Cuvée René...thoughts?

Cuvee Rene always tastes like and gives me a bad case of acid reflux. For the record I'm able to enjoy the shit out of Cantillon Classic with no problems.

 

I'm not a huge sour fan, but Gueuze tends to be doable most of the time. I thought Cuvee Rene was quite good, though a bit less sour than others. A great beginner Gueuze, for sure. Someone spoiled on Cantillon may not be able to appreciate it as much, but for the price and quality of what it really is, you really can't go wrong if you're looking for Gueuze and still want to pay the bills this month.

Cheers

 

I think of it as a good starter sour. A fair price and a good taste, but not something I feel compelled to buy.

As far as "easy to find" lambics go, I'd rather spend that amount on a 375 of Girardin Black Label.

 

I think it is very good. Very underrated. It is not as cool to like as Cantillon. Some people automatically think it is crap because it is Lindemans. Only Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze is worth paying twice the price for.

 

It's delicious.

 

I always suggest the cuvée Rene as a introductory to sour beers if someone wants to try the style. Always available , the price is fair and its good. I also like to use it to have people compare it to the kriek and other fruit blends to show some of the different styles of sour beer.

 

Didn't read previous replies or even the OP. Here's my thought. Best gueuze for the money. Delicious, tart, funky, bracing, dry, clean, lingering goodness. Good as The Big Guys? No. Half the price of some, but much more than half as good? Yes.

 

you can get Tilquin for $9.99 per 375? I hate you!

 

I think Rene is perfectly drinkable. It is a little rougher around the edges than some of the better gueuze, and not as complex, but not a bad beer by any stretch.

 

I'm a fan, and IMO for the price it is tough to beat.

 

We don't get many sours in Texas, but we do get Cuvee Rene. I would agree with many of the above posters that it is a good starter gueuze. As far as easily available gueuzes, I would go with Black Label over it. However, since we don't get Black Label in Texas, my go to gueuze (when it is in stock) is the Timmemans Oude Gueuze (formerly the Limited Edition Anniversary Gueuze). I know Timmermans makes terrible fruit sours, but the gueuze is awesome.

 

I really enjoy Cuvee Rene. And since it's pretty much the only gueuze I can find in my local shops, it's perfect for the sour fix @ $7/375ml. I could find Tilquin but it's twice the price and a 30 minute drive.

 

Wow, lots of people talking about it being a good intro course/starter/beginner beer. . .

Here's the deal. It is a good intro course. It's also a good upper level course.

Phase 1: Take the plunge and try your first gueuze.
Phase 2: Take the plunge and spend shit ton of $$$ on others, both in trades, shipping, searching etc. . .
Phase 3: Go back to phase 1, realizing its the best in terms of price/value ratio.

 

It's not as polished as 3F or Cantillon, but for the availability (and usual price - $9 where I am), it's a winner.

 

Always smells atrocious always ends up tasting alright.

 

it rules and i hope it never becomes hard to find