Hapu, marjane, happeline, puuviljane, ploomine, nats nisune, veits funky, viinamarjane, happeline. Ok.

Geuze by Vermeersch Bier, a lambic blendery set up some years ago in Maldegem in the Meetjesland region of Eastern Flanders by an experienced and passionate beer connoisseur; his project - not to be confused with LePlan-Vermeersch, by the way - is one of several in and outside of the traditional lambic region that buy lambics from different producers and make their own blends, a concept initiated in our modern times by my old friend Ulrich 'Ulli' Kremer (h.ertie) and - very - successfully succeeded by Bokke, but also by Pellicle, Pouckie Blended, 't Pomphuizeke here in Ghent and so on. I guess this 'homeblending' idea can be regarded as a postmodern offspring of both lambic culture and global craft beer tendencies in general - and though most of them are typically hard to come by due to very limited prpduction rates, many make a damn fine lambic. This one - bottled in February 2023 so two and a half years old now - is conceptualised as a traditional geuze, coming from a corked bottle with the typically sober black-and-white Vermeersch label; I have no idea who David is, but I guess Vermeersch took over Hill Farmstead's habit of naming his creations after family members living and deceased. Medium thick, snow white, gradually thinning and eventually all but dissolving head on an initially crystal clear (!), warm old-golden blonde robe with only some disparate bubbles rising up - perhaps not the kind of effervescence I expect in a geuze; further in the bottle, the robe turns more misty and more deeply orange-hued. Aroma of walnut husks, unripe plum, old (empty) cigar boxes, dried bitter weeds (dandelion), preserved peach, old dried lemon peel, very old leather, dry hay, furniture wax but very subtle, hint of oloroso sherry, damp autumn leaves, vague (natural) potpourri in the background. Tart onset, on the 'malse' side but still sharp enough to refresh, flavours of dried lemon peel, sour grape, preserved peaches, pickled apricots - but in all relatively restrained in esteriness, at least for the style; medium carb - as the visuals already announced, less effervescent than I prefer for a geuze, but still within the range of what is expected from the style. Slightly resinous, supple mouthfeel, vinous, with sourdough and bread crust 'soil' under drying lactic tartness and strong tannic woodiness, along with ongoing dried lemon peel sour-bitterness and retronasal impressions of dry hay- and old leather-like Brett (even a very faint and volatile whiff of sweaty sock-like funk!) as well as onsetting oxidation adding a very sherry-forward elegance (oloroso again). Ends vinous, woody, dry, a bit wet-autumn-leafy and quite satisfying - with an underlying old hop bitter effect connecting everything. Weird that this dry sherry-like oxidation is already present at this age, but I cannot be bothered, on the contrary even: it adds elegance and finesse in this case, making the whole more layered and complex. Intelligently put together with the flavours having intertwined for years now, it is a long shot to try and guess which lambic went in here, but I can pick out that bitter weed-like aspect of De Troch anywhere and it almost certainly is present in this geuze, though luckily it has been applied relatively subtly; my other guesses would be Boon and Herberg, but I guess I would have to meet this mister Vermeersch in person (which oddly never happened in all those years) to get more accurate information. In any case: elegant, cleverly assembled and interesting geuze, frankly I had Cuvée Lambikstoemper and other 'occasional' geuze blends that were less entertaining than this one. Motivating to find more Vermeersch blends.

0,75l bottle at tasting at home. Orange cloudy color, small white head. Smells funky, oak, grassy, herbal, peppery. Nice to very nice smell. full body, soft carbonation. Tastes herbal, earthy, spices, oak, walnuts, bit peppery. Finishes lightly dry and lightly sour with notes of walnuts, oak and herbal notes. Very nice one. Good balance

8, 7.5, 8, 7, 8

Pours unclear yellow, small white head. Scent is full, intense funk, balanced rhubarb. Nice ! Taste is full, rhubarb, intense balanced and complex acidity. Lovely blend !

Sour tart notes of orchard fruit, light to medium body, medium acidity and light carbonation, tart fruity finish.