3 Fonteinen Brouwerij Ambachtelijke Geuzestekerij Golden Doesjel Gueuze at 6% ABV (C$13.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 375 ml, bottle date 2-May-2015, best before 31-May-2023)
Pours hazy deep golden orange with a thin skim of white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Nose is slightly muted, complex, horseblankety funk, tart citrus, woody and leathery, tobacco. (8/10) Taste is mild sweet, moderate tart, mild salt. (9/10) Medium bodied, zero carbonation, dry tart finish. (4/5)
A very good still gueuze. (“Doesjel” means “sleepy” – as in, it hasn’t been awoken by carbonation, geddit?) Because of the lack of carbonation, it comes across very similar to an unblended lambic, but this is in fact a blend of one, two, three, and four year-old lambics. (Really more like a tart uncarbonated white wine than most beers one could name.) The absence of carbonation means you can sip this for a long time, appreciating the changes in flavour as it warms and opens up. A lot of fun, and definitely worth trying for a sour aficionado, but not as good as the carbonated versions – I find the carbonation adds some texture and even some flavour, really livening it up and bringing it to the next level. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
