New grape lambic by the Lambiek Fabriek guys, made with Solaris, a white grape variety developed in Germany in 1975. Snow white, moussy, thin and open head, quickly reduced to a waferthin ring over a hazy apricot blonde robe with beige tinge. Aroma of green pear, wet clay (oddly), freshly cut dandelion, unripe peach, lots of grape skin, unripe pineapple, green potato peel, dust, cider, stale lime juice, dry hay, goat stable and barnyard to even sweet manure further on, swimming pool chlorine touch. Juicy onset, sweetish Solaris grapes surrounded by soft green pear and unripe stonefruit impressions; cooked gooseberries and unripe pineapple too, in a cider-like effervescence. Drying lactic tartness pushes through a rounded bready body while lots of sour grape effects show up; unripe pineapple and green Conference pear remain fixed associations till the finish, perhaps some green kiwi as well. A bitter dandelion-like aspect graces the finish, probably a combination of the old hops with the grape seeds; woody and earthy notes further deepen the finish but a yellow fruit brightness persists above it all. Some warming, calvados-like alcohol accentuates all these aspects without imposing itself too much. Interesting grape lambic, perhaps more so than the other Lambiek Fabriek grape lambics (there are a few), where a deep, almost 'dirty' earthiness seems to clash with a bright, radiant 'yellow' fruitiness from the grapes... This alone makes for a fascinating but somewhat challenging combo and even if this one lacks the elegance and sophistication of the Tilquin Oude Roussanne we had right before it, it still stands as a somewhat odd, but all the more interesting additions to the ever-growing lake of grape lambics churned out by the old Pajottenland in recent years. I wonder what this one will mature like over time.

Bottle shared in London - cheers to Danny. Pours unclear pink-gold with a creamy white topping. Lightly sweet with nice acidity, tart berries, bit of funk, mellow salt. Medium bodied with fine, massaging carbonation. Quenching finish, more tangy berries, dry funk, lemony bite, background notes of pale wood. Solid.

Medium pink head, irregular, over fully hazy purplish terra cotta beer. End of bottle solid yeast. Red fruit, horseblanket, more grapey than vinous. Exotic flowers. Both fruity and perfumey. Alternative skincareproducts upon lambic-y horseblanket/farmyard. Precarious, but just-successful lambic. Grapes added - but tasting more as of blackcurrant & billberry. Only light acidthinning and -burn, fruitslickness unmistakable, medium carbonation. A very distinct, unusual lambic. Lambiek Fabriek keeps making daring and pleasantly surprising blends.

Bottle. Color: Clear golden, white head. Aroma: Tart, fruity, funky. Taste: Over moderate tart, rural funk, fruity rhubarb and some lemon. Oak wood notes. Dry-ish mouthfeel going to very dry at the finish. Medium body, below average carbonation. Very nice rhubarb Lqmbic.

Bottle shared. Rhubarb, funky, wheat, lemon, light mineral. Medium sour, lighter sweet and bitter. Good!