Lambic Discussion Thread

[Der Fuchs]

If Shaun Hill said it, it is 100% undoubtedly true. And that's the bottom line, because Saint Shaun Hill said called down the heavens and made it so.

Ftfy

 

[Etan]

Getting ready to open a 2006 Doesjel soon. I bought this online sometime last year from that batch that's still floating around in some online shops. Last time I had this beer it was a 2010 bottle, and I wasn't super-impressed. We shall see. Anybody open a 2006 bottle recently?

 

[SeaWatchman]

Getting ready to open a 2006 Doesjel soon. I bought this online sometime last year from that batch that's still floating around in some online shops. Last time I had this beer it was a 2010 bottle, and I wasn't super-impressed. We shall see. Anybody open a 2006 bottle recently?

Love love love the 2006 bottling. You might even get lucky and get one that carbed up!

 

[matedog]

A bit late to the party, but I'd like to regale y'all with a nice story from not too long ago.

I was in London visiting friends and touring around nearby towns. I spent plenty of time seeking out some really nice local cask ales. At one point I found out there was a bullet train from London to Brussels that was only two hours. It was a pricey ticket, but I would sacrifice staying at hotels (downgrading to hostels) for the rest of the trip.

About two years prior, I had done a trip from Paris to Brugge to various parts of Germany. I hadn't had real lambic at that point, but a nice gentleman named I believe Simon at La Cave a Bulles in Paris insisted I stop by Cantillon in Brussels. It was a great suggestion and I immediately fell in love with Lambic.

Flash forward two years and knowing I was merely two hours from the brewery, I got the itch and did a day trip to Belgium. I didn't need to do the tour again, so I went to the bar area and opted for 2012 Zwanze since it was something I wouldn't be able to get back in the States. I got the bottle in the proper pour basket and set up to take a photo when a young gentleman with an American accent said,
"Where are you from?"
"Uh, the US."
"What part?"
"Uh, San Francisco."
"What part of SF?"
"Lower Haight."
"Yeah, I used to work at NOPA around there. I could tell you were American because you were taking a photo of your beer. Want to come drink with me and my Belgian friend?"
"Yeah, sure."

This young man then proceeded to share with me some rare stuff with me that wasn't available for the general public:

From left to right: some single fermented framboise, (top) Lou Pepe Kriek 2012, 2012 Fou Foune (supposedly sold out according to the signs by the bottle shop section), 2012 Zwanze, and 2011 Fou Foune. Later on he shared some lambic that had been fermented in clay vessels (appears to be the Amphoras section as described on the website).

So what was going to be me sitting by myself, knocking off a bottle of Zwanze, ended up being a really diverse and interesting tasting. Okay yeah, he didn't bust out a bottle of Loerik, but whatever. Anyway, after a falafel stop, we headed over to Moeder Lambic for a few more drinks. This guy seemed to know people everywhere we went. He had a personal relationship with Jean, at Moeder we ran into the guy who runs Monk's in Philly who knew this guy, and he also claimed to be Vinnie from RR's godson. Anyway, he was super generous and his generosity made for a really special trip.

 

[SeaWatchman]

Was his name Matt?

 

[matedog]

Was his name Matt?

Yeah, Matt Rooney, I believe. I didn't get his email or anything though.

 

[SeaWatchman]

 

[ASUBeer]

Getting ready to open a 2006 Doesjel soon. I bought this online sometime last year from that batch that's still floating around in some online shops. Last time I had this beer it was a 2010 bottle, and I wasn't super-impressed. We shall see. Anybody open a 2006 bottle recently?

I had one a few months ago. Mine wasn't carved which made it a lot closer to lambic than Geuze.

I did really enjoy the beer. You get some of the signature 3F notes in more of a flat lambic style.

 

[gkatsoris]

400

 

[Dunt1]

A bit late to the party, but I'd like to regale y'all with a nice story from not too long ago.

I was in London visiting friends and touring around nearby towns. I spent plenty of time seeking out some really nice local cask ales. At one point I found out there was a bullet train from London to Brussels that was only two hours. It was a pricey ticket, but I would sacrifice staying at hotels (downgrading to hostels) for the rest of the trip.

About two years prior, I had done a trip from Paris to Brugge to various parts of Germany. I hadn't had real lambic at that point, but a nice gentleman named I believe Simon at La Cave a Bulles in Paris insisted I stop by Cantillon in Brussels. It was a great suggestion and I immediately fell in love with Lambic.

Flash forward two years and knowing I was merely two hours from the brewery, I got the itch and did a day trip to Belgium. I didn't need to do the tour again, so I went to the bar area and opted for 2012 Zwanze since it was something I wouldn't be able to get back in the States. I got the bottle in the proper pour basket and set up to take a photo when a young gentleman with an American accent said,
"Where are you from?"
"Uh, the US."
"What part?"
"Uh, San Francisco."
"What part of SF?"
"Lower Haight."
"Yeah, I used to work at NOPA around there. I could tell you were American because you were taking a photo of your beer. Want to come drink with me and my Belgian friend?"
"Yeah, sure."

This young man then proceeded to share with me some rare stuff with me that wasn't available for the general public:

From left to right: some single fermented framboise, (top) Lou Pepe Kriek 2012, 2012 Fou Foune (supposedly sold out according to the signs by the bottle shop section), 2012 Zwanze, and 2011 Fou Foune. Later on he shared some lambic that had been fermented in clay vessels (appears to be the Amphoras section as described on the website).

So what was going to be me sitting by myself, knocking off a bottle of Zwanze, ended up being a really diverse and interesting tasting. Okay yeah, he didn't bust out a bottle of Loerik, but whatever. Anyway, after a falafel stop, we headed over to Moeder Lambic for a few more drinks. This guy seemed to know people everywhere we went. He had a personal relationship with Jean, at Moeder we ran into the guy who runs Monk's in Philly who knew this guy, and he also claimed to be Vinnie from RR's godson. Anyway, he was super generous and his generosity made for a really special trip.

I want some amphora

 

[stupac2]

Yeah, Matt Rooney, I believe. I didn't get his email or anything though.

Funny, I had a similar experience with Matt, but in Antwerp. That was my first time having an Uli's gueuze.

 

[tehzachatak]

Getting ready to open a 2006 Doesjel soon. I bought this online sometime last year from that batch that's still floating around in some online shops. Last time I had this beer it was a 2010 bottle, and I wasn't super-impressed. We shall see. Anybody open a 2006 bottle recently?

No, but I'm curious too- I have one that I'm planning on opening sometime soon. 375 or 750?

EDIT: Also, Golden Doesjel just went up on etre and is still hanging along unlike another beer that went up with it. Essentially Doesjel with an additional 4 year old lambic? Interesting.

 

[Etan]

No, but I'm curious too- I have one that I'm planning on opening sometime soon. 375 or 750?

EDIT: Also, Golden Doesjel just went up on etre and is still hanging along unlike another beer that went up with it. Essentially Doesjel with an additional 4 year old lambic? Interesting.

750ml. I'll let you know how it goes.

Golden Doesjel sounds interesting...

 

[infi]

I've got an '06 75cl Doesjel as well, and will be sure to report back on here opening.

 

[tehzachatak]

750ml. I'll let you know how it goes.

Golden Doesjel sounds interesting...

Word. I have a 750 too. The BA reviews seem to indicate that the 375s kinda suck- only reason I ask.

 

[Dsal891]

Lambic in a box.....yay or nay?

Been thinking of getting a girardin one for everyday enjoyment.

Just wanna know everyone's thoughts on it.

I'm a rookie

 

[HenrikO]

Lambic in a box.....yay or nay?

Been thinking of getting a girardin one for everyday enjoyment.

Just wanna know everyone's thoughts on it.

I'm a rookie

Yay. Just because it's baller to have a lambic bag-in-box.

I've had both the girardin lambiek and the faro, and they're both totally ok but pretty flat. I think they may transfer the like to the bag before it's had a chance to carbonate in the bottle.

My advice: do it.

 

[Lutter]

Yay. Just because it's baller to have a lambic bag-in-box.

I've had both the girardin lambiek and the faro, and they're both totally ok but pretty flat. I think they may transfer the like to the bag before it's had a chance to carbonate in the bottle.

My advice: do it.

As far as I've heard.. boxed lambic is packaged still.

 

[drgarage1]

As far as I've heard.. boxed lambic is packaged still.

Definitely. Which means you could use it to blend with homebrew for unique creations...

 

[Dsal891]

Thanks everyone!


...ill be back for more questions not involving whales

 

[callmemickey]

Anyone open a 750ml De Cam Oude Geuze (2009) recently? Cracked one last night that was close to flat. Haven't had carbonation issues with the 375mls I usually buy. Similar experiences?

 

[HenrikO]

Had one 9 months ago, it wasn't very fizzy but certainly not flat.

In my (limited) experience, there's lots of bottle variation in vintage De Cams. Some are flat, some are gushers. And all are delicious ;-)

 

[SeaWatchman]

I haven't lately but I seem to remember all of mine being high on the carbonation side. On the other hand I have heard horror stories about the newest batch of Oude Lambiek that came to the US recently being oxidized and just plain not good.

 

[Dunt1]

The ones I've opened as of late are all way overcarbed

 

[tehzachatak]

I haven't lately but I seem to remember all of mine being high on the carbonation side. On the other hand I have heard horror stories about the newest batch of Oude Lambiek that came to the US recently being oxidized and just plain not good.

god dammit. why do bad things happen to good ok people?

 

[SeaWatchman]

god dammit. why do bad things happen to good ok people?

Ask cparles

 

[cparles]

Anyone open a 750ml De Cam Oude Geuze (2009) recently? Cracked one last night that was close to flat. Haven't had carbonation issues with the 375mls I usually buy. Similar experiences?

I had a 750 of the '09 at a tasting in September or October, and it was well-carbed and delicious.

Ask cparles

Sadly true. After having an '09 Lambiek (at the same tasting as the Gueuze) which was simply fantastic, I was able to find a few bottles of the '12 that just showed up in the States. Opened one on Thanksgiving, and it was really bad. I am not in the lambic game long enough to be able to give a detailed description of what was wrong, but three of us who tasted it all agreed it was not just an issue of it being of lesser quality than the '09 - something was clearly very wrong. I trotted down to the cellar to open another bottle, and it too had the same problem. It was mildly (10%?) more tolerable, but still really, really bad. And this comes from someone who loves still lambic.

I am hoping it was just an issue of improper transportation or storage, and not an issue with the whole batch. Because I really, really liked the other De Cam Lambiek I've had...

 

[callmemickey]

The ones I've opened as of late are all way overcarbed

Given all of the comments about the 09 750s being overcarbonated, or at the very least, highly carbonated, I went back and checked the bottle... turns out it was actually a 2013. Maybe that explains the issues.

 

[Der Fuchs]

I haven't lately but I seem to remember all of mine being high on the carbonation side. On the other hand I have heard horror stories about the newest batch of Oude Lambiek that came to the US recently being oxidized and just plain not good.

Am cracking a de cam lambiek 2/2012 bottling date tonight. Will report back on findings.

 

[Pneill3161]

Lambic in a box.....yay or nay?

Been thinking of getting a girardin one for everyday enjoyment.

Just wanna know everyone's thoughts on it.

I'm a rookie

Yes do it, it's great! Completely flat since it's just straight unblended lambic from the barrel, but excellent none the less. The kriek is the best way to go if you want to drink it straight.

Definitely. Which means you could use it to blend with homebrew for unique creations...

Or order both the girardins and oud beersel and create your own gueuze. I just ordered them for batch 2. Batch 1 turned out far better then I could have ever hoped for.