Girardin Gueuze Black Label

Brewed by Brouwerij Girardin
Style: Lambic - Gueuze
Sint Ulriks-Kapelle, Belgium

My score is for a number of different bottles at a number of different ages. The notes below are for only one or two vintages (probably 2-4 years old), but I’ve come to see Girardin Gueuze as the pinnacle of pure gueuze blending, thus it deserves a perfect 5.0.

The aroma is most likely the strongest lambic or gueuze aroma I’ve ever had, it crawls through the air after the cork is pulled, and fills the room while pouring into the glass... a nice, semi-sweet apple cider and old driftwood nose. Semi-thick body, not overwhelming in the sourness like, say, a Cantillon, but somewhat different because of the sweet apple and grape notes which are present. While less acidic than others, it’s still quite sharp, in a fresh sense.... at least that’s the best I can describe it as. Has an oily palate, but not coating, more like an oil-on-water polarity difference where it quickly slides off of the tongue and the only impression left from the beer is a slight burn at the back of the throat, like that produced by a mild, nagging cough. Mid-drink there is a nice fabric-like frothiness with an accompanying yeast and pear flavor.

Surprisingly dark golden yellow pour, moderately hazy, almost orangey. Amazingly balanced aroma. Huge sweet malt kiss complements the character loaded brettanomyces that come out horsey, cheesy and sweaty. Funky and clean at the same time, but above all elegant and farmy. Apparently sweet which have me anticipating a dessert gueuze. Notes of vanilla, cask wood, sand, earth. Indeed very sweet for a gueuze, this is not really what I was anticipating, but I can appreciate greatness when I taste it and this is just as good as Cuvée René with incredible nostalgic character. Pie crust and bread. Not very acid at all, just a balancing tartness. Honeyed maltiness gets overwhelmed by wood juice, powdery glue-like flavors. I don’t really feels the taste was as good as the incredible aroma, but it does grow on me as it warms. It just has this terrific sandy dry-out effect that asks to be let on the table taking some air and breathing like fine wines. Gentle astringency, fitting low carbonation. Medium-full bodied and smooth on the tongue. One of the best in its kind and worthy of every bit of praise it gathers. Complex beyond imagination all while being insanely drinkable. Thanks again Per.
A further sampling confirms to me that the real girardin gueuze outclasses cuvée rené by a fair margin as my favorite gueuze. Highly drinkable yet very assertive. It just does everything as I want it and for now stands as the best I’ve had, though some of those rare drie fonteinen look like they could stand up to its level.

It throws me on the floor every time, up you go. 5, perfect.

This beer is awesome... I kept it on it’s side for a week in the fridge and enjoyed it in my garden. Refreshing, tasty... this is perfection

Bottled 02.2004 - Beautifully golden, orange with a low but creamy white head that lasts; Incredible nose, deep and super complex, the full geuze package of lemon/citrus, very fresh green apples under it notes of cigar box (ceder+tobaco), hay, horse (uuuhhhhhhhh fantastic!!!!!); The body has a super balance, acidy fresh with a very, very little and nice, soft sweetness to it; The finish is fantastic as well. It is perfectly dry (not super dry), with very little tannin that brings a mouth-feel that makes you want to chew the beer. All this with a lemon/grapefruit, later cedar touch, that lasts forever. This is for sure my favorite geuze, if not my favorite beer of all. This is a masterpiece!!!!

Golden-amber with chill haze. Complex aroma of leather, pears, peaches, feet, dust, old wood and farmhouse cheshire. Bracing acidity and extreme complexity of wood, cheese, acids, grapefruit, kumquat, pommelo and old saddle. Insane complexity. Brilliant balance. Balls front intensity. Fucking amazing.

Ushered through the massive barn, the oak from the horse stalls and the leather from the saddles linger in the air, but I am pulled further. . directed down a spiral stone staircase into the cellar, I push aside a large cobweb and step onto the soft earthen floor; aromas unimagined consume my existence. Clean and totally organized this cellar is unlike any I have come across: all of the cobwebs and dust are in perfect order, with a complexity never before seen. I hope I find St. Peter in a barn like this.

A beautiful beer. I’d have to agree with Oakes sentiments (see his comments from 11/2001) Complex, tart but not overly so. A slight sweetness to soften it a bit. Extremely refreshing. An unexpected but wonderful surprise given I grabbed it of the shelf without any foreknowledge of its existence

Aroma is lemony, seriously yeasty, apples skins, a bit of baby sick, Amazing. Taste is similar though not as sour as expect, not balanced by anymeans, but going that way. Possibly the easiest drinking gueuze iv ever had, defo one to get again. RERATE: Up from 4.6 - 4.9. Gueuze is the finest beverage ever made! RERATE: 750 at Blackfriars while working. The complexity and body of this beast is outstanding, yet the drinkability is crazy. The whole 750 was gone in about 10 mins.