Have you had a 20+ year old lambic?

I'm the same way... a year or two and it's consumed. I recently bought multiples of 2015 drie fonteinen just to see how it ages. I'm always skeptical that a bottle older than even 5 years has been properly cellared for the complete life of the beer.

 

Nope but I drank a few 99's and 98's recently so 16 and 17 years.

 

1997 this summer is the oldest I've drank. It was a 3F oude gueuze, not very sour and almost kinda sweet. Funk was light, not really what I was expecting. The 2002 cantillon gueuze and Iris, I recently had at a bar, was supper sour and vinegary drinkable but not amazing. The 2002 gueuze, cantillon poured at quintecensse, was remarkably funky and amazing.

 

I'd be interested to know as well. Come wines don't even last that long!

 

Yes, I've had some. I've had a 30 year old Wets Kriek last week, it was pretty good, but very different, lots of cherry still in it, light carbonation, figs, dates with light oxidization, very earthy and musty, big sherry quality to it. I had a 2000 Mort Subite OG this week which I wouldn't of figured it was aged at all really, and also had multiple bottles of late 90's Boon which all were oxidized, but still very good. I don't mind a bit oxidization, it gets like a earthy, funky, light barley wine character. Also had a 1998 Cuvee Renee, which didn't taste aged, but more like spontaneous fermented cider. I think the variation can vary a lot, every gueuze is different, I've also been told that the amygdalin in cherries help with aging, or more so preserving the fruit flavours:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/...ionid=910EFDACCCC416236EE65B1CCC7DC18D.d03t04

I had a 20 year old Liefmans Framboise a few weeks ago, and that one was probably the same as new, but I think they pasteurize since last 80's. Also had a couple bottles of 12-13 year old Fantome Saisons which were completely carbonated and wonderful, almost lambic like but with huge pineapple/strawberry aroma.

 

I've had this on the brain since my daughter was born last year and I've gotten some lambics with 2014 corks. I've never had any older than 5-7 years and want to do well by the beer since some of them are among my most favorite beers. I expect most will end up being consumed on birthdays but can't help but want to try to have a bottle or two to save and share with her when she's old enough.

 

I tried a 1978 Bruocsella at Zwanze in 2012. It was predictably flat and oxidized. It had developed into some feet/cheese/earth funkiness. Not bad, but obviously well past its prime.
I think provenance goes a long way in aging beers this long. I think a lot of the really old bottles you see get opened were unearthed from Belgian cellars. With the way newer beers are shipped all over, stored in Florida closets, etc., its tough to trust how the beer has been maintained/will develop.