Girardin Rare Vos

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

On tap at De Rare Vos, Schepdaal. Hazy, deep amber colour with a small, off-white head. Complex aroma of citric fruitiness and that definite geuze character. Flavours start a little sweet, then develops towards citrus to finish woody and dry. A truly great beer.

Draught glass
Consumed at De Rare Vos Cafe, Schepdaal, May 2006
Clear dark amber/copper colored body with a toast colored tan head. Toasty nose of chalky wood, spices, and light cinnamon. Up front it’s a bit like a flemish sour ale, then it turns to a toasty cinnamon and cedar wood flavor, then finishes with a light sourness. Interesting and different, though not exemplar.

Photograph of Glass:
http://www.youforgotpoland.org/beer/RareVos.jpg

Amber, orange, a little unclear, huge creamy white head; Not huge, but very upfront complex nose, it seems as a clear mix Lambic, Krieken Lambic and Faro: unripe apple, grapefruit juice and peel, cherry and cherry pit, brown sugar, candied sugar; Quite acidy (pricking) medium full a bit watery body; Into long finish starting of a grapefruity acidy growing into harsh grapefruit peel, later some malt appears, even later the finish becomes very faro like with brown sugar and the mixed aroma of candied sugar and cinnamon that you find in some biscuits (in Denmark called Bastogne-biscuits). It is a fine beer, but I guess you have to be a Schepdaal local to really appreciate this unclear mix of styles. Great bar by the way!

Draught at De Rare Vos, Schepdaal, Belgium (only place available!).
Tall off-white head, clear dark amber body. Mild sweet malty with a slightly acidid tone in the aroma. Notes of brown sugar. Flavor is pretty mild as well with a sourish note. Citrus, hints of wood and a sugary character in the middle. Sparkling mouthfeel. A nice and easy drinkable beer, but not outstanding.

Draught @ Rare Vos in Schepdaal: Amber coloured. Quite clear. White dense huge head. Acidic and quite fruity and sweet in the nose. Definately sugar added to this beer. Reminds me a little of Faro, which isnt so special given the fact that this beer is a blend of lambic, gueuze, faro and a forth ingredient from Girardin (Jacob Löwenlunds theory is that its the Ulricher Pilsner). Is well balanced and sweet with an acidic and light sour note. Medium bodied. Ends on a quite fruity note.