#lambic blend

[malapropian]

St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition (Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck)

The beer is colored something between orange and mahogany, with a one-finger head. It smells like a funky blend of cider and wine. The taste is moderately sour and lemon-like. The mouthfeel is just above light, in the medium-bodied realm of beers, with a surprisingly smooth finish.

Overall, this beer is enjoyable, but a level below the upper-echelon of lambic blends. When I pop the cork on a gueuze, I do so hoping for skin-ripping sourness, and this beer just doesn't quite have that.

[malapropian]

Gueuze Girardin (Brouwerij Girardin)

The beer pours golden-amber, with a one-and-a-half finger head. The aroma is dominated by a Brettanomyces derived barnyard funk, with undertones of lemon rind. The taste follows similarly, but defined more by Lactobacillus than Brett, producing something tart, sour and citric, with an earthy, acidic finish. The mouthfeel is smooth, biting and just above light, in the moderate-to-medium bodied realm of beers.

Overall, a fantastic lambic blend -- my favorite to date.

[malapropian]

Oude Gueuze (Hanssens Artisanaal)

An authentic Belgian gueuze (lambic blend), matured three or more years.

Pours orangish-yellow with a thin head over a dense population of pronounced bubbles.  Smells very funky and cider-like. The taste follows this closely -- dry, sour and funky with a slight citrus character to the finish.  A superb representation of the style.

[malapropian]

Bambic (Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales)

A blend of Jolly Pumpkin's Bam Bière and their super-aged Lambicus Dexterius. Wow. So. Sour. Minimal head that vanishes almost immediately. Brettanomyces-laden, pucker-inducing, saison-on-lambic goodness -- pretty much everything that I love about Jolly Pumpkin is in this bottle to the nth degree (and on draught for a limited time!).