2014 Hanssens Artisanaal Oude Gueuze

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 96 points

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  11/20/2021 - forceberry wrote: 96 Points

  The base beer is sourced from Boon, Girardin, Lindemans and Timmermans, aged in old oak barrels on the premises. Bottled unfiltered and unpasteurized on 7th of August 2014, best by 7th of August 2034. 6% alcohol. Tasted along with 15 other Gueuzes.
  
  Moderately hazy and relatively deep orange color with a mahogany core. The nose feels very rich, expressive and even moderately sweet-toned with complex aromas of ripe apricots, new leather, some oaky notes of vanilla, a little bit of juicy orange-driven citrus fruit, light grainy notes of Corn Flakes, a hint of perfumed floral character and a touch of earth. The beer is broad, moderately full-bodied and subtly sweet-toned on the palate with complex flavors of leathery funk, ripe orange, some leathery funk, light bitter nuances of pithy citrus fruits, a little bit of tangy salinity, a hint of grainy malt and a faint vinegary touch of acetic acid. Overall the hop bitterness feels very modest and understated here and even though the beer feels moderately sour, the acidity comes across as relatively light and easy compared to its peers. The finish is very long, complex and slightly more tart compared to the midpalate with layered flavors of lemony citrus fruits, some leathery funk, a little bit of sharp green apple, light nuances of vanilla, a hint of tangy salinity and a faint vinegary touch of acetic acid.
  
  A beautiful, remarkably complex and even slightly vinous Gueuze that might come across as ever-so-slightly less sour and subtly more sweet than most of its Gueuze peers, but at the same time its complexity is on another level. Hanssens Artisanaal makes Gueuzes that consistently over-perform for their price, always showing remarkable depth of flavor and balance without any elements that might feel unwanted. There's a slightest streak of acetic acid, but even that nuance only manages to work well together with the overall taste, never coming across as distracting one little bit. Excellent stuff now, but has still potential for further development. Without a failure, this is one of my favorite Gueuzes. A steal at 4,19 for a 0,375-liter bottle.

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  6/27/2015 - forceberry wrote: 96 Points

  Almost clear, luminous, pale walnut wood color. Small, frothy and short-lived head. Attractive, funky nose with bretty leather and horse aromas, bruised apple, savory earth tones, some outdoor toilet nuances and a hint of sweet forest berries. Quite full-bodied for a gueuze, yet bone-dry and crisp at the same time. Funky flavors of manure, leather, some band-aid phenolics and a hint of wizened peach, intermingled with sweeter red-berry nuances of young lambic. Lively carbonation, yet not overtly so. Lots of depth and complexity! Crisp, sour, tart and very long finish with a plethora of interesting, complex nuances: leather, lemon juice, manure, bruised apple, some bitterness, a hint of earth and a touch of sweeter yellow fruit.
  
  Easily one of the best gueuzes I've ever had; even though this one is not as bracingly sour and harsh as the most extreme examples of the style - especially with its slight and attractive sweeter nuances - this is one of the most balanced and complex gueuzes in the market! Ravishing stuff that is drinking wonderfully now and will develop for several years; highly recommended and ridiculously good purchase at 3,79€! I really hope that Hanssens Artisanaal will keep on doing this stuff in the future.

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