Gueuzerie Tilquin Oude Quetsche Tilquin à l’Ancienne Lambic – Fruit at 6.4% ABV ($15.67 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 375ml, best before 6-Feb-2024)
Pours hazy (first glass) to cloudy (second glass) reddish pale to medium amber with a short loose foamy head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is dusty barnyard funk, green apple and plums, lemon, woody and vinous notes. (9/10) Taste is mild to moderate sweet, strong tart, mild funk. (9/10) Light body, prickly to moderate carbonation, very dry tart funky finish. (4/5)
Wow. The first sip of this brought me back to childhood, eating damson plums (quetsche) we stole from the neighbour’s trees. Intense plums, piled on top of the beautiful tart and funky flavours of the base lambics. Every sip reveals new aspects and the lovely dry finish leaves you ready to take another fresh crack at it every time. That’s not to say this is hugely different that the Oude Gueze – it isn’t – but the plummy stone fruit aspect is an interesting variation on that theme (even if it does make for a pretty murky brew towards the end of the bottle!). (19/20)
My 128th from the 2013 Edition of 1001 Beers (new to that edition) and 142nd combining both editions.
9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
