Category Archives: 3 – Indifferent (might buy, probably drink)

La Source Œuvre Au Noir

Brewery: La Source Beer Co.
Country: Belgium
ABV: 9.1%
Style: Gruit
Other Notes: Sour Gruit. Carbonation in progress, please wait until January 2022 to open. 2021 BXL BeerFest beer pack

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This sour Gruit has been brewed with mugwort and woodruff and then spent almost a year on the lees of freshly emptied natural red wine barrels.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.86
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.6

Intro: A 750ml bottle with an open after January 2022 date, and a best before date of 13th July 2023. Brewed for BXL BeerFest 2021. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: It was a hazy golden orange colour with a very thin large bubbly head that disappeared almost immediately, while leaving only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Tart, lemon juice, pickled ginger, orange zest, candied cherry, rosemary, oak.
Taste: Sour, tart, orange zest, grapefruit, lemon peel, pickled ginger, candied fruit, herbal finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: I’m not at all familiar with mugwort and woodruff, but I liked the aroma and there was an interesting mix of sour, sweet, fruit and herbs in the flavour.

NaparBCN x Montaigu Oude Gueuze

Brewery: NaparBCN x Brouwerij Montaigu
Country: Spain
ABV: 6%
Style: Lambic – Gueuze
Other Notes: Brewed and bottled at Brouwerij De Troch, Wambeek, Belgium

Brewer Description: (from bottle) For several years people has been enjoying “oude gueuze” and “lambics”. Naparbier has decided to blend his first oude geuze ever. This oude gueuze is a collaboration between Gunther Bensch (Brouwerij Montaigu / Vicardin) and Naparbier / NaparBCN.

My rating: 3+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.95
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, bottled in October 2015. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen gueuze glass.
Appearance: A very slightly hazy golden orange colour with a one finger off white head that had decent retention and eventually settled to a nice thin cap, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Funky, damp wood, green apple, orange peel, lemon, lime, and a touch herbal.
Taste: Lightly sour, tart, green apple, orange peel, lemon zest, funky, wet wood, musty.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Enjoyable and easy to drink, with good funk. Would’ve loved to try this fresh.

Flügge Ériq Le Grand

Brewery: Brauerei Flügge
Country: Germany
ABV: 8.9%
Style: Fruit Beer
Other Notes: 2021 BXL BeerFest beer pack

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Ériq Le Grand is a Beer-Wine Hybrid: tart, fruity, co-fermented with a blend of Brettanomyces, pureed raspberries and a 2020 Rosé Wine from Weingut Daniel Mattern. Beer-Wine Hybrid. Brewed for BXL BeerFest 2021.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.82
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 750ml bottle, bottled on 20th July 2021, with a best before date of 20th July 2026. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass. Brewed for BXL BeerFest 2021.
Appearance: A hazy pinkish orange colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly while leaving only sparse to no lacing.
Aroma: Raspberry, candied raspberries, lime juice, rosé vinous.
Taste: Sweet and sour raspberry, grape, lime zest, rosé vinous.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation.
Overall: An interesting beer-wine hybrid. Very rosé wine and raspberry puree forward, while the brett seems rather muted.

Mikkeller Big Worster

Brewery: Mikkeller ApS
Country: Denmark
ABV: 15.7%
Style: Barleywine – American
Other Notes: Brewed by Mikkeller at De Proef Brouwerij, Belgium

Brewer Description: (from bottle) American-style Barley Wine ale.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.77
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.5

Intro: A 375ml capped and foiled bottle, with a best before date of 1st July 2025. Poured into a snifter glass.
Appearance: A cloudy dark orangey brown colour with a very thin beige head that dissipated almost immediately while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, caramel, toffee, dark fruit, plum, prunes, and fig.
Taste: Sweet, dark fruit, dried fruit, plum, prunes, dates, fig, with notes of caramel, toffee, and booze.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft to no carbonation.
Overall: A little sweeter than I prefer, but still a decent sipper.

Lambiek Fabriek Oude Geuze Bord-Elle

Brewery: Lambiek Fabriek
Country: Belgium
ABV: 10.5%
Style: Lambic – Gueuze
Other Notes: 2021 BXL BeerFest beer pack

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Beer of an unique unfiltered blend of self-brewed, spontaneous fermented lambics. It is a blend of 1, 2 and 3 year-old lambics, matured in oak barrels.

My rating: 3+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.81
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.7

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, bottled in February 2021. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen gueuze glass.
Appearance: A hazy golden orange colour with a one finger white head that had decent retention, while leaving some lacing.
Aroma: Tart, lemon, lime zest, apple, damp wood, funk, hay.
Taste: Sour, tart, apple, pear, white grape, lemon, lime zest, wood, funky, musty.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I prefer my Geuze’s to be lighter and crisp, like something great for a hot summer day. However, the high ABV here, while not entirely noticeable, did feel a bit heavy.