Hanssens Artisanaal V.S.O.R. Very Special Old Red

V.S.O.R. Very Special Old Red

 

Hanssens Artisanaal in Dworp, Flemish Brabant, Belgium 🇧🇪

  Lambic Style - Fruit Special Out of Production
Score
7.19
ABV: 6.5% IBU: - Ticks: 43
7% bosbessen / 13% krieken / 3% aardbeien / 17% frambozen
Gebotteld in 16/11/2018
 

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8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 9 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 9
Hanssens, apparently seeking to connect with the current lambic hype, presented this one-off on the occasion of this year's Tour de Geuze, a lambic macerated with raspberries (17%), strawberries (3%), sour cherries (13%) and blackberries (7%) - the first time I see that many fruit species in one single lambic, at least a traditionally made one. Mousy, off-pinkish white, creamy, membrane-lacing head, medium thick but only becoming this 'full' and visually attractive with quite some 'forcing' and, as a result, unstable and quickly reduced to an 'interspersed', wafer-thin ring of mousse with nothing in the middle; initially clear, very bright ruby red colour with vermillion tinge, showing lots of bubbles clinging to the edge of the glass, turning cloudy and more deeply purplish-tinged red with sediment. Strong aroma of cherry wine, raspberry vinegar, unripe sour blackberries, red wine vinegar, moist and decayed wood, soaking wet cherry pits, barnyard, lemon juice, wet saddle leather, dark green tree leaves, sweet strawberry noticeable in the background, stewed sour grapes, damp cellar, sawdust, horse steak juice, old socks, balsamic vinegar, Cherokee purple tomatoes, swimming pool (the cherries, probably), stale sweat (Brettanomyces), musk even. Very sour onset, strong acetic sourness ('volatile' acids) which in combination with the pronounced raspberry flavour has a strong raspberry vinegar-like effect; the blackberries add further acidity with a lemony effect, while the sour cherries seem to add some fleshiness and 'pulpy' fruitiness that actually counters the acidity a bit. Carbonation remains low (almost flat in the end), mouthfeel is slick but bone dry due to the sourness, which continues unabated till the finish, even burning a bit, but still a tad less so than other Hanssens fruit lambics - so I maintain that it is the overload of fruit, especially the cherries, that somehow absorbs a part of the acetic qualities. Strong fruit peel astringency and woody tannins are added in the finish, less fruit seed effects though; pronounced 'funky' effects (the classic horseblanket) from the Brett are noticeable as well but are smothered a bit by all that fruit. Strawberry remains a vague retronasal background note. Ends acetic, fruit-acidic, astringent and bone dry, but still with that cherry fleshiness trying to soften this flavour; bready yeast effects as well as a 'meaty' (medium rare horse steak) protein effect appear in the very end, when the sediment has been added. As a whole, this one clearly exhibits the acetic character Hanssens' fruit lambics are known for (at least in the past years - their Oude Kriek was not this acetic at all in the first years that I drank it), but the generous, fleshy fruit dosage does what it can to counter this harsh effect. The result is enjoyable enough for a lambicophile like myself, and I love how the raspberries and cherries 'crisply' cling to the tongue after swallowing; the lambic is clearly subordinate to the fruit here, which obviously was the intention. Among Hanssens' most interesting offerings so far.
Tried from Can on 20 Sep 2019 at 20:46

7.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 9 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Bottle from Geers. Dark reddish, purple colour, very thin layer of foam, disappears quickly. Intense fruity nose, lots of strawberries, raspberries and cherries. Taste is very tart, lots of lemon, vinegar, balsamico along with sweet fruity hints. Again a very tart but fruity lambic from Hanssens.
Tried from Bottle on 16 Sep 2019 at 07:01

8.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 9 Overall 8
Sampled in between Ratebeer and Brewver, so not much specific notes. Very vinegar-like, such as to be expected by hanssens. Full fruityness as well.
Tried on 06 Sep 2019 at 08:09

5.1/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 5 Texture 4 Overall 4.5
Bottle. Etre Gourmet. Ruby red. Light haze. Slim ring of off white head. Nose has cheap balsamic vinegar. Wet leather. Vimto cordial. Taste is sweet and super tart, harsh, acidic bitterness. Slick mouthfeel. Low carbonation. Innard stripping acidity. Balls to this. I should have known better. This is a slick, overly acidic, flabby mess of a beer. Awful.
Tried from Bottle on 01 Sep 2019 at 20:07

5/10
Bottle. Pours red. Aroma and flavor are sour, acidic, vinegar, sour cucumber, strawberries. Overall: drinkable.
Tried from Bottle on 30 Aug 2019 at 17:57

7.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 6 Overall 8
Corked bottle. Purple red color. Rubber, chocolate, cherry, blackberries, vinous notes and raspberries in the aroma. Very fruity. Low on carbon. Chocolate and oak next to the fruit. This is nice!
Tried from Bottle on 26 Aug 2019 at 16:23

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Bottle from Etre Gourmet. It pours cloudy deep red with a small white cap. The aroma is sweet - sweet, tangy red berry, bright, raspberry, strawberry, bramble, blackcurrant, funk, barnyard and jam. The taste is crisp, dry, bright, big ole puckering sourness, plenty of acidity, eye-opening, sour raspberry, strawberry, redcurrant, bramble, red wine vinegar and some jammy background notes with a tangy finale. Medium body and just a touch of carbonation. An intense number. I can't help but like it, but the acidity is dialled up a bit high.
Tried from Bottle on 21 Aug 2019 at 17:31

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Bottle with cork and metal at HOPnick 2019 - SB web, 2019-08-01 Göteborg AR: vinegar, sour cherries and other red fruits AP: deep red, no head F: tart sour cherries and other red berries, tons of vinegar
Tried from Bottle on 01 Aug 2019 at 14:36

7/10
Hanzijns kunstmatinaal
Tried on 29 Jun 2019 at 23:11

6/10
No sa rozne owocki. Jest tez nieco octu. Kapka nawet jakiejs kiszonki? Za kwasne. Nie, to ni kuta nie jest dobry lambik, ale tak, jest very special
Tried at Mikkeller Bar Warsaw on 05 Jun 2019 at 21:15