Category Archives: Beer Reviews

3 - Indifferent (might buy, probably drink), Beer Reviews, Denmark, Sour Ale, To Øl

To Øl LikeWeisse (Director’s Cut)

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Brewery: To Øl
Country: Denmark
ABV: 10.5%
Style: Sour Ale
Other Notes: Brewed & bottled by To Øl at De Proef Brouwerij, Belgium

Brewer Description: (from bottle) We bring to you a director’s cut version of our Berliner Weisse “LikeWeisse”. This is the absolute extended version where all the obscure details are present and the pure essence is presented to you. This is a 10.5% ABV dry hopped wheat sour ale.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.44
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.2

Intro: A 375ml foiled, corked and caged bottle, with a best before date of 26th February 2020. Poured into a Holy Mountain tulip glass.
Appearance: A murky cloudy copper colour with a very thin sparse clear head and no lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, sour, barleywine-ish, dark fruit, plum, prunes, apple juice, grapes, caramel and toffee.
Taste: Sour, light tartness, dark fruit, plum, prunes, apple juice, grape, syrupy, oak, lemon, lightly malty.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Possibly past it’s prime, but still within best before date. Doesn’t feel anywhere near 10.5% ABV as the alcohol is well hidden. Carbonation was way too soft for my liking and was my main negative.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Denmark, Lambic - Gueuze, Mikkeller ApS x To Øl

Mikkeller x To Øl Betelgeuze

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Brewery: Mikkeller ApS x To Øl
Country: Denmark
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Gueuze)
Other Notes: Dry hops – Citra, Centennial, Amarillo, Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, Columbus, Tomahawk, Tettnang, Belma, Mandarina Bavaria, Calypso and Bravo. Brewed & bottled by Mikkeller at De Proef Brouwerij, Belgium

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Dry hopped Lambic.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.96
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.8

Intro: A 375ml bottle, with a best before date of 27th February 2024. Poured into Cantillon gueuze glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy dark orange, copper amber colour with a half finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly but left some nice curtain lacing.
Aroma: Sour, tart, funk, oak, light apple cider vinegar, apple skin, grape, lightly vinous and a touch of sour citrus juice.
Taste: Sour, funky, oak, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, apple skin, grape, lightly vinous, with a vinegar finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to soft carbonation.
Overall: Although I don’t think this is exactly the base, it does remind me a lot of the Mikkeller Spontan series. It was pretty good to begin with, but I think I did grow to like it even more towards the end.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Oud Beersel, Lambic - Gueuze

Oud Beersel Oude Geuze Vieille Barrel Selection Foeder 21

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Brewery: Brouwerij Oud Beersel
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Gueuze)
Other Notes: 2019 vintage. Bottled 20 years before best before date

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Foeder 21, originally used for the production of sweet white wine, has been in Oud Beersel’s cellar since 2011. This Oude Geuze is a blend of 4 year old Lambic from Foeder 21, and younger Lambic pulled from similar barrels.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.01
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 375ml corked and caged bottle with a best before date of 15th February 2039. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen gueuze glass.
Appearance: A very lightly hazy golden colour with a two finger white head that dissipated quickly and left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Funky, barnyard, mouldy, funk, wet wood, musty, green apple skin and sharp lemon zest.
Taste: Lightly sour, funky, barnyard, musty, oak, lightly vinous, white grapes, and lemon juice.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This was good, a little more musty and funky than I prefer, but still very drinkable with good balance of citrus and vinous notes.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Oud Beersel, Lambic - Gueuze

Oud Beersel Oude Geuze Vieille Vandervelden 137 Years

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Brewery: Brouwerij Oud Beersel
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Gueuze)
Other Notes: Aged 3 years in oak barrels. Bottled 20 years before best before date

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Oud Beersel Brewery was founded in 1882 by the Vandervelden family. Vandervelden 137 Oude Geuze was crafted in honor of our founder, and is an exclusive blend of 3 year old Lambic primarily aged in foeders previously used for the maturation of Brunello di Montalcino, the revered Italian red wine.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.01
My ratebeer.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 375ml corked and caged bottle with a best before date of 15th February 2039. Poured into a 3 Fonteinen gueuze glass.
Appearance: A mostly clear golden colour with a two finger white head that dissipated quickly and left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Funky, wet wood, musty, oak, green apple skin, white grapes, lime peel, and citrus zest.
Taste: Light funk, oak, musty, lightly sour, vinous, white grape, white wine, grass, hay, lime.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I preferred Vandervelden 135 over this 137. This was still good and balanced though, and it is vinous, but I feel like I’m getting more white wine than red wine despite the barrel. Maybe some age on this would improve it even more.

4 - Good (buy), Beer Reviews, Belgium, Brouwerij Oud Beersel, Lambic - Gueuze

Oud Beersel Oude Geuze Vieille Barrel Selection Oude Pijpen

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Brewery: Brouwerij Oud Beersel
Country: Belgium
ABV: 6.5%
Style: Belgian Lambic (Gueuze)
Other Notes: 2017 vintage. Bottled 20 years before best before date

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Our “oude pijpen” are old barrels of 650 liters that are used for Lambic for generations. The barrels were used to transport port wine by boat to Belgium and were purchased by Lambic breweries. These barrels are between 60 and 120 years old and give a character of old wood combined with expressive flavors of traditional Lambic.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.45
My ratebeer.com rating: 4.4

Intro: A 375ml corked and caged bottle with a best before date of 20th November 2037. Poured into a Cantillon gueuze glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly while leaving some curtain like lacing.
Aroma: Lemon and lime peel, citrus rind, funk, wet wood, straw, hay, and a touch of apple.
Taste: Sour, funky, musty, wet wood, oak, green apple, with a tart lemon lime finish.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Very nice easy drinking gueuze, with a good balance between the funk, oak, and tart citrus.