3F Oude Gueuze Vintage

Haha. I have seen it on shelves here, which is more than I can say for most of the good gueuzes. Although some 3F just hit, the timing couldn't be worse for me. I wish it had come a month later so I could buy a couple cases after I've moved...

 

Yeah that would be unfortunate. I really hope we won't have to order 3F gueuze from Europe...

 

I have an '07!

 

What would a 2007 3F Oude Geuze Vintage 750ml trade for? I'd be on the ISO side. Is it in the same ballpark as either a LP Kriek or Armand 4?

 

easily my favorite beer ever. i had the 02 along with millennium, blauw, don q, arm an 4 series, and i thought the only competition was the don q. the 02 was just stunning. the 05 and 08 were also super solid. the 08 was sold in 750's too, i stocked the fuck up on that.

also glad to hear others praise the St. Valentijn Cuvee, bought a few years ago, finally opened one this year and was blown away by it.

these dont trade often as their owners, like myself, want nothing else for them. they are near perfect, and age gracefully.

 

2006 OGV also had a batch of 750s with synthetic corks. I drainpoured one not too long ago.

 

IMO, not quite or individually, especially since most everybody with an 07 OGV will most likely have LP Kriek and Armands. I guess it also depends on which Armand. FWIW, I have one 07 left and wouldn't trade it singularly for either. MAYBE Lente. Opinions will certainly vary.

 

I'm sure this will get buried but I was recently told by a cafe owner in Belgium that 3F Vintage Geuze is the same exact product as regular. The only difference is that Armand holds back stock from a particular vintage and releases it later with a 'vintage' label (and of course higher pricetag)

 

That is correct. To my knowledge this is not a separate "brewer's reserve blend". Just bottles that Armand stockpiles. For example he told me he has about 500 bottles of Millennium sitting in his cellar.

 

I've heard that it is a special blend of the best barrels in addition to being brewery-aged. Not sure what to believe, though.

 

That is correct. Quote from another thread on the same topic:
They are different indeed - specially selected lambics, longer lagering etc. In fact the series started already in 1999, with the special red label with exclusive artwork. That was a kind of general repetition for the Millenium gueuze, although that one was done in collaboration with De Cam.

 

I heard that Armand discontinued the vintage. Does anyone know the official answer to this?

 

I have no official answer but he just released another batch of 2008 vintage last year.

 

How do people do this? As far as I can tell it doesn't come up on the usual suspects often, and when it does it's limited. I ask because I, too, would like to stock the fuck up on it. Hoping to get a bunch when I go over there.

 

BiaB was selling it earlier this year, i am guessing no limits. i bought 5 750ml bottles. price was like 25 euro per bottle

 

I heard it was sold brewery only, no limit. If you live in the area, so easy to get stocked up.

 

Longer.... lagering?

 

Yeah I guess so. Not exactly sure what they mean by that. Here's the thread: http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/3f-oude-geuze-vintage.35189/#post-440003

 

Huh. Didn't realize lambics got cold conditioned. Kind of assumed otherwise.

 

Technically lagering means 'to store' right? Maybe they meant that the bottles are stored at the brewery longer? Which we know to be true. Would that make sense in that context?