7.5

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

As my final VAT of the boxset, and given the fact no more VAT's are made, perhaps my final ever 'new' tick in this series, there is this 122.
Like the other 3 of this box, I'm tasting without description, only reading it after trying and thinking, whilst typing this review. So far, 16 to my was a bit unspecific, not 'worthy' of a price this high (compared to the regular Boon), 59 was pretty solid and unique, but not exactly my personal preference. 93 was really, really good. So, hopes are that the last unrated ever (to me) VAT will be another highlight - end with a bang, I hope!

Pours a fairly amber, slightly hazed blonde. Small but stable white head. Scent is very mature / old oak impression, on typical Boon profile, but the more mature version. Very inviting, but not overly specific perhaps. Taste is significantly focussed on brett. Seems like it'll be very sour, but it ends very mellow, actually. At first, all the old oak, brett, aged boon character rises up. Than it turns more mineral focussed. Aftertaste is very short though. I'm kindof missing out on the uniqueness here, again. Sure, a bit older oak (I think), perhaps also older lambic, but nothing majorly different, appart from the brett-heavyness. I would have hoped for more typicallity , specificness, and surely a longer aftertaste / more bombastic experience. Much like the 16, this is pretty forgeteable, in a price range (compared to others by the brewery) that would make you expect more.

according to the pamphlet, these barrels are amongst the latest additions to the brewery, EX wine barrels (which I didn't pick up on, at all) that have been filled 3 times now, giving the typicallity of Boon for the first time.
I get that this is a cool extra, but it feels, tastes, and reads more as if they 'needed' a new VAT, rather than a true gem presenting itself, demanding to become a monoblend (oh, good old days of Vat 77, I'm so happy I got some of these bottles left). Whilst remaining a fan (and very big respect for them!) of the brewery, I can see why they ended the series. Hopefully, we'll one day get a new VAT, when there's actually a lambic worthy of becoming a VAT. In this box, the 93 is the only one I'm very happy with - because it's a standout geuze, not even for the barrel influence specifically, but ofcourse that's a part. The 16 and 122 really feel like fillers. Not at all bad beers, none of them are !

8.5

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

third bottle from the 4 bttl box set, the other 2 were not that outspoken , and very unique but not my personal flavor. Sampling without reading the description, which I'm reading after taking notes (during the tasting) . This series has been a wild ride between absolute amazement (Vat 77) and beers I wouldn't even prefer over the regular OG by Boon. At a hefty pricepoint, it seems to have not taken off, and the sheer amount released made it confusing for the Big crowds - hence these might be the last beers i'll ever tick on the Vat Serries.

Pours fairly dark blonde. Small white head with good (for the style great) stability. Scent is raw, more funky boon. Lots of oak, but in an almost vanilla-kinda way (no bourbon aspects) rather than new make tannins or mushroomy 'old oak'. It does have that very fresh vibe to it - making me think about new make, or at least young - even though I don't get said tannic bite I associate with NM.
Taste is full, outspoken Boon profile, with their typical fruityness being present, but slightly less outspoken. This one's specifics is more about the oak, it seems - which I guess is one of the aspects that can shine beautifully for this series. However, hard to actually pinpoint the exactness here - it might just be a wonderfull lambic from a specific barrel, rather than the barrel being something unique (like a spiritted barrel). If so, i very much agree with this being a particularly good Oude Geuze. No doubt the best of the 3 from the pack, perhaps one of the best of the series even - still no match for Vat 77 though. Reading the booklet, it shows that this one is all about the acidity (its not specifically more sour to me, but sure) . Barrels are explained to be EX red wine barrels (10 y lambic, so they too say not nearly all wine influence is gone) . Well, for most part I really agree with their text (they even name the vanilla!) the barrels 'taste' younger than they turn out to be. Conclusion of the text is actually the same as my tasting conclusion, it's not about the barrels history, it's what came out of it for this bottling that makes it special.
Nice, truly nice geuze that I wish I could buy more of. To all those who are still doubtfull about Boon being underestimated by most 'geeks', this might be one of those to change your mind.

8

Strong carbonation, sour and a bit tart, dry. Woody with some lime, funk and stone fruit. Very nice.

8.1

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

Poured from 375mL bottle (bb 28/11/2038). Clear amber gold with small white head and decent amount of yeasty sediment. Soft funky horseblanket, very easy drinking and balanced. Enjoyable.

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5

375ml from Ukraine @ Ryan's.
Aroma: a lot of funk and minerals, horse blanket.
Taste: along the same lines.
Overall: balanced, refreshing, nice one.

7

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

Perhaps not the correct listing, will transfer at a later date - possibly 2023-24 batch chalked up at 6.5%. Lambic style very evident, with the outside fermenting doing a fine job here. Almost champagne levels of taste.

7.5

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

Pours a slightly hazed, darker blonde. Small and fast fading white head. Scent is giving a more tart-than-usual impression. Typical boon fruityness is very toned down. Oaky. Still soft and gentle at the base, but less recognizable specifically as Boon. Has got almost some OB vibes, towards the grean apple more than the more 'full' fruityness Boon tends to have, which make the 2 stand appart. Taste is ... Something else! chewy, fullbodied, medium acidity but very raw, and as I'm tasting it blind, it makes me wonder about the barrel contents before beer? Almost like some sort of spirit (aquavit) minus the boozyness ?

Upon reading the specifics, calvados seems to be the origin of the barrel. Though used multiple times, I did get the apple, and the spirrity context, though I didn't think about calvados specifically.

A much more barrel-specific boon than I ever had, for sure. I'm not sure if i'm loving it - to my own taste - but I ám sure I appreciate it, and far more so than the Barrel 16 I tasted yesterday of the same box. It's a good geuze, no doubt, with a fairly unique expression. It just lacks on being Boon to me, or a barrel I particularly enjoy myself. Shrouded in personal opinions, I cannot give the beer the high score others would (and should) give it,

7.3

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6.5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Pours a darker blonde, very small layer of foam fades fast. Scent is beautifully Boon, specifically musty, tad more oaky than average. The typical fruityness is right in place, average intensity for their geuze's, which suits me greatly. Taste is specifically dry, musty, milder than expected on the oak. Bit (too) buttery mouthfeel, mild acidity, fruityness bit milder than expected. Hmm... The aroma made me expect this to be pretty great, but taste-wise, it's one of my lesser Boon's. Mild bitter backbone. It's really conflicting between the oily mouthfeel, mild (but too high for the balance) bitterness, and the toned down aroma's and acidity. Not a bad beer, but one that doesn't meet expectations.

8.6

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

Aus der Flasche (bbe 14.02.2042) im 2025-08 getrunken. Dieses undurchsichtige, rote Ale kommt mit einer sehr gut balancierten, kräftigen Kirsch-Aroma. Allerdings ist da noch ein schräges Aroma was mich an ein typisches Gueuze-Aroma mit Farmhouse Noten erinnert. Gerade die deutlich moderate Säure ist für ein klassisches Kriek etwas schwächer. Hier gewinnt gerade die Balance und die Komplexität.

7

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

375ml bottle from Vanuxeem. Pours a generally clear reddish pink, frothy off-white head with specks of yeast gunk. Aroma brings a cherry sweetness, coarse hints. Not quite as sharp as expected to taste but still a decent thorny cherry character coming through. Just lacks the wow factor of others of its ilk.