3 Fonteinen Faro

Brewed by 3 Fonteinen
Style: Lambic - Faro
Beersel, Belgium

Hand pump at 3 Fonteinen (restaurant) along with a dish of rabbit in geuze!!
Unclear amber orange color, thick solid off-white head. Mild aroma of wild fermentation and grapefruit, fresh but no sweetness from the sugar. Sweet and sour in the flavor but not tart. Full-bodied and creamy in the mouth. Woody tones and hints of sugar. An excellent faro served in excellent conditions.

Draught, Beersel, 3 Fonteinen, May 2005. Head is initially large, frothy, off-white, fully lasting. Body is hazy light amber. Aroma is moderately malty (toasted bread, caramel), lightly yeasty (barnyard, horseblanket), with notes of cask wood, vanilla, raisin, and sherry. Flavor is heavily sweet, moderately acidic. Finish is moderately sweet, moderately acidic. Medium body, velvety/creamy texture, soft carbonation. Faro simply does not get better than this. Even Cantillon pales, and that’s the only other truly drinkable or enjoyable faro I’ve ever had. This was so good that I seriously thought about ordering another glass. Some will find it odd to rate a faro so highly, being such a maligned style, but for once I’m rating strictly to style because, well, there is almost assuredly no way a better faro will ever exist. Even ignoring the style, this would still get at least a low 4’s rating from me.

Hand pulled at the Delirium Cafe, Brussels. Pours a light copper with a beige head. Sweet gueuze aroma with light vinegar notes. Has a grapefruit finish. Along side a Chimay Trappist cheese plate, this went quite well.

Hand pump at Delirium Cafe, Brussels. Light brown colour, stable fluffy head and sour aroma. Really excellent Lambic - less like the other Faros I’ve tried and more like a soft Gueuze, with the super sour edge taken off. Middle range sour on a sweet base, with the two sensations jostling pleasingly. The top Faro - no doubt!!

Dusty musty typical lambic nose - completely enjoyable. Hazy deep gold color and low foamy head. Sugar is certianly present but balanced by a perfect sour. Returning sweetness towards the end. This is the best faro I’ve ever had.

Thanks to DrNate03 for driving us to Drie Fonteinen! Had this with lunch. Came from a handpump. Clouded browned amber body with a small browned head. Nose is sweet but still retains sourness and has no overdone candyish notes like the previous faro I had. Tast is sweet-sour with white grapes and lemony notes mixed with raw sugar. Perfectly balanced sour and sweet flavors. Smooth flavor to it. Mouthfeel is dry and has a light acidity to it. Finish is leather sour fruit and more of the sugary notes. Good beer!

draught on handpump Hazy amber; amberish, dirty-brown head. VERY Brett - horseblanket nose, with citrus, waylayed eggs, farmyard. Quite sweet, with all the lambicflavours in the background (lemon, horseblanket). Sweetness is just a tad too outspoken. Actually quite well-bodied. it’s syrupy, the candisyrup just cannot be ignored. If I have to drink faro, let it be this. I can say that, being the first mortal to obtain this ever in bottled form from the brewery, already aeons ago...

Hand pump. Nice sour lactic nose, musky malt, hops. Floral. Cloudy dark orange-amber, with off-white foamy lacing head. Medium bodied with light carbonation. Great sweet-sour balance. Strong gueuze taste with perfect balance of sweetness. Rich taste, not watery like other faros I’ve had. Smooth fruity finish and light bitter after. Great faro.