8

Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

One of the more recent new fruit lambics by 3 Fonteinen to date, and like the others, rooted in the meanwhile very extensive pool of Twist of Fate ‘experiments’. This rating concerns the final, definitive version, sold simply as ‘Aardbei’. Off-white, loudly crackling and fizzing, moussy head, open and dissolving to eventually almost nothing; misty cognac-hued deep reddish amber, turning more brownish and murky in the end. Aroma of very strong and very real ripe strawberry, also strawberry vinegar, yoghurt, sour grapes, damp hay, ripe nectarine (probably just the strawberries again), wet oak wood, old books, persimmon, moist paprika powder, barnyard and farmland notes in the background. Crisp, acidic onset, sharp lemony sourness mitigated by the sheer juiciness and fructose sweetness of the strawberries; very lively, almost champagne-like effervescence, breaking through the fruitiness, which also reminds of nectarine, sour apple and unripe plum, though obviously the strawberry remains absolutely dominant. Bready malt core, dried by fruit and lactic sourness and eventually also by strawberry seed and woody tannins, with some damp hay-like ‘Brettiness’ coming in – but the retronasal part remains filled with fragrant ripe and sweet, almost perfumey strawberry, a powerful aroma present till the last drop. A comparison with the one classic in the field of strawberry lambics, Hanssens’ Oudbeitje, is almost inevitable – and indeed there is a strong similarity between both, though this 3 F interpretation of the same concept seems more assertive, more tart and more sparkling from what I remember of Oudbeitje. Strawberries provide lots of aroma and flavour but little colour in comparison with the more traditional sour cherries and this one confirms that idea; in that sense, this rendition fits expectations completely.

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

8-4-8-4-16 Bottle, oogst 2020, no 6 20 - 21, one year after bottling. Pours clear reddish golden, with a small creamy head. Aroma is slightly lactic with notes of sweet strawberries, bretty notes of stone fruits, as well as herbal notes, wooden minerals and wooden notes. Medium body, with soft to average carbonation. Flavour is tart fruity notes of strawberries, farmyardy notes of hay, musty fruits and bretty wood and earthy minerals. Lingering tart, bretty fruity minerals, with a dry finish.

8

Strong delicious ripe strawberries on the nose. Unfortunately taste is a bit more stale, still fruity, sweet, smooth, finishes dry. Very nice though anyway.

8

Super jammy strawberries

7.8

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Pours dark, unclear amber to almost brown. Intense strawberry scent. Very jammy, intense, lambic and funk are fairly hidden. Taste is full, tart, dry, intense strawberry. Not nearly as jammy as the scent makes you expect. Dry, sharp body. Lovely !

8.4

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Oogst 2020 bottle at ODB. Pours a cloudy orange with medium beige head that lasts. The aroma is strawberry seed, funk, oak, floral, wheat. Slick body, funky, tart strawberry, barnyard, nice finish, enjoyed this.

10

Wild fermented Hi-C again but with more of a tart and carbonation bite. More funk and tannins on the nose than before.

7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle, Assemblage 97, 18/19 season, bottled on July 30, 2019. Aroma is fairly strawberry forward with moderate herbal, earthy funk. Medium light mustiness and faint oak notes. Light lemon notes and hints of bandaid as it warms. Pours a pinkish golden color with a medium large, fairly thick, frothy white head that recedes to a film that lingers on the edges. No lacing and faint legs. Flavor is somewhat acidic with a faint sharpness to it and faint sweetness. Medium light strawberry notes. Faint alcohol and oak. Medium light herbal, earthy phenolics. Hints of lemon and bandaid notes. Mouthfeel is medium light bodied with medium carbonation. Low astringency and low alcohol warmth. Overall, a solid strawberry lambic with surprisingly bright, albeit somewhat light. Fairly herbal forward but there are hints of bandaid showing through in the aroma and flavor.

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

750ml bottle. Loads of strawberry juice, some sourness, funky yeastiness and oaky notes, hints of sweetness and farmyardy earthiness. Quite a lot of strawberries here.

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Flaska från 3F, 18 - 19 blend 97. Orangerosa med vit krona. Doftar och smakar av jordgubbssylt, nypon, jord, omogna/övermogna jordgubbar, äppelkart, citronjuice. Något dovare med en avtagande syra som sitter mycket på ytan.