 acrdz (4248), Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 22, 2004 Updated: Jun 2, 2008
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.
djtimeless (40), Alabama, USA
Aug 19, 2008 Pours out hazy golden color. Smells great. Taste is tart and funky. Yeasty with a dry sour finish. Very drinkable .
Lagunitasfan (26), San Diego, California, USA
Aug 19, 2008 Bottle at Hamilton’s for "Boobies and Beer". Thanks to the guy, whose name I didn’t get, for pouring me a taster of this for no good reason at all. I owe you big time. I sat there for a couple of minutes just smelling. I couldn’t bring myself to drink it immediately because it simply smelled wonderful. I would sniff and smile. My mouth was watering with the anticipation, but I just couldn’t help myself. When I finally did get around to drinking it, I was not disappointed at all. It was definitely tart/sour, but not shockingly so. The fruit flavor burst and tingled like fireworks, and left with puckering dry mouth. I think I might be in trouble with this one, at $XX.XX bucks a bottle.
tronraner (1391), (Louis-, Sevier-, Knox-)ville, Tennessee, USA
Aug 16, 2008 Bottle. Pours a hazy golden orange with tall off-white head. The aroma is spicy and very earthy with a good lactic sourish hint and some dank cellar and white cheese. The flavor is quite sour, with a quite assertive spicy yeast quality. Earth and leather tones are throughout, but a little bit of a floral hint sneaks out once in a while. It finishes very dry, with an unexpected orange-blossom note. Delicious.
durhambeer (378), Durham, North Carolina, USA
Aug 14, 2008 Bottle courtesy of dchmela. Wowsers, this is good. Deep golden hazy pour with orange tint. Yeasty sour nose, some great leather and horseblanket as well as some strawberries and notes of acetic acid. Lovely dusty aroma. Not overly sour on the palate, but definitely tingles and has a great little bite on the back and sides of the tongue. Playful and fun, and oh-so-delicious.
17thfloor (636), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Aug 14, 2008 Bottle opens with a wonderful pop and strong whiff of sour tart cheesy gueze! Dark golden/orange pour with sparse large bubbles and a white sudsy head. Strong dusty, yeast aroma that stings the nostrils. So super tart and sour. Great cheesy finish. Mild acidity, doesn’t bother the throat at all. Medium/light body with light but larger fizzy carbonation.
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