweet, honey, green apple, apple cider, sweet and sour, candied lemon, woody, with light funky notes.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with fizzy moderate to high carbonation.

Overall: First time trying a lambic, cider and mead blend, and I think it works quite well, with an interesting sweet and sour feeling. The only thing I’d say with the 2021 blend, was that the carbonation was perhaps a bit too much.

2022 vintage, picked up at a heady craft shop in reno, didnt know this stuff was being imported, just my second from these guys, and i am still a little confused about what exactly it is, but i believe it is a blend of lambic, cider, and mead, perhaps fermented separately and then assembled, listed on my bottle at 8% abv, really interesting stuff, it could also be lambic with apples and honey in it, but i suspect the former, this is very cider-esque to me, has nice tartness, even grittiness and tang, green apple character for sure, but champagne and lambic elements too, and the honey is floral and springy and even though this is dry, its a flavor leader too. real pale blonde and unassuming, some sediment towards the bottom, fizzy and well charged but not holding much head in my glass after a few minutes. the nose on this is musty and old, some green glass character too, bright tangy apple freshening it though, real soft wheat and earthiness, a little less fermentation driven than expected, but also slightly more acidic too it seems, less wood and funk, subtle green olive, green tea, and meadow flowers. the flavor is similar, apple before grain, honey mostly late, some alcohol as it warms, bacterial more than bretty but it does have some obvious rustic wild yeast in play. it comes together well, hints at summery white wine, radiant mead, and funky farmhouse cider, the lambic part is somewhat understated to me here, but i like it being delicate too, and this ends up a rather distinctive drink, even if quite a bit different than i was expecting. fun and different, i hope to see more from these guys around in the states! uncommon and delicious.

Pale yellow blending into golden orange, with a billowing head of foam. Spotty lacing all around the glass, and lasting foam for the duration of the glass.

Aroma was musty at first, but cleared up quickly. Stonefruit and almonds, light brie rind cheese funk.

Kumquat, white grape, apple flavors. Tart but restrained, not sour. Light peach pit and floral notes, bitter tannin in the dry aftertaste.

Over time it opened up more, becoming even more unique with attributes from the lambic, cider, and mead blend. Ample carbonation, medium bodied. Really good stuff, a carefully considered and unique blend.