Tag Archives: belgium

3 Fonteinen Druif Fendant – Pinot Noir (Mythopia)

Brewery: Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 7%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: Blend°124, Season 21/22. Number of bottles – 582

Brewer Description: (from bottle) For this small batch Druif, we macerated a mix of Fendant and Pinot Noir-pomace on one-, two- and three-year old lambikken. The pomace underwent a wine fermentation of more than 12 months, rendering the skins, pits and stalks wonderfully fragrant. We let the pomace sit for over four weeks. The weighted average age of this Druif at the moment of bottling was 24 months. About half of the cereals used in the lambikken, was sourced from our Cereal Collective.

A few years ago, we started working with the most progressive low-intervention winemakers around Europe. Mythopia is a very small organic winery from Arbaz, Switzerland. Romaine & Hans-Peter are known for their long skin contact macerations and expressive wines. This pomace came off their Blue Velvet and Fendant wine.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, blend°124, season 21/22, bottled on 5th October 2022. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A lightly hazy golden orange colour, with a half finger white head that had decent retention, but left only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, grape pomace, primarily stem and skin, honey, lemon zest, wood, and a light funk.
Taste: Sour, tart, grape pomace, grape stem, yellow stone fruit notes, lemon zest, and a touch of funk.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: Enjoyable aroma and flavours especially from the grape pomace.

3 Fonteinen Druif Sylvaner (Harth+Harth)

Brewery: Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8.1%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: Blend°42, Season 22/23. Number of bottles – 1315

Brewer Description: (from bottle) For this Druif, we macerated Sylvaner grapes from Harth+Harth, for more than four months on an oak barrel. We used two- and three-year lambikken only, rendering the weighted average age of this blend to more than 26 months. The final fruit intensity clocks at more than 584 grams of grapes per litre. Almost 80% of the cereals for the five brews were sourced with our local farmers.

A few years ago, we started working with the most progressive low-intervention winemakers around Europe. Harth+Harth is a family-owned Demeter-certified organic winery from Saulheim in the German wine region of Rheinhessen.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.25

Intro: A 750ml corked and caged bottle, blend°42, season 22/23, bottled on 9th February 2023. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A very nice clear golden colour with a half finger white head that had pretty good retention, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Grape must, grape skin, peach, crisp green apple, oak, with light funk.
Taste: Sour, tart, vinous, grape skin, grape pomace, apple, oak, musty, funk, and a splash of lime.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma and flavours make it enjoyable and easy drinking.

De Struise Tsjeeses Reserva Bourbon Barrel Aged

Brewery: De Struise Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 10%
Style: Winter Warmer
Other Notes: 2014 Vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) Belgian X-Mas Ale, bourbon barrel aged.

My rating: 3
My beeradvocate.com rating: 3.9

Intro: A 330ml bottle, 2014 vintage, bottled on 9th November 2016. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: A cloudy copper brown colour, with a thin half finger tanned head, that dissipated fairly quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Sweet, candi sugar, plum, raisin, toffee, caramel, toasted bread, chocolate, oak, and bourbon.
Taste: Moderately sweet, plum, raisin, candi sugar, toffee, bourbon, oak, and a touch boozy and spicy on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: Good aroma and interesting flavours. I preferred the Port BA version more than this Bourbon BA version, but it could very well be that I let this one age for too long.

De Dolle Stille Nacht Reserva 2021

Brewery: De Dolle Brouwers
Country: Belgium
ABV: 12%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Other Notes: 2021 vintage

Brewer Description: As far as I could work out for the 2021, Stille Nacht aged for 2 years in barrels that once held red wine.

My rating: 4
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.13

Intro: A 330ml bottle, 2021 vintage, bottled in June 2023. Poured into whatever glass I could find at the hotel.
Appearance: A hazy golden dark orange colour, with a thin white head that dissipated quickly, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Boozy, brandy soaked pineapple, apple juice, orange zest, oak, vanilla, with a brandy finish.
Taste: Sweet, orange, marmalade, pineapple, apricot, vinous, oak, vanilla, brandy.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.
Overall: An enjoyable sipper with an especially wonderful aroma and strong barrel character.

Pellicle Collision: Gelber Muskateller

Brewery: Pellicle Vergistingen
Country: Belgium
ABV: 8%
Style: Lambic – Fruit
Other Notes: 2024 vintage

Brewer Description: (from bottle) This beer is a blend of 1 & 2 year old lambics and our very first self brewed beer from 2,5 years old. It was macerated on Gelber Muskateller grapes from Nahe, Germany and blended with 30% of wine made from the same grapes. Aged on ex-Bordeaux barrels.

My rating: 4+
My beeradvocate.com rating: 4.49

Intro: A 750ml corked and capped bottle, with a best before date of May 2027. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.
Appearance: A mostly clear golden colour with a one finger white head that dissipated fairly quickly to a ring around the glass, while leaving only sparse lacing.
Aroma: Lightly tart, yellow stone fruit, peach, apricot, sweet fleshy white wine grapes, citrus orange notes, with some vinous notes.
Taste: Sour, tart, white wine grapes, yellow stone fruit, apricot, nectarines, citrusy, orange peel, a touch of honey, and light vinous notes with a slight funk on the finish.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with soft to moderate carbonation.
Overall: Great aroma and flavours, and just drinks really well.