Oude Geuze Limited Edition 2026 Prik & Tik

Geuze made by Boon for Prik & Tik, the ubiquitous beverage buying group erected in 1984, now dominating drinks stores all over Belgium; this one contains very specific proportions of one, two and three year old lambics with the two year old constituting the larger part (62%). Praiseworthy in this case is that these proportions are detailed on the label - and that apparently the bottles were only released after four years of maturing at the brewery. Gusher so be ware when opening. Medium sized, off-white, tightly knit, slowly breaking and receding but otherwise well-retaining head lacing in small dots over an apricot-golden robe with metallic orangey tinge, lots of visible sparkling and also lots of small, pale beige protein flakes being carried upwards by the sparkling and then swirling down again like snow - a sight I was not quite expecting to be honest, and probably related to the gushing. Aroma of lime juice, unripe orange, lemon rind, dry old wood, horseblanket, pickled cucumber, wet concrete, dried nettles, touch freshly fermented farmland, rainwater hint, wild lingonberries, wood sorrel, dusty dry earth. Lemony and very lime juice-like onset, sour in a good way - crisp, citrusy and bright, with some green plum, gooseberry and wild unripe blackberry accents ensuing, in a well-carbonated environment - though perhaps just a tad less 'champenoise' than I am used to from Boon geuzes. Smooth core, bready, under a 'green' citric sourness with lactic edges, lemony flavours and woody tannins unfolding fully in the finish; retronasal horseblanket funkiness and slight petrichor and earthy aromas appear there as well, adding some complexity. Unripe stonefruit, gooseberries and lingering lemon flavours make for a dryingly tart, crisp ending. Lovely geuze blend by Boon - differing from others merely in its specific percentages of the different ages of the lambics involved, thereby illustrating how subtle variations in taste can be achieved by tinkering with those, as for me this one has a more crisp lemony character than other Boon geuzes I had before. Refreshing and bright, the somewhat lesser looks due to these protein flakes are easily forgiven.