Very curious for this one, as Hanssens was always a very stand out, particularly acetic Geuze. Great at those times you specifically crave a Hanssens, but those times (to me) are rather rare. I've always admired their fruitbeers, but the Geuze has always been a 'on rare ocasion' delicacy. This one is supposingly less acetic, made from the new 'caveau'. Just a year in bottle at time of sampling. Remarkably, it doesn't say 'Oude Geuze'. I wonder if this is another blender following the political desision to not use 'oude', or if this is somehow not 'oude' (younger lambics? ) Pours a clear, mildly amber-glowing blonde. Medium sized head of low stability. Scent is pretty brett forward, some cheese, oak very recognizable. Very 'heavy' on the palate - 'horseblanket' brett might be the thing that makes it that way. Taste is a lot sharper. Very rich geuze, with loads of ripe fruit (apple), still a very sour kick in the back (throat mildly burns) . A lot of maltyness / Wheat (more so than most, maybe even all? other geuzes) High carbonation, medium body. I'd place this near Oud Beersel, but it's more sour than OB, rather than Hanssens. It's a fairly 'deep' and complex geuze, one of the better ones if i'm being honest. Aftertaste isn't very long or complex, but as the beer is fading, you'll want another sip before you start to be bothered by that. Well, I din't see this release coming from Hanssens ! Apparently, they're now doing the brewery full-time. If this is the new route, I absolutely can't wait to see what's next. This is definately more of a 'everyday Geuze ' than their original one. And yet, I hope they'll also have those OG Oude Geuze, still.... For those rare ocasions ;)

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!

Definitely the best Hanssens I've had. From 2024. Everything I need in a simple geuze (just kidding, there's nothing simple about a geuze).

KAVO NOEVO, meaning aged in the refurbished caveau's @ Hanssens, and meant to going back to much earlier times in their history Small, dense white head over hazy ochre-golden beer, quite lively carbonated. Very nice, inviting nose, spring leaves, horseblanket, putteke, sulphur, fines herbes. Citrus, lactic acid, lemony. All the classic boxes ticked, but especially mellow, mild. Wheat obvious. Somehow chewy. Very good carbonation, hardly any acidburn. Yes. Sidi & John are renewing, and as this proves, on the right track! Love this one.

#gueuze