Spon III
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project in Denver, Colorado, United States 🇺🇸
Lambic Style - Gueuze Series Out of Production|
Score
6.99
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Méthode Traditionnelle Spontaneous Ale Aged in French Oak Puncheons
Brewing Details: Double decoction "Turbid Mash", three hour boil with four year old aged whole cone hops.
Coolship Duration: 14 hours overnight
Coolship Season: 2017 / 2018 (A), 2018 / 2019 (B), 2019 / 2020 (C)
Fermentation: 100% spontaneous in 500L puncheons
Bottle Conditioning Date: 7/13/2022
Barrel Residence: Blend of 1, 2, and 3 year old Spon
Color: Golden
Brewing Details: Double decoction "Turbid Mash", three hour boil with four year old aged whole cone hops.
Coolship Duration: 14 hours overnight
Coolship Season: 2017 / 2018 (A), 2018 / 2019 (B), 2019 / 2020 (C)
Fermentation: 100% spontaneous in 500L puncheons
Bottle Conditioning Date: 7/13/2022
Barrel Residence: Blend of 1, 2, and 3 year old Spon
Color: Golden
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6.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6.5
Flavor 6.5
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
750mL drunk 6/19/26.
Had the first SPON (the 2021 vintage) on tap 3 years ago and was not impressed, to say the least. Wanted to give this series another shot.
Musty, not necessarily funky. Cider, cork, cheese cloth...has a lot of elements that you want to see in a gueuze, though not necessarily a dominant gueuze character (meaning I don't get the defining blend of cultures). There is a touch of fruity Brett, mild-to-moderate lacto and no acetic. Certainly easygoing. Reminds of something like Mikk/Boon Black Label.
Better mix of culture in the flavor than in the nose. Very lemony, slight cidery, hint of acetic, but it never gets too acidic from that. Again, as in the nose, mild Brett and mild lacto. Just generally tart, easygoing, mild. The mash has provided it with a good texture, though the carbonation is a bit loose. Tons of lemony acidity building up with, perhaps, a touch of acetone at points. Yeah, this one ain't gonna go down in the books either, but it does seem an improvement, somewhat, from Spon I.
Had the first SPON (the 2021 vintage) on tap 3 years ago and was not impressed, to say the least. Wanted to give this series another shot.
Musty, not necessarily funky. Cider, cork, cheese cloth...has a lot of elements that you want to see in a gueuze, though not necessarily a dominant gueuze character (meaning I don't get the defining blend of cultures). There is a touch of fruity Brett, mild-to-moderate lacto and no acetic. Certainly easygoing. Reminds of something like Mikk/Boon Black Label.
Better mix of culture in the flavor than in the nose. Very lemony, slight cidery, hint of acetic, but it never gets too acidic from that. Again, as in the nose, mild Brett and mild lacto. Just generally tart, easygoing, mild. The mash has provided it with a good texture, though the carbonation is a bit loose. Tons of lemony acidity building up with, perhaps, a touch of acetone at points. Yeah, this one ain't gonna go down in the books either, but it does seem an improvement, somewhat, from Spon I.
Tried
from Bottle
from Tavour
on 19 Jun 2026
at 23:13
8.3/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8.5
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Draft at the taproom - lightly hazy straw with lively carbonation and a thick lace - nose is musky brett, oak, white peach, grape, rustic barnyard notes - flavor is quenchingly acidic but not puckering sourness - lightly briny up front, followed by moderate funk, deep oakiness, white grape - very complex bugginess, and a wonderfully balanced acidity - deep, long, drying oak in the finish - I really like this.
Tried
from Draft
on 25 May 2025
at 21:35