3 Fonteinen J & J Oude Geuze Roze

Formerly brewed at 3 Fonteinen
Style: Lambic - Gueuze
Beersel, Belgium

Bottle served in a very authentic straw basket at DHVL. Pours slight hazy copper coloured with a nice egg white head. Dry, fruity and floral aroma with notes of raspberries, wood, musty basement and balsamic vinegar. Tart and dry flavour with notes of spice, lemons, wood, red currants and earth. Not as hardcore as the blue version but truly enjoyable. Lots of drinkability.

Another rarity from fonefan. I was ready for a gusher like the Blauw, but this cork popped with only moderate velocity and the contents stayed in the bottle this time. The pour is a hazy orange with a decent fluffy white head that recedes to a cap and leaves spotty lacing. The body cleared up almost completely as it warmed. The carbonation is not nearly as visible and active as in the Blauw. The aroma is a great mix of the tart, funk and fruity sweetness. There are some pears and apples in the nose as well as some tart lemon notes. The funk is not nearly as prevalent as in the Blauw, though it’s definitely in there. This aroma may actually be a tad more balanced than the Blauw, but they’re both great. The taste is where I think the Blauw differentiates itself vs. this one. There is an massive acidic bitterness with lots of lemon and other fruity tartness on top. There is a bit of bready malt but the sweetness of the aroma is not evident in the taste. It’s got a dry, funky finish that lingers on the palate and leaves me puckering a bit. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and bone dry in the finish. There is noticeably less carbonation in the Roze vs. the Blauw. This is another wonderful sour from Drie Fonteinen, but I wouldn’t put it in the truly world class category like the Blauw. It’s got lots of acidity and funk but there isn’t as much other components to match the complexity and balance of the Blauw.

Bottle generously shared by ygtbsm94 on 1/10/09: Pours a transparent effervescent deep golden with a thin-lacing spotty off-white head. Aroma of fresh tart citrus and some leathery cheesy notes. Body starts with good fullness and carbonation with mild sweetness and good leathery complexity toward a drier tart finish. A pretty nice gueuze, but the Blauw has more body and complexity.

Bottle looks very good, the beer in the glass also, very zippy. Starts strong-sourish, modest woody. "Aggressive" sourishness is really good. Nice!

Aroma is funky, barnyard, fruity with a touch of horseblanket. Hazy sunset, tiny white head. Flavour is intense fruit, funky, yeast and some more horseblanket. Light bodied, very well balanced, complex, wonderfully sour/tartness. Fantastic! Thank You for sharing HogTownHarry!

Courtesy of northernbrews @ his November ’08 sour tasting.

Bottle: The aroma is musty with some hints of sweet apple, cork, and mild tartness. It pours a transparent golden-orange with a small white head. The flavor starts with a mild dose of apple and lemon tartness. The finish has some notes of must, cork, and oak. Light bodied with light carbonation. Solid but I think the regular geuze is better.

[Bottle, huge thanks go to ygtbsm94 for sharing this!] Pours slightly less red than the Blauw, and has a much smaller head. The aroma is much sweeter, and not nearly as citrusy or funky. Nothing really stands out in the taste, it is fairly subdued, and although there is some fruit and the typical sourness there, it is well-rounded and not sharp at all. Mouthfeel is thinner than the Blauw, but good finish. Overall, I had a hard time describing this beer, despite taking my time and having seconds of it. I did not like it as much as the Blauw (which I had alongside it), but it still is a pretty good gueuze, and I am glad I got a chance to try it. Thanks again, Brad!

Rating #1900. Bottle shared by ygtbsm94 at a post EBF tasting, thank you brad. Pours a deep amber body with a tan lacing. Sour cherries, woody lambic. Grapes, and pineapple. Citric lemon notes with a peppery body. Thinner than its companion. Light acidity. Fantastic beer.