Cantillon Gueuze (375ml Bottle)

Description

The world's classic Gueuze. A blend of one, two, and three year-old lambics creates a second fermentation in the bottle. The champagne of Belgium. In contrast, the Lou Pepe Gueuze is a blend of three 2-year-old lambics. Newer vintages are labeled "Organic Gueuze", "100% Lambic Bio" or "Classic Gueuze".

Tasting Notes

This beer is a hazy pale orange colour. It has a dry, sour aroma (malt vinegar, citric acid), which is balanced by honey and green apples. The taste is much milder than expected - there are of course the sour notes of vinegar and lime, but there are also some sweet notes of fruit drops. The aftertaste is sour and fruity, with touches of lemon and honey.

Lambic Style - Gueuze

Gueuze is a blend of young and old lambic. The yeasts are rejuvenated and carbonation ensues. The old lambic is more refined in character and helps take some of the edge off of the young lambic. The hops used are old, and act only as a preservative, so hop character is not a part of the style. The wild yeasts not only ferment and sour the beer, but they bring the funky, unpredictable flavours that characterize all lambic beers. A quality gueuze will be blended to eliminate some of the less desirable flavours. Above all else, a gueuze should be sour and very complex. The best examples are the most complex beers in the world, and put most champagnes to shame as well. The finish should be bone dry.