Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René - Brouwerij Lindemans

Brenden

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Cuvee Rene is about a hazed medium gold in color and pretty bright despite the haze. A creamy off-white head grows on top and situates itself at just over one finger tall. Lacing is deposited in some fairly clumpy patches almost to the very bottom of the glass.
The gentle funk of wet hay, lemon zest, earth, and the raw tartness of green apple skins greet the nostrils. Basically it's every bit as tart and funky as a Gueze should be with plenty of depth.
The flavor displays the same depth. The something like vinegar that makes the strong base for a good gueze lays it down here. Tartness never fades or falls off, and balances excellenty with a subtle chalky dryness that leads particularly from middle to finish. Other than that I expect to find pieces of lemon pulp while I sip this at some point, at least when it's fresh. The nice thing, though, and what's special, is that the overly hard sourness or tangy bite that would come from biting into a fresh lemon is taken completely off by the earth and dryness.
Aged, the carbonation is mellow. Fresh, it's beastly. I like that it's exceptionally creamy, but it's so much so that it just expands in the mouth. It eases off with time, but when you're drinking it fresh there's such a thing as too much. It doesn't take much off, though, and it still starts and finishes crisp.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 22:06:42 | More by Brenden

drrone

Utah

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured 2011 into Rogue Goblet (only glassware available at the time)

A - Pours a slightly hazy straw/golden color. It produced a finger width of white head that faded quickly. I was surprised that it didn't liberate more head and wasn't as effervescent though.

S - Barn yard funk, earthy, goaty, with citrus fruits(lemon and grapefruit) and slightly sour (like sour apple?).

T - Nicely sour up front, followed but a little muskiness and finishes off acidic.

M- Light bodied, crisp and with nice carbonation. Easy to drink. Again, not as carbonated as I would have expected.

O - I'll admit I'm not a Gueuze expert, but I really enjoyed this. It seemed nicely balanced between sour and acidic. It was complex enough to keep things interesting. I will definitely drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 17:12:43 | More by drrone

draheim

Washington

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375mL (bottled 10/6/2011) into a tulip. Pours a clear coppery golden color w/ a big fluffy white head, vigorous carbonation.

Aroma is funky and vaguely sour, almost saison-like. Earthy, spicy, a little musty.

Taste is sharply acidic up front, lemony with an underlying sweetness, and then more sour on the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied w/ a semi-dry finish. A little prickly from the carbonation.

Overall a pretty solid version of the style and certainly a good introduction, but better ones are readily available.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 00:58:06 | More by draheim

wedge

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottled: 09 NOV 2012

Fairly clear gold with some random flaky bits floating around, topped by a thin, wispy head. Smells a bit grassy and earthy, like wet hay and flower petals, along with barnyard, mustiness, spice, and some dry wood. Tart, earthy flavors - not extremely sour or acidic. Floral, dusty lemons, and mineral notes. Very crisp, dry, light, and fluffy mouthfeel with a refreshing puckering quality. This is good and certainly has all the right elements for a Gueuze, though no standout characteristics. For the price, laying a couple bottles away to have a few years down the road is a no-brainer.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 13:40:26 | More by wedge

tastybeer

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A:
Bright Glowey gold colored with a small white head. Not a lot of retention and once the head fades you never see it again. Very pretty color though.
S:
Fermented tangy juicy fruits-cherries-oranges-apples-lemon-raspberry and light cereal grains. Very fun, sunny, and stinky.
T:
Flavor is tangy and refreshing. Earthy, fruity, funky and appealing. Fermentd black cherry and light tingly even bitterness.
M:
Very swirlable in the mouth. Perfect super fine carbonation bubbles.
O:
Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 23:59:35 | More by tastybeer

beerpirates

Belgium

3.56/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

37,5 cl poured into a lindemans glass

A - a clear bright pale orange with a small white head of foam. Dissipated rather quickly.

S - lots if acidity at first. A bit of barnyardy funk. Slight sweet bready malts. A little bit buttery.

T - very similar to the nose with bright acidity and a very slight malt sweetness. Some green apple character in the middle. Some funkyness toward the end. Dry and tart finish.

M - medium bodied. Very crisp with bright carbonation.

O - I just wasn't crazy about that little funk bit in the end but otherwise a very refreshing beer for a sticky summer eve.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 16:09:43 | More by beerpirates

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.69/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

We have a golden, hazy beer, with a creamy, white neck. The aroma and taste bring oranges and grapefruit, with a touch of pepper, other floral and fruit (pear) esters, and expressive "barnyard" notes caused by wild yeast. The tartness is vibrant, present in the aroma, and dominant in the palate. The body is light, and its acidity balances so well with the fruitness and structure of this beer. The Gueuzes are refreshing and wonderful Belgian beers that amaze me in each experience. The Cuvée Rene is simply fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 02:54:18 | More by HabiMendes

Auraan

Arizona

4.65/5  rDev +14%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Poured a gorgeous cloudy orange with a half-finger white head. There was no lacing on the glass, but it's quite the good looking beer. Scents of brett/barnyard funk, lemon, sour apple and slight sweet notes. Flavor is incredibly sour, with notes of lemon, sour apple, and slight vinegar. Very dry. Mouthfeel is light bodied, with moderate carbonation. This is a very good beer. It's tart, dry and refreshing. It's also not for everyone. It's incredibly sour natureis fitting only for those of us who like things sour. But with a palette that enjoys those flavors you'll find it excellent.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 06:08:37 | More by Auraan

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.04/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

The beer pours a slightly hazy golden yellow topped by a fluffy white head that laces. The nose is mildly sour, slightly skunky/funky, with a sweet citrusy tartness. It drinks noticeably funky with an initial sweetness that quickly washes away and leaves behind a dry, slightly grapefruit rindy bitterness, and a petri dish worth of culture. This is definitely a light bodied, effervescent, straightforward sour that's quite approachable. However, it has a bit too much sweetness and lacks the super dryness I look for in good gueuzes. I think it also lacks some of the complexity I'd expect to find in other gueuzes, but for its price and availability, this is a solid go-to gueuze.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 23:13:36 | More by ThePorterSorter

shand

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Life for me is just drinkin' gueuze. Cuvee Rene is actually relatively gently carbonated for the style, a fairly hard pour produced just a finger of head over a very pretty radiant orange body. The aroma is nice, it's fruity (think a tart apple), sour, and just a bit funky. Very intense too, I can smell it easily across the table. The taste comes in with the tart apple pretty strong, which remains the beer's backbone as some wild yeasts contribute a sharp funkiness that quickly fades to a pleasant tartness that compliments the apple. There's a bit of lemony note as well. The mouthfeel is light and a little lower on the carbonation than I'd like, and the drinkability is great.

As far as gueuzes go, this one is a pretty damn good standard and a relatively easy introduction into a more difficult style.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 21:15:00 | More by shand

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.3/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured this Gueuze from a 750 ml bottle. Poured a hazy golden color, produced a thin head, decent retention and left a small amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma consisted of light malted grain and tart fruit. Light in body, the tartness of this brew comes through first, very smooth mouthfeel, malted grain, earthy undertones and finishes dry. For me this is a great beginner lambic brew- Ive had some outstanding lambics, this done is simple, does the trick.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 23:29:51 | More by GossageBrewery

gillagorilla

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355mL bottle (bottled on 7/6/12) into a Duvel tulip

A: Quite cloudy with a fair amount of sediment. It had a nice head on it after the initial pour. It looks exactly like apple cider vinegar with the mother.

S: Extremely fruity with a dry, plain kombucha scent throughout. I can't really place the exact fruit notes, but it seems to be like a tart pear or apple.

T: It is quite dry on the finish and the slight sweetness is up front and mellows quickly in the mouth. Tastes like a plain/original kombucha, with more sweetness and less apple cider vinegar tartness. Actually, it is a bit like apple cider vinegar, but much sweeter.

M: Quite smooth with very little carbonation that might just be that it has so many bubbles that it is smooth again, which I think is the case.

O: This is my first geuze and I am surprised that Lindeman's actually releases this, since their other lambics and stuff are all sweetened (to my knowledge). I was thinking it was going to be similar to the Rodenbach Classic, but I realize now that that is a different style. Quite good, but very unlike beer and more like kombucha.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 02:04:27 | More by gillagorilla

ElijahRivera

New York

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle corked and capped. Bottled on 10 Aug 2012. Imbibed on 6 April 2013.

A- Cloudy dark gold or straw in color. Thin but lively barely off white head with good retention due to the very visible and active carbonation. Minimal lacing.

S- Sour, funky, fermented cabbage, stinky cheese, lemons past their prime, some grassy malty barnyard smells.

T- Definitely tastes very sour and finishes even more sour. There are some yeasty, estery, tart, lemon citrus and hard to pinpoint flavors. Almost reminds me of tonic water with lemon, or a rich dry champagne. It could also be compared to drinking a soured hard cider make with sour green crab apples. I'm assuming none of the flavors are off for the style, but they are a little intense and not quite to the liking of my palate. However, I am admittedly a neophyte to the Gueuze style.

M- Very fizzy and carbonated with a thin champagne like body. There are also some strong alcoholic fumes and flavors, especially during retro-olfaction.

O- There are some flavors and aromas here that are enjoyable, but others are off putting and not quite pleasant. Overall, it was an enjoyable new beer experience, as I am always excited to expand my beer horizons.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 01:12:44 | More by ElijahRivera

dogfishandi

New York

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

355ml capped and corked bottle a little above cellar temp poured into a snifter. Bottled 06 JUL 2012.

Pours a cloudy bright sunshine golden color, a big billowy 3-4 fingers of fluffy white head off of the pour, settles after a few minutes to a skim, fairly retentive layer, light spotty lacing. Big, dark chunks of sediment floating about.

Wow, huge, bright horse blanket all over, musty basement, a bit of tart lemon.

Big, bright, direct flavors. Big horse blanket Brett, lemongrass, finishes with a big lemon acidic sourness, tart unripened green apple, both are huge. Mid sip, some almost yogurt like lactic funk shows a bit.

A high amount of acidity really lingers, high, bitey carbonation, finishes quite dry. Very mouth puckering.

Really quite an exceptional, fairly unique with its big bright aromas and flavors. By far the best Lindemans lambic I've had, and in no way does it seem artificial when compared to there overly sweet and sugary fruited lambics. And for its price point, a real must try to any sour lover that has yet to try this.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 18:34:57 | More by dogfishandi

Someguy1_8t

California

4.56/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bought at Whole Foods Market Northridge. Served in a snifter

Appearance - Hazy yellow/orange color. About a finger of slowly diminishing head.

Aroma - Funky tart Belgian yeast. Citrus zest , with a bit do barnyard funk. Hint of spice as well. Hint of candied sugar

Taste - Sour green lemons, and sour green apples. Some spice

Mouthfeel - Light/medium bodied. Plenty of carbonation. Has a dry, sour, lingering finish.

Overall - I thought it was great. Drinkable and enjoyable sour. I definitely recommend.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 07:07:25 | More by Someguy1_8t

Beelzebeer

Newfoundland (Canada)

4.54/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

bottle, served in oversized tulip

A - semi-cloudy apple juice colour with thin, bubbly head that quickly dissipates.

S - Hops, bitter, some vinegar, apple, pear

T - Some wheat, apple, barn, hay. Sour at the end, knocking everything else out. Tart.

M - Medium-high carbonation off the top, giving way to a medium density.

O - This is my second time having a gueuze. The first was the same brew about 3 years ago. I thought it was too much then, now it's delicious. Easy move from oud bruin and flanders red to this. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 01:17:07 | More by Beelzebeer

Brewsephus

Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

375 ml poured into Tulip glass

A- Light yellow to orange, slightly hazy, 3 finger white head.

S-Tart, light funky, lemon, hay, orange zest.

T-Lemon, citrus, tart unripe fruit on the front. Lots of hay, a little barnyard earthy-ness on the finish. Not puckering sourness. I detect a little protein, iron flavor on the finish. Almost like blood. Weird, I know. Had to check my tongue to make sure I didn't bite it or something.

M- Nice crisp tartness, very effervescent which helps to develop all the flavors of the beer. Doesn't feel thin or lacking. Solid.

O- I am thrown off by a little off-flavor at the finish. I am not counting this beer out because it has some really amazing tart and fruit qualities. The funk seems just a little bit off. It's good, but would like to get rid of that iron/protein/blood flavor and have more wet hay and horse-blanket. I would recommend this beer to people first trying gueuze.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 23:52:04 | More by Brewsephus

endovelico

Portugal

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance: Amber with low perceived effervescence, little lacing, some floaters and a white head that quickly fizzles out leaving a thin crown.

Aroma: Medium to medium high in intensity. Funky barnyard town right here. A lot of cheese, horse blanket, socks and some powerful cat urine. Some fruit does come through, mainly orange.

Taste: Medium high to high intensity. Citrusy (Lemon and Lemon Balm) and Funky. The funk overwhelms everything though.

Palate: Light bodied, medium low carbonation, medium high acidity, medium high sourness.

Overall: Could use more balance and complexity. It's good but Lindemans has better offerings.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 21:17:55 | More by endovelico

MarcatGSB

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from bottle into Lost Abbey Teku. 12 oz. bottle.

A: Pours a orangish/burnt color with a soft/prickly white head. The head leaves a white ring around the perimeter, and sticks around for the entire life.

N: Bright sour fruit notes like pear and apple along with some slight tangy vinegar. There's some malty bread like character deep in there as well.

T: Alot of that tart fruit forward with some funky yeast present. Bit of a spice hidden in there, with some vanilla/oaky flavor.

M: On the lighter side, with a prickly sensation and lively mouthfeel. Bit of dryness, and leaves you satisfied.

D and O: Really enjoyed this beer. Bout time I got to giving it a formal review.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 22:01:46 | More by MarcatGSB

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.26/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750 mL bottle poured into a pint glass at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Deep gold color with an enormous 6-finger rocky, billowing, white head. Awesome retention but only a bit of patchy lacing. Hazy with tons of bubbles.

S – Musty, barnyard Brett is definitely there along with vinegar acidity with sour apple and maybe pear notes. Some woody oak may be here, too, but that may be the Brett playing tricks on my nose.

T – The taste is split nearly down the middle between tart green apple and musty, barnyard Brett flavors. Sure, it’s not as mouth-puckeringly sour as some gueuzes but it is extraordinarily well-balanced.

F – Light-to-medium-bodied with good carbonation, a tart and crisp mouthfeel, and a sour and dry finish. Vinegar acidity lingers for a bit.

O – This is a really nice gueuze. Again, it’s not as blisteringly sour as some, but that’s not a bad thing. The balance between the products of Brettanomyces and Acetobacter/Lactobacillus is superb and really helps the drinkability of the beer. Would I like it to be a bit sourer? Sure. But I really don’t have anything to complain about with this tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 03:49:01 | More by BlackBelt5112203

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

(bottled: 21 MAR 2011, consumed: 07 FEB 2013 - poured into a tulip)

A: 2" dull-white head, wells up on pour but doesn't quite overflow, spritzy/soft-foamy, yet compact in spots, with surprising initial retention, leaves a top ring of foam....the liquid is light amber, light-moderate haze with micro-tiny sandy-looking specks floating around.... the collar and some swirls keep throughout....not bad at all

S: excellent! what I'd hope for and what I love about the style....from having worked around horses for a couple months last year, I now have a reference for the "horse-blanket" thing, and I get it here: dirt and dust, equine skin and sweat, and hay flour....initially there's also a strawberry or blueberry-like fruit aroma blended with a lactic-souring or maybe acetic acid thing (similar to the smell of adding apple-cider vinegar to milk to make buttermilk substitute)...later on, too, some hints of malt (mostly wheat?) and a medicinal/ginger spice (w/o the ginger "flavor").... was just in love sniffing this, however, it didn't explode out as much as I would've liked

T: the "infection" (Brett, etc), as I like to call it, is not out front (thankfully), and is balanced so wonderfully and kept in check by a tart, dry pear/apple cider quality (fruit and feel)....not enough (malt) sweetness (but that's understood), the fruit flavor begs for a little.... a nice fruity pop on the tip of the tongue in the aftertaste....the taste is great , the balance is superb - a touch of creamier fruit presence is all it needs...

F: only lightly sprtizy.... has a pleasant, smooth-ish, light-medium body - floats over the tongue.... no sharp or acidic-biting sensations (an issue I have with up-and-coming examples - perhaps it mellows out in the bottle with age...)

O: this was fantastic! after trying some newer, hyped gueuzes and other sours lately, and not being impressed, approaching and enjoying this "older" example was a thrill!... i had an epiphany that this would go great with a salty, cured meat, and I was right! had a sliver of proscuitto di parma with the last couple sips and it was bangin'!...gotta retry a bunch of gueuzes now and put this one into perspective...this is truly one of the best!

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 18:36:13 | More by Bouleboubier

Etan

Illinois

3.84/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

750ml into a wine glass.

A: Pours a clear, slightly dull beeswax color with a large soapy white head.

S: Floral, light mineral character, wet oak, lacto acidity, a bit of malty sweetness, honey. Pretty nice.

T: Taste is a step down from the nose. Somewhat muted oaky tartness, light wheat, green apple, a bit of vanilla, very dry finish.

M: Light-bodied, effervescent carbonation.

O: A good gueuze, besides the slightly muted taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 02:16:08 | More by Etan

zac16125

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

750mL bottle into a tulip
Bottled on: 02 MAA 2012

A: Pours a hazy golden yellow with a huge 4 plus fingers width of slightly off white head. Leaves a few faint patches of lacing.

S: Tart fruits and sweet fruits. White grape and apple. A little bit of funk and some spice. Banana. Faint vinegar. Very nice.

T: Lots of tart sourness, along with apple cider vinegar. Lingering belgian yeast banana on the finish. Lots of lactic acidity. Some peppery spice. Some musty funk. Again, very nice.

M/D: Crisp mouthfeel, lots of carbonation, fuller side of medium bodied. Drinkability is good. Nice mouthfeel here.

O: Overall, a very nice beer. And an affordable gueuze gets bonus points in my book. Id definitely buy this one again. Recommend.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:38:13 | More by zac16125

CloudStrife

New York

4.26/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12oz capped and corked bottled poured into a tulip. Bottled Feb 2012.

A: Pours a slightly hazy gold with a giant 3 finger puffy white head. A ridiculous amount of visible carbonation in the body. No real lacing.

S: Sour funky farmhouse type yeast. Slight skunkiness to it, not sure if intended.

T: Very tart and sour. Not for the faint of heart. Very good fruitiness to it. Reminiscent of an oud bruin but with more funk and sourness. I really enjoy the qualities in this beer.

M: Loads of carbonation makes this one real light on the tongue. With the sour this has a real crisp finish.

Overall I can't believe it's taken me so long to try this beer. Certainly much different than most of the other beers out there. Worth a try when in the mood for something different or for those who love sours.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 00:03:36 | More by CloudStrife

KTCamm

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Champagne bottle poured into a white wine glass.

So, not sure how to really review this, not like anything I have tasted. Pours light copper with white foam. Hazy/cloudy. Sour nose, powerful. Sour cherry taste, very much so. Some apple cider notes. Loads of flavor and taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 12:38:10 | More by KTCamm