2016 Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 93.3 points

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  11/20/2021 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points

  The base beer is partly brewed at 3 Fonteinen and partly sourced from Boon and Lindemans, aged in old oak barrels on the premises. The Gueuze is blended from lambics that are aged for one, two and three years (20%). Bottled unfiltered and unpasteurized on 8th of February 2016, best by 26th of October 2036. 6% alcohol. Tasted along with 15 other Gueuzes.
  
  Fully clear golden yellow color with a rather large white head. Very classic, funky and even slightly robust nose with aromas of bretty leather and farmhouse funk, some lemony notes, light sweeter nuances of ripe yellow fruits, a little bit of phenolic spice, a pungent hint of urinal and a whiff of something odd, vaguely gaseous. The beer feels dry, tart and quite light-bodied with quite pronounced, crisp carbonation and rather intense yet also slightly austere flavors of lemony citrus fruits, some farmhouse funk, a little bit of ammonia, light tangy notes of winter apple, a hint of pithy grapefruit bitterness and a touch of grainy malt. The hop bitterness comes across as somewhat pronounced, albeit not dominant or aggressive. The finish is long and quite mouth-puckering with sour flavors of lemony citrus fruit and tart winter apple, some pithy grapefruit bitterness, a little bit of ammonia, light saline nuances, a hint of phenolic spice and a bretty touch of leather.
  
  A very sophisticated, crisp and rather lean Gueuze that feels relatively similar to the Tilquin Oude Gueuze, which is also rather light, somewhat bitter and leaning more on the austere side. I was surprised to see that the beer had not developed much additional depth or complexity with age, coming across just very incisive and mouth-puckering. This is delicious stuff for hardcore acid-heads and I love this beer when drunk by itself, but sandwiched between Hanssens Artisanaal and Cantillon, this beer comes slightly leaner and a bit foursquare in comparison. Furthermore, that slightly gaseous nuance never really disappeared, lending a bit odd touch to the otherwise very textbook Gueuze nose. Nevertheless, a great, classic lambic and solid value at 6,50€ for a 0,375-liter bottle.

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  6/22/2018 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points

  Since this is a geuze (a multi-vintage beer), this isn't vintage 2016 but instead "blend 2 from season 2016/2017, bottled on October 20th, 2016". Best before October 20th, 2036. 5,4% alcohol.
  
  Hazy orange-yellow color with a big white head. The beer shows a textbook lambic nose with sharp and funky aromas of sweet bretty leather, some ammonia, a little bit of tangy yellow fruit, light notes of hay, a hint of green apple slices and a rustic touch of manure. The beer is sharp, sour and funky on the palate with dry, incisive flavors of tart green apples, some barnyard and funky leather, a little bit of stable floor, light notes of hay and a hint of grassy hop bitterness. The beer shows rather pronounced grapefruity sourness without much pithy bitterness. Moderately ample carbonation. the finish is quite long, funky and lively with dry flavors of leather, some stable floor, a little bit of grainy malt, light sour citrus fruit notes of lemon juice and grapefruit, a hint of hay and a touch of earth.
  
  A stylish, complex and thoroughly classic geuze. Although not excessively sour nor particularly crisp, the beer still feels rather tough and lean with more emphasis on the lemony tartness than bretty funk and rustic complexity. Showing lots of promise, I'd rather drink the beer in the future than now. Definitely cellarworthy. Recommended.

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