One of three special and limited Oud Beersel geuzes created for this year’s Toer de Geuze, each one with a large portion of lambic aged on a special barrel, Dalmore Port Wood in this case (though strangely, the label only says ‘Port Wood’); 75 cl bottle shared with Craftmember. Off-white, bit irregular, medium thick, opening head, misty deep amber-tinged peach blonde robe. Complex and fascinating bouquet of purple gooseberries, halfripe nectarine, hayloft, wild brambleberries, straw, wooden furniture, dried old lemon peel, apricot kernel, young wood sorrel leaf, fenugreek cheese, Greek yoghurt – all topped with a waferthin, but discernible layer of almost honeyish sweet single malt whisky. Very fruity-estery onset, lots of green pear and gooseberry, hint of green unripe strawberry and halfripe nectarine – an almost sweetish core surrounded by a ‘malse’ sourness, making for a very juicy effect; light lime-like tart edges and growing tannic woodiness, relatively softly carbonated (but still lively) for a geuze, with a bready core. Aspect of orange zest, dried lemon peel, sorrel and green spring fruit accompany an elegantly tart, vinous, woody and earthy finish, where the whisky, though very subtle, lingers as a vanilla-like background aroma, adding another level of flavour and even, if you close your eyes, a touch of extra alcoholic heat. Incredibly sophisticated and refined lambic, mature and elegant – I was not such a huge fan of the port version in this series (though it was as good as any Oud Beersel lambic of course) but this one seriously blew me away. Stunningly intelligent, beautiful product, again I wonder why Oud Beersel never got as hyped as Cantillon or 3 Fonteinen actually; I guess there are historical reasons for that, but Oud Beersel deserves every credit from lambicheads, that much is clear.

Bottle, decanted. Hazy golden color with white head. Aroma is strong port, some peach and zeztiness, earthy and leather. Taste is sweet vanilla, sweet port, honest barrel, leathery. Champenoise carbonation. Very tasty!

Bottle directly from brewery. Color: Hazy golden, white head. Aroma: Berries, grape, hay, funky. Taste: Light to moderate tart, farmbarn wild yeast funk, subtle fruity notes of gooseberries and white grape, hints of green sour apples and hints of citrus. Oak wood. Some hay. Very lightly Whisky recognizable, mostly at the finish. Dry-iss mouthfeel Smooth, slightly foamy. Medium body, below average carbonation. Very nicely balanced. Could have had some more Whisky notes. Nice one though.