Lambic Discussion Thread

[Compton25]

Thanks Compton ! i will check with Jean this week if i have time because it's been 2 weeks i said i would go to the brewery but never had time … I hope he will have some more in a special storage ! I keep you posted man

I'll be in Brussels July 2-10, can possibly meet up for an IP swap.

 

[Dsal891]

Was the limit lifted on the special blend or do I just suck at reading?

 

[mrk_d]

Was the limit lifted on the special blend or do I just suck at reading?

Try adding more than 1 to your cart.

 

[beerinnv]

Since the subject of birthday bottles has come up, does anyone have any June 3, 2014 classic they would be willing to trade for some west coast goodness? I know there was a bottling that day...

 

[Dsal891]

Try adding more than 1 to your cart.

Oh ****. I clicked the add to cart button like 3 times. I imagine It'll adjust

 

[burgundysmoke]

i have two birthday bottlings, plus an enjoy by my bday on the tilquin quetsche.
2013 3f geuze, bought a bunch when i saw it but only have 1 bottle left. If anyone's got more 1/18/13 hit me up!
The other's a long shot lol, 3f 2003 schaerbeekse. cool to know though!

 

[Dsal891]

I think I had a bottle of my birthday gueuze for a 2012 3f og. I had completely forgot until now

 

[cosmicevan]

Easy enough. Just put it in quotes:

http://www.lambic.info/index.php?title=Special:Search&profile=default&search="01/24"&fulltext=Search

That said, there is no Jan 24 bottling. To see what it looks like when it works, try Jan 27.

http://www.lambic.info/index.php?title=Special:Search&profile=default&search="01/27"&fulltext=Search

ISO - http://www.lambic.info/index.php?title=Special:Search&profile=default&search="09/04"&fulltext=Search

Create the page ""09/04"" on this wiki! See also the search results found.

Cantillon Lou Pepe - Kriek

4 KB (599 words) - 13:34, 23 February 2015​

Cantillon Grand Cru Bruocsella

9 KB (1,267 words) - 20:41, 12 April 2015​

 

[Gestalten]

This is how we rolled in the hotel room during TDG. (Cantillon Jonge Lambiek 13 month, not pictured.)
It was very cool playing around with various blends while we were there. I think 2/3 Girardin to 1/3 Cantillon was the go to choice. We also drank all of the draft Lambic we could find, most of it Girardin, from 3 yo (iirc) at De Groene Poort, to very very young that tasted like an amazing wheat beer with a bit of funk, at Cafe In Den Haas. (It was either very actively fermenting or served on some kind of gas through a sparkler, as it had a nice tight, white head, and light carbonation.)
Straight Lambic is the number one thing I miss most from the trip. I just want to drink it all the time. Everything we had was interesting, even great in it's own right, but the trip definitely taught me the value of Girardin. I love their Gueuze of course, but it was easy to understand the esteem they are held in by Gueuze blenders when tasting the straight Lambic.
I'm going to have to buy a bag in box from BIAB soon, but the cost I'll pay is painful compared to the 23 euro we paid at the brewery. Oh well, when you gotta have it...
Now if only I had a source for Cantillon and Lindeman's.

 

[LukeAleTime]

Do Lindemans do bag in a box?

 

[Gestalten]

I don't know to be honest, but I don't see why not. It seems common place there.
I'd also add Boon to that list. Their's was really fantastic too.
Come to think of it, I think that may have been how De Grote Dorst was serving their straight Lambics. They had Boon, Lindemas, Oud Beersel, and Girardin. They have no taps there, most other serving methods wouldn't make much sense. Maybe it was gravity poured from casks? Seems like grabbing a couple bag-in-boxes would be the easiest route for a special event. The Girardin was definitely the one we had in our box. Maybe someone here knows better than I do.

 

[Pneill3161]

I was told by Kurt from BiaB that the lindemans box lambic will be available soon. There was a short period when you could buy cantillon boxes, but sadly I missed out on them.

 

[Gestalten]

Ah, great news! I'll keep an eye out.
I wonder why boxed Cantillon isn't on offer more. They do sell them regularly at the brewery. They even do return casks there. (Though they're not as cool as Girardin's)

 

[Pneill3161]

Ah, great news! I'll keep an eye out.
I wonder why boxed Cantillon isn't on offer more. They do sell them regularly at the brewery. They even do return casks there. (Though they're not as cool as Girardin's)

Would love to get my hand on the cantillon box, strictly for blending purposes.

 

[andrewdrinks]

I went to visit a friend in Vlaamse Brabant at the weekend, and knowing I liked beer she mentioned how she's recently seen something on Belgian TV about this bar a few kilometers away that only opened on Sunday mornings and maybe we could stop in and check it out and... I hadn't realised she lived so close to In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst or I'd have tried to slyly direct us in that direction anyway. First time I've been, but what a place... real mix of locals in Sunday best and lambic pilgrims from far and wide, Flemish guys dressed for mass alongside American tourists in brewery tees, but everyone mixing and getting on. Just like everyone says, the owners are great people and very friendly, and the atmosphere was spot-on.

It seems like their cellar took a bit of a pounding during TdG though - a lot of the mid-range vintages of 3F are gone now (I was hoping to drink a 3F OG from around the 04-06 age range but none available), leaving only the really expensive bottles, like 99, Seasons and some magnums. No complaints though, cellars aren't infinite. I had a 2011 Golden Blend that was magic - strong funk without being cheesy, and that slightly caramelised and woody flavour that I've noticed in younger GBs offset by bigger acidity. Only stayed for one as I was driving, but can't wait to go back.

Anyway tl;dr version: go to In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst if you're ever in Belgium.

 

[Gestalten]

Yeah VtdGD was an amazing place. We were there during the height of TdG madness, but we stayed late enough for them to open the vintage bottle list back up. A Tilquin Gueuze from the first bottling won the night. According to Uli, the star of that blend was a particularly acid Cantillon Lambic. Very interesting. So yeah, if you have a chance, VtdGD is the place to be.

 

[Gestalten]

Because straight/draft Lambic isn't discussed enough, and we can always use more pictures, here's some I have from TdG...

Girardin (3yo, iirc), at De Groene Poort in Gooik. It did have a small thin head when it was first brought to us, likely from a sparkler. (The similarities to British serving style were intriguing to me. All of these were served at near room temperature as well.) This was at some perfect nexus of complex and easy drinking. You could barely call it tart, but the taste was deep and full. Flavors of tea, herbs, subtle funk, must, low acidity.

Cantillon, I believe the same 13 month we had elsewhere. No idea how/why it's lightly carbonated. The head is due to a sparkler again. Taste is Lemon flesh and pith, aged hop, tart but still with a bit of wortiness. Very excellent and highly drinkable.

Here's the full lineup from DGD. I should have taken notes, but was too busy enjoying/blending etc. I do recall that the Girardin was similar to what I've said above, and the Boon was very very Boon. Just everything in near perfect balance, with that great lemony funk the Gueuze often has.

This doesn't really count since it's at the blendery, but this is De Cam 3yo unblended Lambic. This cask was open because they were blending Gueuze at the time. Absolutely incredible stuff. The essence of De Cam in a glass. I don't have tasting notes, but I remembering it being bright but balanced, having a very long complex taste. Kind of like Boon gone a bit wild. Excellent.

Finally one of the more beguiling Lambics of the trip. This was Girardin, very young (I want to say 6 months). It was like some kind of amber Wit, with a faint hit of aged hop and barely discernible acid on the back end. It was stunningly full bodied, but very refreshing. Could put down gallons of this.

So yeah, TL;DR: If you are ever in the Senne Valley, seek out draft Lambic!

 

[Padraig]

Not sure if this has been discussed already but it seems a new batch of Lambiek Special was served on cask at Zythos last month.

 

[bauermj]

It seems like their cellar took a bit of a pounding during TdG though - a lot of the mid-range vintages of 3F are gone now (I was hoping to drink a 3F OG from around the 04-06 age range but none available), leaving only the really expensive bottles, like 99, Seasons and some magnums. No complaints though, cellars aren't infinite. I had a 2011 Golden Blend that was magic - strong funk without being cheesy, and that slightly caramelised and woody flavour that I've noticed in younger GBs offset by bigger acidity. Only stayed for one as I was driving, but can't wait to go back.

I doubt much of it was due to TdG. No vintage bottles all day until really late. We left to catch the bus with like 25-30 people still there (9pm?) & the vintage bottle list wasn't yet available. Even though they did open it up later that night but I can't imagine tons of people were suddenly showing up.

 

[Gestalten]

Yeah when they opened the vintage list back up there was like 10-15 people there max, iirc.

 

[tosh1]

Found some bottles of Stout Rullquin on the shelves in the last few weeks, what kind of price should I be expecting to pay stateside? Just contemplating if I should pick up the last couple or leave them alone. I picked up 2, the other 2 or 3 have not moved in at least 3 weeks.

 

[JBP]

Found some bottles of Stout Rullquin on the shelves in the last few weeks, what kind of price should I be expecting to pay stateside? Just contemplating if I should pick up the last couple or leave them alone. I picked up 2, the other 2 or 3 have not moved in at least 3 weeks.

27.99ish. Doubt there's many left stateside though, seemed more limited than Squared when they both hit.

 

[Odesseiron]

I went to visit a friend in Vlaamse Brabant at the weekend, and knowing I liked beer she mentioned how she's recently seen something on Belgian TV about this bar a few kilometers away that only opened on Sunday mornings and maybe we could stop in and check it out and... I hadn't realised she lived so close to In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst or I'd have tried to slyly direct us in that direction anyway. First time I've been, but what a place... real mix of locals in Sunday best and lambic pilgrims from far and wide, Flemish guys dressed for mass alongside American tourists in brewery tees, but everyone mixing and getting on. Just like everyone says, the owners are great people and very friendly, and the atmosphere was spot-on.

It seems like their cellar took a bit of a pounding during TdG though - a lot of the mid-range vintages of 3F are gone now (I was hoping to drink a 3F OG from around the 04-06 age range but none available), leaving only the really expensive bottles, like 99, Seasons and some magnums. No complaints though, cellars aren't infinite. I had a 2011 Golden Blend that was magic - strong funk without being cheesy, and that slightly caramelised and woody flavour that I've noticed in younger GBs offset by bigger acidity. Only stayed for one as I was driving, but can't wait to go back.

Anyway tl;dr version: go to In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst if you're ever in Belgium.

Short story is that American new money beer tourists pillaged the to go list to flip the bottles in trades. Good vintages, Framboos, Hommage etc. have generally been sold out for a couple years now. Same story with DHVL.

 

[andrewdrinks]

I doubt much of it was due to TdG. No vintage bottles all day until really late. We left to catch the bus with like 25-30 people still there (9pm?) & the vintage bottle list wasn't yet available. Even though they did open it up later that night but I can't imagine tons of people were suddenly showing up.

Yeah when they opened the vintage list back up there was like 10-15 people there max, iirc.

I'm paraphrasing my Flemish-speaking friend, who asked about why so many bottles from the list were now crossed out and was told a lot of them were sold out 'because of a big event a couple of weeks ago' - I just assumed they meant TdG but perhaps it was something local. Just reminded me that I'd missed out on TdG for another 2 years

 

[The Red Viper]

Cantillon's Facebook just announced that Mamouche is cancelled for 2015 because they need to use the lambic for regular gueuze...

 

[belvedere86]

Cantillon's Facebook just announced that Mamouche is cancelled for 2015 because they need to use the lambic for regular gueuze...

trade value of mamouche just went up 20%

Actually it seems to be the least favorite cantillon for many. Maybe that's why they choose to skip it...

 

[ridglens]

is next year the first year of additional storage capacity? i suppose it would make sense they want to put as much lambic down as possible for future gueze

 

[The Red Viper]

trade value of mamouche just went up 20%

Actually it seems to be the least favorite cantillon for many. Maybe that's why they choose to skip it...

Not my least favorite. Permanently ISO if anyone wants to trade off their bottles of earlier batches.

 

[The Red Viper]

is next year the first year of additional storage capacity? i suppose it would make sense they want to put as much lambic down as possible for future gueze

They indicated that the expansion would impact releases for 2016 so that Mamouche would be available again then, and that its increase of sales of regular gueuze that made them have to cancel Mamouche for 2015 to keep regular gueuze available for the next year.

 

[andrewdrinks]

Mamouche is best fresh, so I doubt trade value will soar amongst those who love Mamouche... Real shame though. As posted in the CW thread, sounds like there's going to be a bit of a supply/demand bottleneck coming up later in the year.