3 Fonteinen Faro

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

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.

On draught at the brewery. Hazy yellow-brown with a little (and unstable) offwhite head. Aroma very much as the lambik; oaky vanilla with lemons and a hint of sweetness. Flavours are a perfect blend of sweet caramel, lemons, vanilla and woody dryness. Light body. Perfectly balanced sweetness with a great lambik.

[Draught at Københavnske Øldage] Cloudy orange, no head. Lively barnyardy aroma. The sweetness is subdued, but it opens the flavours of the lambic, and lifts them to another level. The mouthfeel is so beaustifully soft and the flavours concentrated. Usually faros are seen as dumbed down lambics, but in this case it’s just maginificent.

Draught at Københavnske Øldage 2006. Murky orange in colour with no head. The aroma had some sweet fruits (apples. pears), light sourness, some barnyard. The flavour is lightly sweet, lots of fruits (oranges, lemons, peaches and pears), light apple tartness, some brown sugar. Sweet but soft mouthfeel, medium body, very light carbonation. Finishes dry and tart. Phenomenal stuff.

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.

A gueuze like base with brown sugar added for a little sweetening effect. It rounds the edges off the massive gueuze flavours in the base beers and amongst all of the faro's I tried, this was the best.

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.

Handpumped at the Drie Fonteinen restaurant in Beersel. Deep amber/brown coloured with surprisingly creamy head. Nice lambic aroma with loads of grapefruit and some apple notes. Very pleasant and refreshing flavour with a very good balance between the lambic sourness and the sugar sweetness. A great faro.