Oude Geuze - Cellaring Best Practices

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by oldmankoch, Nov 3, 2019.

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  1. oldmankoch

    oldmankoch Maven (1,299) Jan 1, 2014 Utah

    Hello All,

    I've recently been able to procure my first few bottles of 3 Fonteinen and am curious of what everyone's typical practices are for their Oude Geuze beers. Do you drink right away; or, try and practice some self restraint and age them for a bit. If you do age, what have you found to be the best length of time (my lot was bottled September '18)?

    Thanks for you guidance!
     
  2. JamFuel

    JamFuel Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,284) Mar 26, 2009 Sweden
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    I tend to try to drink a bottle fresh, take notes and then save bottles, trying one yearly, continuing the notes, to see what happens to the beer. To me, gueuzes are the beers that change the most, especially the Oude ones. Most mellow out and get more complex with age. I also think different ones peak at different times. The best Cantillon I’ve had was about five old, while 3 F hits the sweet spot a bit sooner. Girardin I usually prefer pretty fresh, but there really is no right or wrong approach. Either way, you’ll be drinking one of the truly elite beers, so take your time and enjoy. Cheers!
     
  3. Justonemore91

    Justonemore91 Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2018 New York
    Trader

    I've learned to stop and smell the roses. I always drink it asap
     
    ericwo likes this.
  4. StoutElk_92

    StoutElk_92 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,045) Oct 30, 2015 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    They can usually age for around 10 years or more, so take your time drinking them. I would try one fresh if you haven’t yet, and open some other bottles when you’re really in the mood and feeling that beer again. Just remember once you drink the bottle it will be hard to find an older vintage again, since they usually get released within a year of production and these days people buy them up so they only cellar in people’s homes. Try to score as many as you can to drink comfortably and still age some for as long as possible, for science... I’ve had some great lambics that were over 3 or 5 years old. Cheers and happy drinking! :beers:
     
  5. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think fresh ones are the most complex...fruit, sour and funk all jumbled in a nice complexity. One's that are well aged tend to get less fruit and a drier funk....more "Bretty". I actually think they get more 1 dimensional with alot of age on them despite more people saying more complex with age. Just me I guess.
     
  6. JamFuel

    JamFuel Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,284) Mar 26, 2009 Sweden
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    That’s the beauty of individual taste, there is no right and wrong!
     
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  7. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes sir that is part of the fun of sampling with friends and having fun debates. It's nerdy, but fun.
     
    JamFuel likes this.
  8. StubFaceJoe

    StubFaceJoe Initiate (0) Nov 24, 2011 Colorado

  9. MattOC

    MattOC Pooh-Bah (2,100) Jan 13, 2013 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you’ve never had them before I would drink them fresh. I’m against cellaring a beer that I’ve never had before. It seems like you have multiples, so I would drink one fresh and then let the others sit for a bit. Gives you the perspective of drinking it when Drie released it ready for drinking and seeing how time aging/cellared impacts the beer. Then you can determine what you prefer. Cheers!
     
    StoutElk_92 likes this.
  10. core42

    core42 Pooh-Bah (1,862) May 5, 2010 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I prefer to drink most fruited ones fresh & buy enough Oude Geuze to try some fresh-ish but hold on to some as well. Most geuzes say to enjoy within 20 years so you can comfortably lay some down & not worry, as much, about worrying that the beer has really turned "bad"
     
    StoutElk_92 likes this.
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