Lambic Discussion Thread

[guido4life]

Lambics are here to stay

Somewhat of a fad but mostly legit, demand will drop slightly and prices will drop significantly as the market adjusts and more people get good at making beers like this.

 

[OnryAndMean]

The issue with lambic (unlike most beer) is that most people who do enjoy it buy it in bulk, hoard it (rarely trade it), and have a bunch of it aging in their cellars for future consumption...and want to continue to do so. As more people get into it, it's just more people willing to buy $20-40 bottles by the case(s), and severely limit availability. Like if I see Tilquin, I buy as much as possible because I know it'll be gone the next time I go to the store.

No other style of beer really has that large of a percentage of the purchasing demographic willing to go to those extremes. At least not that I'm aware of.

 

[Rowingbrewer1]

The issue with lambic (unlike most beer) is that most people who do enjoy it buy it in bulk, hoard it (rarely trade it), and have a bunch of it aging in their cellars for future consumption...and want to continue to do so. As more people get into it, it's just more people willing to buy $20-40 bottles by the case(s), and severely limit availability. Like if I see Tilquin, I buy as much as possible because I know it'll be gone the next time I go to the store.

No other style of beer really has that large of a percentage of the purchasing demographic willing to go to those extremes. At least not that I'm aware of.

Hill Farmstead (I know its not a style)

 

[OnryAndMean]

Hill Farmstead (I know its not a style)

True. Though no one is buying it by the dozens to leave in their basement for decades (I hope)

 

[OtisCampbell1]

Or the Boredoms or Merzbow...

OK.. outside Japan... but then, they had the famous Foufoune 375's too so that speaks to their aesthetic...

(If you think Merzbow is R-n-R.. I lol at you)

Name your favorite Korean or Chinese rock band, I dare you...

 

[stupac2]

The issue with lambic (unlike most beer) is that most people who do enjoy it buy it in bulk, hoard it (rarely trade it), and have a bunch of it aging in their cellars for future consumption...and want to continue to do so. As more people get into it, it's just more people willing to buy $20-40 bottles by the case(s), and severely limit availability. Like if I see Tilquin, I buy as much as possible because I know it'll be gone the next time I go to the store.

No other style of beer really has that large of a percentage of the purchasing demographic willing to go to those extremes. At least not that I'm aware of.

People do that with a lot of special releases, and besides, it's not hard to find a bunch of good gueuzes, at least around here. I think the difference is that it's hard to ramp up production of a lambic the way you can of, say, a BA stout.

 

[drgarage1]

OK.. outside Japan... but then, they had the famous Foufoune 375's too so that speaks to their aesthetic...

(If you think Merzbow is R-n-R.. I lol at you)

Name your favorite Korean or Chinese rock band, I dare you...

Merzbow is broadly within rock. It's noise rock, but it's rock, no matter how unlistenable it usually is.

 

[OnryAndMean]

People do that with a lot of special releases, and besides, it's not hard to find a bunch of good gueuzes, at least around here. I think the difference is that it's hard to ramp up production of a lambic the way you can of, say, a BA stout.

Man, Tilquin is about the only good gueuze I ever see on a shelf, and it disappears quickly these days. Last shipment of 13/14 that came was gone from local stores in a matter of a week or so

I do agree that the production is another large factor. All together it just makes it that much more difficult. For me at least.

 

[LukeAleTime]

Wait... 2014 went up on Etre and got snapped up... but there is still a bunch of 2013 on there?

Am I missing something? What's more attractive about this year?

 

[Dunt1]

750s playa

 

[LukeAleTime]

yep.. 20 or so of the 2013 there atm?

 

[callmemickey]

Wait... 2014 went up on Etre and got snapped up... but there is still a bunch of 2013 on there?

Am I missing something? What's more attractive about this year?

Many people are creating verticals in their cellars. Everyone rushes out to get some from the new year ASAP so they don't miss out (even though there will be multiple batches and these will keep showing up on Etre/BiaB).

 

[LukeAleTime]

Many people are creating verticals in their cellars. Everyone rushes out to get some from the new year ASAP so they don't miss out (even though there will be multiple batches and these will keep showing up on Etre/BiaB).

the way peeps are acting though, it's like it's the gueuze apocalypse.

 

[ASUBeer]

SeaWatchman and others... What is your feedback on Horals mega blend? Any vintages that jump out to you as being a better year?

 

[drgarage1]

SeaWatchman and others... What is your feedback on Horals mega blend? Any vintages that jump out to you as being a better year?

Not worth the price of admission based on the two I've tried. Not bad, just not worth paying more for than Tilquin or 3F...

 

[stupac2]

SeaWatchman and others... What is your feedback on Horals mega blend? Any vintages that jump out to you as being a better year?

Like drgarage I had previously had it and was unimpressed, but on Yves's recommendation we ordered a 2009 at Grote Dorst and it was actually quite good. Yves and Uli (who I guess is there a lot now) said that the beer just needs time since it's mostly composed of young lambics. It was good enough that I took a stab in the dark and ordered a couple of each year just 'cuz why not? I'll sit on them a few years and see what happens.

 

[xscottypx]

Not worth the price of admission based on the two I've tried. Not bad, just not worth paying more for than Tilquin or 3F...

the 09 i had the other night was down right amazing.

 

[drgarage1]

the 09 i had the other night was down right amazing.

That's what stupac2 is saying now, too. I have not had 09. I think I had 12 and 11?

 

[stupac2]

That's what stupac2 is saying now, too. I have not had 09. I think I had 12 and 11?

They come out every two years, so there's 11 and 13 at this point.

 

[Pneill3161]

Like drgarage I had previously had it and was unimpressed, but on Yves's recommendation we ordered a 2009 at Grote Dorst and it was actually quite good. Yves and Uli (who I guess is there a lot now) said that the beer just needs time since it's mostly composed of young lambics. It was good enough that I took a stab in the dark and ordered a couple of each year just 'cuz why not? I'll sit on them a few years and see what happens.

Felt the same of the new one as well. Thought it tasted like all the blenders brought the same lambics to the party, would make sense as they are all young lambics.

 

[xscottypx]

Like drgarage I had previously had it and was unimpressed, but on Yves's recommendation we ordered a 2009 at Grote Dorst and it was actually quite good. Yves and Uli (who I guess is there a lot now) said that the beer just needs time since it's mostly composed of young lambics. It was good enough that I took a stab in the dark and ordered a couple of each year just 'cuz why not? I'll sit on them a few years and see what happens.

given everything in these bottles, there is no way i would drink it fresh. needs time for the love to come together. although i had an 09 a few years ago and still loved it there.

 

[Hookemhops13]

Figured you guys would know best. Would it be totally off to offer a few Pirate Bomb for a Fou Foune? Seen some ISO:FT recently that make it seem like this may be possible but I really don't know.

 

[drgarage1]

Figured you guys would know best. Would it be totally off to offer a few Pirate Bomb for a Fou Foune? Seen some ISO:FT recently that make it seem like this may be possible but I really don't know.

If you're trading with an idiot, maybe.

 

[ASUBeer]

I appreciate the feedback on the Horals. I've always been curious about that Gueuze and never pulled the trigger.

I also can't believe how insane etre and the other Belgian shops have gotten. It's crazy when a supply of 2013 and 2014 Cantillon Gueuze is a major supply update for them. I miss the days of getting boxes of Vignerrone, saint Lamvinus and Lou Pepes all at once with no problems.

 

[Hookemhops13]

If you're trading with an idiot, maybe.

Lol that's kinda what I figured and exactly the kind of response I was looking for. Thanks.


I'll crawl back into my hole where no Fou Foune is ever allowed to enter......

 

[xscottypx]

like when zwanze 2010 sat there for years? and when beer planet had 2002 fonteinen OGV sat as well?

 

[ASUBeer]

like when zwanze 2010 sat there for years? and when beer planet had 2002 fonteinen OGV sat as well?

As pathetic as beer planet is, I ordered like 6 Fou Foune from them one year and had them on my doorstep in a week.

 

[Etan]

SeaWatchman and others... What is your feedback on Horals mega blend? Any vintages that jump out to you as being a better year?

09 was super good. 11 right behind it. Definitely recommend picking up a couple bottles.

 

[drgarage1]

Lol that's kinda what I figured and exactly the kind of response I was looking for. Thanks.


I'll crawl back into my hole where no Fou Foune is ever allowed to enter......

I'll rephrase. If you add, you might get this done internationally. But only American idiots.

 

[SeaWatchman]

SeaWatchman and others... What is your feedback on Horals mega blend? Any vintages that jump out to you as being a better year?

I have been impressed with all of the vintages, but would I say they are head and shoulders above the rest of the regular stuff that's out there? 2009, maybe, and the 11 was good when I had it last. The '13 is definitely still green. PM me again if you want some though, I can help.