Upstream Gueuze Lambic

750 ml bottle. Pours a hazy dull golden with a fizzy off white head. Aroma is funky, leathery, some lemon citrus character, farmhouse brettyness. Light soapiness in the flavor, chunky yeasty character, more earth and leather, horsey, ligth smokey and cheesy- almost goaty or mouse-piss-like, with lots of sourness- lactic and wierd pedio or other acid bacteria. Interesting and funky overall- way out there, and not quite as refined as some belgian lambics.

Golden yellow color with a white head that has good lacing to it. Sour, funky, aromas. I get some pineapple, oak, and some fruit skins. This has some barnyard flavors to it, but it also has some citrus type flavors to it. It’s acidic, but not overly so. Dry and light bodied with pretty high carbonation. Very good beer, I wish I could have another bottle of this.

From a 750mL Bottle. Courtesy of valpoaj. Somewhat hazy, pale banana gold color with a finger of effervescent white head. Aromas of mild lemon and a whiff of pear skins, along with a puzzling talcum powder minerally character. Minimal acidity present in the nose, but some mild musty brett and faint alcohol is noticeable. Medium light bodied, softly carbonated mouthfeel. Bretty, musty flavors with a mild wheat acidity, but none of that deep, complex funky acidity. Hints of herbal coriander. The flavors aren’t bad overall, but I find it to get a bit flabby and thin on the palate and lacking any real depth or acidic complexity. Still, a respectable attempt at a difficult style. Thanks AJ!

Thanks to valpoaj for the bottle - hazy honey-colored beer, with minimal head - really tart and acidic aroma, with some over ripe fruit and serious leathery/cheesy funk - very authentic - the taste is actually rather sweet for a lambic, with some notes of oranges and honey - mild acidity - notes of vanilla and oak - some moderate barnyard and aged cheese complexity, with a hint of leather - some belgian ale wheaty/grainy character - the loow carbonation adds to a slick mouthfeel, and an oddly thick consistency, especially for the style - dries out a little in the finish, and some phenolics become apparent, but remains far too sweet for a gueuze - it tastes like they blended a gueuze with a belgian blonde ale - I think they should have shot for a lower abv - maybe it would have dried out and gotten funkier - decent, but it lacks the punch and complexity I’ve experienced in their other beers.

750ml bottle acquired in trade with valpoaj (thanks!). Brewed in Aug 2005 & bottled in July 2006. Bottle # 305 / 308. Poured a medium and lightly hazy yellow color with a small sized white head. Aromas of some green appples, yeast, oak, and funky. Nice aroma. Tastes of some sweet apples, caramel, vanilla, and a very light funkiness. This one was very sweet. Where is my tart Gueuze finish! After that awesome aroma, the taste was a major let down.