8.4

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

Special edition of Hanssens’ ‘Schaarbeekse’ kriek, made with only Schaarbeekse cherries: their regular version (including that ‘Scarenbecca’ variant) uses only a portion of these elusive cherries, the rest is Kelleris (a more basic variety used in cherry lambic in general). Made for the last Toer de Geuze to date, big thanks to tderoeck for this exclusive bottle! Moussey, bubbly, pinkish, opening and soon dissolving head, misty deep ruby-glowing scarlet red robe with wine red shadings, a beautiful colour. Intense aroma of tons of ripe Schaarbeekse ‘griottes’, cooked redcurrant, purple gooseberry, raspberry vinegar, almond, even vanilla from the cherry stones (and oak), red wine vinegar, hazelnut, unsugared fruit yoghurt, wild apple, background funk (damp hay). Lots of fleshy fruitiness in the mouth, bursting with ripe sour cherries of the most generously juicy and rich kind – the effect that only Schaarbeekse ‘krieken’ can achieve. Side effects of redcurrant, red plum and rhubarb, softish carb with full, vinous body; bready backbone dried by yoghurty lactic tartness and enriched by almondy, even vanilla-like aromas from the cherry stones, ‘filled’ to the brim with cherry-wine-like juiciness and red-fruitiness, almost ‘stewed’ red fruit in the end, where tannic wood, lingering almond effects and a whiff of leathery funk add further depth. Remarkably full and juicy for Hanssens, no sign of the sometimes harsh vinegary effects, utterly rich and unctuous – this to me is one of the most beautiful Hanssens products I ever tasted.

8.5

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

Utterly stunning cardinal to purple, clear beer with a few pink bubbles. Intense, velvety cherries' nose. In fact, cherry explosion. As smelling over a cherry sauce reduction. The same thing returning in the mouth; cherry sauce, cherry' reduction; very mild, not-quite-sweet. There is an acidity, but it keeps hidden in the background, and it might be a bit stronger to my liking. Quite fruitslick, no carbonation. This is the real kriekenlambik from yesteryear - the not blended kind. It's the kind of thing people used to make all over the Pajottenland in all pubs and houses. "In de Drie Bronnen" kriek, for those who remember. Txs to Stef!

7.4

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

Bottle, edition TdG 2024. Color: Clear dark red, no head. Aroma: Tart cherries. Taste: Tart dark cherries. Subtle rural funk. Cherry kernels, tannins. Over moderate tart. Hints of apple vinegar. No carbonation. Ok.

8

Botella @Hanssens. Tour Gueuze 2024. 05/04/2024. Color rojizo espuma escasa aromas y sabores fruta, ácida, seca.

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

5/V/24 - 37.5cl bottle @ Toer de Geuze, BB: +20Y, bottled: III/2024 (2024-274) Thanks to all for sharing today’s beers!

Clear deep ruby red beer, practically no head. Aroma: nice, very intense cherry smell, cherry jam, some marzipan, a little bit oxidized. MF: soft to no carbon, medium body. Taste: intense cherries, very sour, some vinegar, funky, dry. Aftertaste: very sourish, vinegar, a bit oxidized, dry, lemony finish, pretty good stuff except for the vinegar.

5.8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 5

Shared bottle at Cardinal, Stavanger. Pours reddish purple with little head. Dominating aroma of acetone, fruity notes. Tastes sour. Thin bodied.

8.5

tour de geuze 2017

8.4

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

Bottle during share; clear purple pour with a light pink head, aroma has big cherry and funk, taste has dark cherries, almonds, great funk.

8.8

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Dark ruby red colour, no real head. Fruity cherry aroma, cherry marmalade, cherry pips, marzipan, vinegar. Sour flavour, full on sour but blending well with the great fruity cherries, marzipan. Full body, especially for a lambic. Fruity finish, cherry. Great stuff!!!
(from 375mL unlabeled bottle @ my 40th bday bash. Thanks for sharing, tderoeck! Loved the moment!!)