Girardin Gueuze Black Label

Brewed by Brouwerij Girardin
Style: Lambic - Gueuze
Sint Ulriks-Kapelle, Belgium

I fail to understand the true appeal of the lambic. These beers are so incredibly expensive and heavily aged--lets get some barley wines with 2 years of age on them by default. This one was very sweet and intensely, brutally, overwhelmingly acidic. Exactly like drinking Sprite with vinegar. Much grapiness in the flavors also, like sour cherry champagne that is foot-in-mouth bitter. I really like this beer however, and since Impy Stout and Barley Wine are the only styles I judge by style and not flavor, I will have to reluctantly rate this very high.

bottle thanks to tom- pours cloudy real cloudy, amber,big creamy, white offwhite head,nose isnt as big as some of the other gueze ive had, tastes sour strawberry, sour cherry, lemon rind, complex but i think maybe a bit too sour for my taste to have on it’s own.

Corked and caged. Classic gueuze nose, slightly metallic yeast. Sour with slight wood. Dark golden pour with a dense, rocky, tiny-bubbled, noise beige head and champagne-like clinging to the undersides of the glass. Laces. with legs. Taste is strongly sour and medially sweet, slight citrus (along the lines of grapefruit) along with faint muscat, wood, and puckering tartness. Slight dish-soapy champagne tone (the flavor, not a negative). Medium body, smooth and malty other than the initial burst of sparkle. Dry and water-sucking. Mouth and throat are left dry and sated for some time after drinking. Touch of lemon cleaner and floral notes with the bend of leather. Complexity of the sour wood makes this a winner. Not over the top and offensive - though not tame - and one of the most refreshing (drinkable! quenching!) gueuzes around. Superb.

Very hazy amber pour with lots of carbonation and beautiful lacing. Topped off with a thick long lasting white head - perfect pour! Sour aroma with a hint of roast and malt. Very complex - some citrus tones as wells as spices. A little bit of vinegar but overall very pleasant. Very sour taste but there is a very slight sweetness to it. Peppery tones with grain and malt on the finish. Very good!

From a 330mL Bottle. Pours a transparent, honey gold color with a thin layer of fizzy white head. Aromas of sour lemon, musty horseblanket, and cheesy funk. Hints of oaky vanilla. Tart peach skins and fermented grapefruits. Light bodied, mildly carbonated mouthfeel with moderate acidity. A moderate lactic acidity greets the palate up front, along with hints of lemon juice and a bright point reyes bleu funk. Light white pepper spice and touches of aged oak. Could use a bit more carbonation to lighten up the palate and help heighten the brighter flavors of the beer. The musky flavors are complex and satisfying, but would be further heightened with some brighter balance. Lingering finish of cheese rind and lemon pith.

4-5-08 bottle shared at tasting
Clearish amber color with a thin okay head. This is the first beer I have actually picked up on the "cat pee" smell. Flavor is sour tart apples and has a dusty finish. Drinkable and has just an average mouthfeel for me.

Bottle. Hazy golden orange with a little sediment and yeast, small white head crests this beauty. A thrilling funk on the nose: zesty sour lemon, acidic tart, leathery barnhouse brett funk. Nicely effervescent in the mouth. Tart upfront, curling around to puckering strong almost lime tang. As this warmed drying leather stabs mingled with the tart. This is superb, wonderfully drying and tartly refreshing. A little more upfront sour than the Boon Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait. Tremendous!

bottle at the white horse with issy and a plate of rock oysters, and hell i can recommend that combination.it’s one of my most drunk lambics and i love nothing more than watching the sun set on a cool summer day with a bottle of this light fresh tarty little beauty. gorgeous body, citric and tataric acid with sweet leather yummy.