Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck St. Louis Gueuze Fond Tradition
What the brewers say
“The lambiek used for this gueuze is traditionally brewed using barley malt, unmalted wheat, and older hops. A modest nose with lots of fruit and a dominant aroma of young sour apples. Bone dry aftertaste.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Very pleasant tropical fruit (pineapple, passion fruit) with some stone fruit (apricot) plays nicely with the acidity. Slightly floral, sweet, and citrusy with a hint of pepper character. Not as much Brett as other gueze.”
Flavor: “Upfront mild earthy and spicy pepper character swells to a sharp lactic high point with spice notes hitting in the dry finish. Light pineapple, touch of cherry and plum, light caramel after-taste. Sharp tartness and acidity lingers, but subdued enough for subtle apricot and pineapple notes to peek through.”
Overall: “Fun sour—displays complexity in the nose that doesn’t entirely follow through in the flavor. Tartness and acidity are a bit sharp, but not one-dimensional. Dry finish helps carry everything through and leave you wanting another sip. People unfamiliar with the style could still appreciate this because it’s not too funky.”
