Lambic Discussion Thread

[SinH4]

Good luck with their search function.

http://www.ratebeer.com/forums/boon-mikkeller-bone-dry-merged-with-boon-black-label_283435.htm

And there apparently was a huge discussion among admins until they made the decision, but you can't read the admin forums unless you're an admin.

 

[Padraig]

The Belgian admins are a law unto themselves and always doing stuff that winds everyone up, including the other admins.

Anyone know why some cantillon beers on ratebeer can't be checked in? Some are listed as aliases but to my understanding are unique beers?

Anything involving different dry hopping of the same base beer used to get aliased into one entry. Hence CdC and CStG are the same listing. This policy was changed a while ago although it was impossible to unpick the beers impacted up until that point.

Some beers are basically the same thing just with different labels e.g. Zwanze 2009 vs Mamouche and since RB doesn't allowing rating of vintages they are merged.

Except for things like 3F OG and OGV which are split.

Then you have things like J F Vonck which used to be aliased to LPG (I think) but then after years of complaining they split it out but locked any ratings.

Clear?

 

[Frank1]

The Belgian admins are a law unto themselves and always doing stuff that winds everyone up, including the other admins.



Anything involving different dry hopping of the same base beer used to get aliased into one entry. Hence CdC and CStG are the same listing. This policy was changed a while ago although it was impossible to unpick the beers impacted up until that point.

Some beers are basically the same thing just with different labels e.g. Zwanze 2009 vs Mamouche and since RB doesn't allowing rating of vintages they are merged.

Except for things like 3F OG and OGV which are split.

Then you have things like J F Vonck which used to be aliased to LPG (I think) but then after years of complaining they split it out but locked any ratings.

Clear?

No.

 

[SinH4]

Also, don't forget 3F Schaerbeekse Kriek, which is only a separate entry if the vintage is <=2010

Seriously, though, I think the ratebeer database is still by far the best one out there. Untappd is a horrible mess. And being a Belgian admin must be terrible, with tons of beers being marketed with different labels all around the world and stuff - but people only care about merges when it comes to Lambic.

Then you have things like J F Vonck which used to be aliased to LPG (I think) but then after years of complaining they split it out but locked any ratings.

Actually, I think that the policy is that everything that was retired before ratebeer was online is unrateable. Doesn't always work out, though.

 

[SeaWatchman]

 

[petrinoda]

Looks nice

 

[Compton25]

Blind Seasons tasting with cyde and MChand2. Zomer was uncarbed but my favorite. Lente came in a close second.

Winter tasted really young for some reason, similar to a fresh geuze. Herfst was old and musty, with heavy leather notes.

Always fun to do a Seasons set, doing it blind however really added to the experience.

 

[ASUBeer]

Anyone open an 06 (label) GCB recently? I've got one that I just can't convince myself to open yet. Half of me wants to let it age for 5 more years and half of me wants to open it soon with a nice block of cheese.

 

[SeaWatchman]

Anyone open an 06 (label) GCB recently? I've got one that I just can't convince myself to open yet. Half of me wants to let it age for 5 more years and half of me wants to open it soon with a nice block of cheese.

Divide yourself into thirds and convince one of them that you want to send it to me.

 

[Compton25]

Another for science post with MChand2 and cyde. Vats side by side. 79 is good but a little young. The sulphur/mineral taste to 77 has died down a bit. Vat 44 remains stellar, one of my favorite lambics.

If you're reading this and don't want your Vat 44... Hit me up! Huge thanks to tom10101 for the Vat 44!!

 

[dirtinabottle]

Big fan of starting off the night with a Mariage Parfait and following it up with a Rodenbach Grand Cru. Fairly easy to find and so damn good! Thoughts on vintages of older Rodenbach Grand Cru worth seeking out?

 

[mrk_d]

Another for science post with MChand2 and cyde. Vats side by side. 79 is good but a little young. The sulphur/mineral taste to 77 has died down a bit. Vat 44 remains stellar, one of my favorite lambics.

If you're reading this and don't want your Vat 44... Hit me up! Huge thanks to tom10101 for the Vat 44!!

Interesting - just opened a 44 a couple weeks ago that was not good, just super bland and with a weird cereal taste. Guess I got a dud, since I've loved the couple bottles of 77 I've tried.

 

[mrk_d]

Anyone open an 06 (label) GCB recently? I've got one that I just can't convince myself to open yet. Half of me wants to let it age for 5 more years and half of me wants to open it soon with a nice block of cheese.

I had one a little while back. Tasted good, but I wish I'd waited another few years. Was still quite fresh and hadn't quite developed into what aged GCB can be.

 

[Compton25]

Interesting - just opened a 44 a couple weeks ago that was not good, just super bland and with a weird cereal taste. Guess I got a dud, since I've loved the couple bottles of 77 I've tried.

I think at this point it may come down to storage conditions? If you have another dud...

 

[GetchaPull]

Big fan of starting off the night with a Mariage Parfait and following it up with a Rodenbach Grand Cru. Fairly easy to find and so damn good! Thoughts on vintages of older Rodenbach Grand Cru worth seeking out?

IIRC, Rodenbach is pasteurized, so it doesn't age like many other sours. If that is indeed the case, it wouldn't matter old or new bottle.

Then again, ihavenoideawhatimdoing.jpg

 

[LukeAleTime]

IIRC, Rodenbach is pasteurized, so it doesn't age like many other sours. If that is indeed the case, it wouldn't matter old or new bottle.

Then again, ihavenoideawhatimdoing.jpg

Yeah it is for sure.

I was always told the "Vintage" bottles weren't, but I asked one of the brewers and he said everything was. However he also said it will change and many of their locals will buy cases just so they always have bottles with a year+ age on them.

I've had bottles from the 80s that I think were pasteurized also (I forget if they had started by that point). They were still undeniably Rodenbach but the only real change was oxidation and not much else. Interesting, but not something I'd do again.

Edit: In summary, I wouldn't stress about buying/aging bottles but the Vintage series is still damned delicious. Whatever the most recent one was was stunningly good.

 

[SinH4]

Thoughts on vintages of older Rodenbach Grand Cru worth seeking out?

Wouldn't say that, but every Rodenbach GC I buy needs a few months, they're too aggressive on the acetone. However, that might be different for you in the US (or maybe it was just bad luck with the bottles I bought). And the Vintage is delicious.

 

[Padraig]

I was always told the "Vintage" bottles weren't, but I asked one of the brewers and he said everything was.

Allegedly batch 1 of Caractère Rouge is unpasteurized.

 

[LukeAleTime]

Allegedly batch 1 of Caractère Rouge is unpasteurized.

Interesting. It was Filip (who developed Caractere) who said everything was... but I'm guessing he wouldn't mention a one off. I think I have his email so I'll try find out.

 

[LukeAleTime]

Meanwhile, multiple bottles of Fou 2014 are on a shelf in Australia for $200.

 

[Snarf1]

Interesting. It was Filip (who developed Caractere) who said everything was... but I'm guessing he wouldn't mention a one off. I think I have his email so I'll try find out.

Yes, because Belgian brewers are renowned for being open and honest about their techniques and methods.

 

[LukeAleTime]

Yes, because Belgian brewers are renowned for being open and honest about their techniques and methods.

Fair

 

[fo1ksguitar]

Speaking of Rodenbach, anyone tried the newest batch of Alexander that was sent to US? I loved the Caractère Rouge so looking forward to trying this as well!

 

[matedog]

How does Oud Beersel rank in the general lambic standings? Is it generally Hanssens/Boon (ie sub Canti/3F/Tilquin) level? Asking because a local grocery store has 750s of the Oude Kriek for like $6 which seems stupid cheap.

 

[sherm10161]

How does Oud Beersel rank in the general lambic standings? Is it generally Hanssens/Boon (ie sub Canti/3F/Tilquin) level? Asking because a local grocery store has 750s of the Oude Kriek for like $6 which seems stupid cheap.

I personally like Oud Beersel quire a bit more than Hanssens or Boon. I would buy all the krieks at $6 / 750ml.

 

[GetchaPull]

Speaking of Rodenbach, anyone tried the newest batch of Alexander that was sent to US? I loved the Caractère Rouge so looking forward to trying this as well!

Sweet...reminded me somewhat of Sucrets. That said, I really enjoyed it. I liked it better than most Grand Crus I've had.

 

[iong516]

Blind Seasons tasting with cyde and MChand2. Zomer was uncarbed but my favorite. Lente came in a close second.

Winter tasted really young for some reason, similar to a fresh geuze. Herfst was old and musty, with heavy leather notes.

Always fun to do a Seasons set, doing it blind however really added to the experience.

Ahh I need to do this! I've only had Herfst but agree on the mustiness, but I loved it.

 

[iong516]

Speaking of Rodenbach, anyone tried the newest batch of Alexander that was sent to US? I loved the Caractère Rouge so looking forward to trying this as well!

2nded, I dunno if I'm supposed to age this thing or what. Have maybe nice bottle of beer, what do?

 

[SinH4]

How does Oud Beersel rank in the general lambic standings? Is it generally Hanssens/Boon (ie sub Canti/3F/Tilquin) level? Asking because a local grocery store has 750s of the Oude Kriek for like $6 which seems stupid cheap.

The Oud Beersel Oude Kriek is the best Oude Kriek for me, better than 3F, Cantillon, and Mariage Parfait - even better than LPK and Hanssens Schaerbeekse Kriek if you ask me (probably not better than 3F Schaerbeekse, but I've only had that once in my life, and it was a vintage bottle). And that price is even a little below the brewery price, which is 6 Euros, so: buy the hell out of that store.

 

[andrewdrinks]

If I saw Oude Beersel Kriek in Belgium at $6 for a 750 I'd buy the hell out of it.