3 Fonteinen Framboos (Framboise)

Bottle into tulip. Crazy-ass lambic tasting in our hotel room, GABF 2007. Super huge thanks to cquiroga for bringing this to the tasting. He was saving it for a special occasion, but the occasion is simply opening a bottle such as this; it carries its specialness with it. Smell is funky, berries round and rich and underneath something soft and almost lactic. Flavor is what I expect from Drie Fonteinen: a nice sour bomb riding perfect carbonation, fills the whole mouth and tingles in perfect complement to the acidity and sour fruits (crisp apple, cherry); raspberry emerges more in the finish than in the middle, and is really only an accent to the gueuze-y goodness. The finish just doesn’t die, hitting in waves of renewed acidity and fruit and yeast (the closest any beer has come to the sublimity of Blauw). After it warms, the alcohol comes out just a bit on the nose, which is strange but not bad, and it’s somewhat salty in the finish at turns. Wow. Bam. Dope. (The trifecta.)

Tried this from the cellar of a brew pub in belgium, can’t even read my notes on which one. Vintage 99. Off orange pour looks a bit muddy. Not much of a head left on it touch of white wisp. Aroma is great very out there sour raspberry, a bit of sour wine type smell in there too and some undefinable spice. There’s just a lot of stuff coming through that I can’t pull apart but I like it. Palate was fully coated and nicely puckered. Sour berries raspberry I think dominate hint of vinegar some dry wood and notes of earthy leathery blend come through.. there’s definatelly a dairy hint hidden in there. Good stuff... wish I had been in a bit better mind when I drank it, would like to try it again.

#300 for me and what a way to celebrate!

A tremendous “thank you” to Jeppe for bringing perhaps the “holy grail” of the beer world. May 25th 1999 vintage 750ml bottle. Pours a cloudy amber hue with a surprising amount of carbonation that left a quickly dissipating head. Holy aroma! Amazing. Musty, funky, balsamic vinegar-esque, blue cheese, raspberries. Unbelievable amount of complexity in the flavour. I just sat for minutes wafting and enjoying the experience. The first sip brought about an assertive acidity, but mellowed just enough to allow a tapestry of flavours to present themselves. These flavours came in a wash over my taste buds and presented themselves as a horse-blanket drenched in a puree of sherry, balsamic vinegar, raspberries, key limes, and a little turbinado sugar.

Each flavour component played so beautifully off each other that it was like watching a well done stage play. A pair of characters would present themselves on my palate and trip delicately around my senses. With each unveiling, new complexity was found and a new sensation. Subtle, refined, delicate, nuanced. The years and expert cellaring seemed to have done this masterpiece well.

Big thanks to Jeppe for sharing this bottle, once again another beer I thought I’d never ever get to try. Murky red brown with small beige ring. A wierd sort of funk in the aroma that is a little sweet but like soured fruit, raspberry is very prominent. The flavor matches the aroma but the sweetness is more prominent, a little like strawbeery yogurt, very funky, a little acidic, jammy. Medium body and very acidic, especially down the throat. This might be the most unique beer I’ve ever had and it is holding up extremely well. I really appreciate Jeppe sharing this bottle with us.

750ml bottle dated May 25, 1999. holy crap another unattainable beer today. brought to us by the extremely generous jeppe...... pours an extremely cloudy and murky apple cider brown with a thin wispy off-white head.... to be succinct and to the point, the nose was incredibly funky with soft raspberry notes, a little cheese, and vinegary....flavorwise is where this lambic takes off. funky and intese raspberries play off each other in perfect harmony. sublime mouthfeel with just the right amount of liveliness. an extreme explosion and awesome amalgamation of great flavors. i can’t say enough about this.