Hanssens Oude Gueuze

Brewed by Hanssens Artisanaal
Style: Lambic - Gueuze
Dworp, Belgium

Deep bronzey golden, rapidly receding white head. Very striking aromas of leather, vinegar, cheese, and hay. Puckeringly sour palate, barnyard, woody sourness. I’m no connoisseur of the style, and I certainly found i interesting as an experience, but in honesty this is not something I’d rush to tuck into again anytime soon. Fun to try, and fun to think about, I appreciate it for what it is.

Vastly underappreciated. Wonderfully tart, with some great acidity, what I like to call pucker power. Lightly fruity, with some sour grapes, and apple skins, which leads into a bit of vinous cidery qualities. It has that barnyard funk throughout, and is really quite enjoyable if you are into all things sour.

Green small corked bottle. Brisk lactic tang. Cotton, horse barn, and peach flesh. Icy. Nice vibrant fresh wheat, funk products and acid. Delightful. Hazed gold, with tint of pluot flesh. Graced with a rim of clean white head. Soft, wheat-filled acid dominates the flavor. A bit of green olive juice and tangerine rind dapples the for-palate. Nips of pale fruit grace the the mid-palate. Pears, apricots, and white nectarine. A good symphony of flavors moving between well-integrated acids, light sweetness and brisk alcohol. Fresh and summery. Grain-heads blend with grapes to finish of the body. Crisp and lively. A very nice gueuze. A fitting 1200!

Thx for another great tasting, Kim (Beljohansen): yummiie...bubbly and short head, leather and grape, and very sour

Date: 04/03/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ale Atlanta

Appearance: hazy dark yellow, wispy white head,
Aroma: big funky earthy aroma with a leathery character,
Flavor: tart malt flavor, lots of musty character, long lasting tartness, lots of cobwebs for complexity,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

Pours lightly hazy and golden in color. A foamy white head shows very good retention. Nice, random patches of foam stick to the glass. The aroma is intense, showing nose searing lemon and grapefruit, shrouded in a funky haze of barnyard and horse blanket. Peach and nectarine emerge as the beer warms, adding more zesty fruit into the equation. The first sip is mouth puckeringly sour. I’m talking seriously intense. Its almost equivalent to licking a fresh cut lemon and chasing it with a shot of apricot nectar and grapefruit juice. The citrus notes are bold, as is the funky barnyard yeast. Just shy of medium bodied, this one will kick you in the rear corner of the mouth on its way to finishing bone dry. Definitely a slow sipper, but ultimately a very well done brew. Refreshing, if you’re in a sour mood.

Foam Rangers tasting. Gold color with average head. Barn-y funk with citrus and oak. Flavor is sour citrus with great acidity and clean finish.

(2/28/08) Bottle at Staminee de Garre in Bruges. Best before 8/2027. Hazy golden with a collapsing white head. Barnyard, citrus and some wood in the aroma. Sour fruity flavor with some sweetish hints of sugary residue. Medium-bodied. Some more cellar time wouldn’t hurt but already very pleasant and refreshing when rather young.