3F Oude Gueuze Vintage

I did a trade for on in-person in Europe, it was part of a package deal but I didn't give up much.

I believe the idea is that these are bottles that Armand holds back and releases several years later, being aged. I'm not quite clear on whether it's just old Oude Geuze or a blend of different lambics. Here's a google translation of its page on 3F's website.

I happen to think that it's a delightful blend, I believe that I managed to have every vintage of vintage while in Belgium. Don't know what it goes for over here, but I'd probably be willing to trade for it what I'd be willing to trade for a Lou Pepe, but not quite what I'd trade for a Fou Foune. (So it's better than OG, but not THAT much better.)

Hope that helped.

 

Bottling sizes:
2002 & 2003 - 375's and 750's
2004, 2005, and 2008 - 375's only
2006 & 2007 - 750's only

Not distributed to the states. Selected by Armand, a "brewer's reserve" basically. Smaller batches. You can still find some 2007 and 2008 available for order from Belgium, i believe.

EDIT: And ya, as stupac2 mentioned, they are held back and cellared by 3F as well.

 

I bought mostly 375's, but the one I traded for was a 750.

(I looked it up, and that trade was a Beat and several American IPAs for some lambics, including the OGV. I doubt that's helpful, since that would never happen in the US and probably wouldn't even work on an international non-IP trade.)

Oh, and it's often available on the various European beer sites, whenever I've toyed with the idea of doing one of those an OGV or two ends up in my cart.

 

The big difference is the texture. One is smooth and placid, like lake water, the other is noticeably turgid and bog-like. This is immediately apparent at lower, B.E. Condensate like temperatures.

 

These were not intended to hit market so soon, and with such haphazardness (years such as 03' being released out of order/inconsistently), but around the time the thermostat incident occurred, Armand was met with the challenge of raising capital. I recall him saying many of these particular bottlings would've been held back much longer/indefinitely. To boot, Nightlights, the Felix de Boeck painting on the 02-05 'red label vintages' was not the first choice, but ultimately what Armand received permission to use. All that being said, the 02' 750cl is one of the best 3f gueuzes, along with the 07' St. Valentijn Cuvee, incidentally bottled the same day as Hommage. There are other standouts in the series, it's safe to say they're all worth seeking out.

 

You can read more about the difference here:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/ratebe...einen-oude-gueuze-vintage-question_123740.htm

Callmemickey keeps an accurate list of bottle date, size, label of each vintage here with the first sheet for OG and second for OGV:

http://tinyurl.com/DrieFonteinenGueuzeList

Overall, OGV have more citrusy, lemon rine note and funk than OG. People say they are in similar vein with Cantillon Classic Geuze but more balance and dept. I'd say 2002 takes the cake and then 2007 like gn0sis ^^^^^.

 

You know, I was going to say that I don't remember any of them being remarkable, then I realized I only had '03 (and forward). So I guess I'm ISO '02...

I told you! They're available in from European stores. If you want to trade for one put up an ISO and offer some stuff (I told you I'd offer what I'd offer for a Lou Pepe, that's a start, but I have no idea if it'd work).

I was going to offer to share mine if you're ever in CA, then I found out I drank it already. Oops. I need more 3F Geuze...

 

Got Blabaer?

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/iso-blabaer-mainly-ft-3f-vintage-oude-gueuze-2003.27478/

 

Beware of the year with the synthetic cork. May have been '08. That's probably the worst one and might even be flat.

 

Is anyone a fan of the 3F Schaerbeekse Kriek? Saw one at the store recently and was intrigued, but the price held me back at $40.

 

I thought it was tasty, but not discernibly different enough from the "regular" oude kriek to justify the price premium.

 

And if you are thinking of getting it for trade bait, don't.

A while ago we opened up the 2006 and 2007. 2007, imo, blew the 2006 out of the water.

 

I don't know why everyone dogs the 2006, I thought it was really good and it certainly wasn't flat.

 

I opened two of my 2006 a couple months ago. One was most certainly flat. The other bottle was perfectly carbonated. I don't remember if they had synthetic corks though. If they did, then they were probably a major pain to remove.

 

Not in the least bit surprised, but I didn't get a single hit on that one. So clearly it's not in the same ballpark.