One of Oud Beersel’s endless experiments with lambic infused with untraditional – and sometimes very unorthodox – ingredients, in this case rose petals, that made it into bottled ‘Sparkling Infused’ form, where a pinch of sugar is added before bottling to spark refermentation. Bottle of 75 cl depicting two roses shared with – who else – my girlfriend. Thick and foamy, crackling, egg-white, huge, pillowy head upon a hazy peach blonde robe with ochre tinge. Aroma of dusty old oak furniture, unripe peach, lots of ‘green’ elements which I assume represent the rose petals and ranging between freshly cut nettles, rucola, young spring tree leaves, grass and pink grapefruit zest (very different from the rosewater effect I was expecting but all the more intriguing), dry leather, old Parmigiano, old books, bitter plant seeds. Crisp onset, unripe apricot, green plum, some gooseberry, oxidized green apple – tart, but mellowly so (‘mals’), with lively minerally effervescence; supple bready backbone with cracker-like notes, drying lactic acidity and vinous mouthfeel with a sparkling-wine-ish effect. Brett funkiness appears as old leather and old dried grapefruit peel while this ‘spring-evoking’ green effect of the rose petals grows, bringing a crispness, ‘souplesse’ and freshness to it all, with these green young tree leaf- and fresh herb-like elements that last for a long time, bridging the funk, the wood and the old hop bitter note without turning wry, musty or bitter anywhere. As said, I was expecting something more ‘romantically perfumey’, in a sense, with a rosewater-like scent – but this is much more natural and elegant, with the ‘infusion’ putting an extra layer of green fraîcheur over a fine lambic. I have really fallen in love with this Sparkling Infused series (and Oud Beersel in general for that matter), cannot wait to open the next one.

750mL bottle, pours a hazy golden orange with a small white head. Aroma has a nice rose floral character, some moderate funk, and leathery notes. Flavour is complex, with a nice black peppery character, leather, barnyard funk, and a nice floral rose character. Peppery, funky and champagne-like. Excellent.