The 2019 edition of the yearly Lambikstoemper geuze, blended by the Lambikstoempers for their 20th anniversary, an old school club of lambic lovers from the Senne Valley – in this case using only Lindemans lambics of (obviously) different ages. Off-white, fizzy, quickly breaking, irregular ‘ring of foam’, pure golden blonde robe with ochre-ish tinge and lively visible sparkling, clear at first, misty later on and murky-beige in the end. Aroma of green gooseberries, wood sorrel, old dry wood, lots of dusty shelves, old oxidized dry white wine, dusty attic, old brown cardboard even, some dry sherry, touch of chlorine but only in the end. Tart, dry onset, strong Granny Smith apple effects alongside green gooseberry and unripe green plums, lively carbonated though not in a sharp way – and actually a tad less effervescent than I am used to from oude geuze. Supple bready core surrounded by drying lactic tartness and ongoing green fruit acidity, becoming ever more woody and ‘dusty’ in the end, with that old oxidized white wine effect returning and crisp green plum-like astringency; bitterness remains altogether soft. Not the most complex or ‘full’ geuze I had – a ‘basic’ kind of blend to be honest, and even if that typical Lindemans softness (‘malsheid’) and elegance are there, even their own Cuvée René offers somewhat more depth and colour than this one. Feels a bit dusty and oxidized for only three years of age, too; perhaps – I bought this as a vintage bottle earlier this year – not too well stored by the previous owner?

Bottle @ home. Light hazy blond colour, white foam. Rather tart, vinegary notes, lemony. A bit onedimensional and not very complex. Not the best geuze.