The latest Grapevine to my knowledge, using Souvignier Gris grapes, a variety created in Germany in 1983, known in oenological circles for its tropical and stonefruit aromas; the grapes in question were harvested in the Hageland region in Flemish Brabant (and partially Limburg). Thin but well-knitted, off-white, tiny-bubbled, immediately opening head initially retaining around the edge in a thin ring and some shards in the middle but then dissolving completely; hazy peach blonde robe with merigold hue. Aroma of green plums in spring, dandelion, unripe nectarine, white wine must, a weird and relatively strong whiff of chlorine or the pheromones of a fruit fly even though no fruit fly was drowning in my glass (I double checked), young wormwood, rainwater, dry wood, sorrel, hay, hints of unripe pineapple, old dry crackers, grass, wet dog, sweat. Tart, fruity onset, the mellow sourness of green apple and not quite ripe stonefruit like plum or nectarine mingled with something unripe pineapple-like and the wryness of grape skins, moderately carbonated (certainly no geuze-like effervescence, rather the soft carb of a bottle-conditioned unblended lambic) with smooth, vinous mouthfeel. Bread-crusty core under strongly astringent lactic acidity, carrying this 'green' fruitiness further while the 'grapeyness' develops, though less sweetly and juicily so than I was anticipating (as compared with earlier vintages); a dry white wine and grape must effect is of course clearly present, next to very strong tannic woodiness and an old dry sherry effect - which, along with that chlorine-like effect returning, clearly hint at some form of aged lambic. The most distinct feature here, however, is a wry, 'green' bitterness spreading out in the finish, partially hoppy in nature I reckon, but also linked to this chlorine-like scent and, seemingly, the skins and seeds of the Souvignier Gris grapes. In fact, this bitterness is more a kind of 'green' wryness reminiscent of green bitter weeds (mugwort, dandelion) or indeed unripe grapes - grapes that have lacked sunlight and warmth, or even time to grow on the vine. I took me a whole bottle to get used to this wry, bitter 'aftertaste' and I did not like that chlorine-ish aroma at all, but structurally this is still an interesting concoction, especially considering it was made with their own aged 'Spierelambiek' - and possibly aged lambic from the actual lambic region, though this remains undisclosed. I recall previous editions to be fruitier, juicier and far less bitter - more akin to 'real' grape lambic, arguably, so that for me, this Souvignier Gris edition is so far the least successful of the lot. I hasten to add that I sadly missed out on the Chasselas Blanc one, however, so I hope this 'cépage' will be revisited somewhere in the coming years, like they did with Montepulciano.

330 ml bottle. Pours a bright amber with light head. Aromas of fruity Belgian yeast, stoned fruit and bready malts. Flavors of bitter citrus, herbal almost earthy hops and dry toasted malts. Quite a difference between nose and taste with the latter quite bitter.

33 cl. bottle @ home, bought @ van Rooij, Culemborg.
Hazy golden with a white head. Hoppy aroma with some citrus. Pleasantly bitter with nice long bitter finish. Great off-beat beer, more complex than the name implies.

Amber colour, small off-white head. Aroma is tart fruits, some grapes, mild wood with a bit funky tones to it. Flavour is tart fruits, grapes, mild wood with some acidic elements as well as some strange tartish wooden notes.

Vinous, heavy with grapes, some tartness and sourness, hints of farmyardy yeastiness