Lindemans Gueuze Cuvée René - Brouwerij Lindemans

Guden

Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Hazy copper with some carbonation bubbles and a lot of haze. A nice one finger head that's larger and has better retention than is common in sours.

S- Yogurt, seawater, lemon pie, old wood, a touch of vinegar and vanilla. A nice blend, really inviting and complex, the oak really blends well here.

T- Medium tartness, lemon, wheat, apple and an oak and funk character that seems woody, dank and mysteriously dessert like. Not as complex as the smell with a higher cider character. The sourness becomes a bit stronger as it warms, letting the oak and grain shine less.

M- A bit thin and dry, as expected for the style but a bit lower carbonation would have allowed the flavors to come through better.

D- Not the most complex geuze that I have had but it is nuanced and blends well. Not so sour that I would mind drinking a few in a sitting, unlike some of this style (Oud Beersel for example).

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 21:09:07 | More by Guden

yamar68

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Beautiful hazy honey gold body topped with a full finger of noisy white carbonation that laces incredibly well... thick streaks of head all across the glass until it's gone.

Tart green apple, phenols, fresh fruit, warheads, wet hay, grass clippings, crisp and tart. No bullshit.

More of the same... sour apple, faint spicy yeast, phenolic qualities, barnyard deliciousness, approachable in its sour character but complex enough to satisfy. The finish isn't quite as dry as some others of the style but it actually works well here. The tart bite fades fast in the wet finish which would make for a great introduction to the style I think.

This has become one of my go-to beers. Delicious stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 23:44:48 | More by yamar68

DRBiser

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

10/9/12 Have had in cellar 6 months -- It's time.

Removed the cork which gave a fantastic pop. Moderate pour which produced a soapy, carbonated head the likes of which I haven't seen. The bright white, wet, champagne head settled to a light finger of snow with minimal spotty lace around glass. Color is slightly cloudy / light orange. A shade lighter may be nice?

Nose is sour punch with touch of citrus, and some serious must & earth.

The first thing that hits me is the bright mouthfeel with some light sour funk and pleasant citrus. Some tart apple in there as well. The follow-through in taste is a bit lacking, but it's not bad. A nice dry, fruity, champagne like after-taste that doesn't linger. The lingering is often what I like about this style, and I don't get it here. I'm not sure if it's sugar or yeast, but I feel like my teeth are coated.

If there are "big" beers and "small" beers...then this is a "small" gueuze. But that isn't a bad thing per se. It was amazing with a fresh brie. It's a fantastic entry into the style and is a great drinker, but it's just not as complex as others.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 14:34:19 | More by DRBiser

SHODriver

California

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

A: pours a light orange with a large white head with decent retention into a duvel tulip
S: smells of sourness with some funk and other paint thinner like aromas
T: vinegar sourness up front with a little fruitiness, slight sweetness, a but of wood and some funk. aftertaste is more funk with some residual sourness and a bit of wood
M: light body with soft carbonation with a dry finish
O: very impressive with a strong sourness and some great flavors. easy to find and well priced

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 22:23:22 | More by SHODriver

Holland

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: pale yellow color with a hefty head that stays as a small layer covering the entire top of the beer. Looks thin, but there's a lot of carbonation. Fairly clear.

S: tart smell, kind of white wine-like, and not overwhelming at all

T: first it's sweet and a bit bready, then it's sour but not obnoxious. The white grape flavor is there a bit, too.

M: lots of carbonation, light body

O: good beer, but not great. It lacks the complexity of some of the other belgian lambics, but at $7 for a 375 ml bottle it's worthy to be purchased again.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 00:06:44 | More by Holland

Danny1217

Florida

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours cloudy gold, with a big fluffy white head. A good looking beer.
Smells funky. Not what I expected at all. Lemon zest, white wine, funk (almost like a skunked beer, but somehow not bad.)
First thing I notice is that this is a pretty sour beer. Some lemon, and other sour fruits. Some champagne characteristics. Some nice funk. Taste lingers on the mouth for a while. Medium body and heavy carbonation.

My second sour beer, however, this makes the first one not seem very sour in comparison. Good stuff though. Very good stuff. I will have to try more geuzes. This bottle was very fresh too, so I would like to see what some age does to it.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 16:07:32 | More by Danny1217

duracell

Quebec (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750mL bottle in a tulip glass.
The first of the style.

A - Cloudy gold color with a large white head. Medium retention. 4/5

S - Tart, lemony, crispy, some earthy character. Nice and fresh! 4/5

T - Acidic, I pick out notes of wood. 3/5

M - Medium tartness, the medium carbonation is spot on. Body is on the middle side. Relatively dry finish with a medium bitterness. 4/5

O - A good beer to get used to the style. Very refreshind and easy to drink! I was expecting some more complexity though... 3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 18:43:31 | More by duracell

heygeebee

Australia

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From Platinum. BB 2017

First of style.

Pours a hazy gold. Two finger fluffy white head.

Aromas of lemon zest, a little yeast, funk, barnyard.

Intensely sour puckering flavours of lemons, vinigrette / vinegar. Astringent tart aftertaste. Sour candy. Very complex.

Mouthfeel lively and well carbonated.

All in all a well made beer, and glad to be on the sour journey...

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 08:04:21 | More by heygeebee

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

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

Bottled in 2009, opened in 2012.

Appearance – Pours a cloudy golden orange color, with a big head and light lacing.

Smell – Lemon, pine, white wine, and a hint of honey.

Taste – Taste is sour, but it’s nicer than most sours because the sour doesn’t linger in the aftertaste. Grapes, hay, and a touch of vinegar.

Mouthfeel – Sour, crisp, and finishes very dry. Very little carbonation although there is a sour tingle to it. A pleasing aftertaste for a gueuze.

Drinkability – One of the better gueuzes I’ve had.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 04:25:54 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

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

(4.0) A: Clear and pleasing golden colour with a tall head that quickly (very) vanishes to a smattering of bubbles. Streaking lacing is evident.

(4.0) S: Fresh lemon zest, slightly vinaigrette, tart grapefruit, freshly cut and damp grasses, and lots of clove. Incredibly aromatic with an acidic quality that highlights the lemon zest well.

(4.0) T: Rather smooth lemony pulp taste, white grape, tart grapefruit, slightly vinegar-like bite, fresh grains/grasses, and oak. Hints of apple poke through towards the end as the initial lemon wave subsides. Spices are evident near the backend as well. Very nice complexity and a wonderful overall fresh-like quality to the taste profile.

(4.0) M: Medium bodied with a moderate carbonation (fizzy). Mellow sourness with a chalky and near pulp-like texture. Finishes with bitter and dry qualities.

(4.0) D: Being new to this style I might have to revisit this one again in the future, but my first impression was a very good one. Surprised at how complex the flavour was despite the initial dominant sour aroma. Impressed.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 01:37:16 | More by Digimaika2

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle into a tulip

A: Pours a hazy golden color with three fingers of very active white head. Carbonation throughout the beer appears very active.

S: Clean, lemon sourness upfront with a bit of barnyard funk, but the funk is well restrained. The lemon sour aroma is of moderate strength. Straightforward, but pleasant.

T: Similar to aroma, a lemon acidity is very apparent, yet not overpowering. Very mild musty funk. The taste is pretty balanced between a juicy sourness and a dry tartness. Good, but not terribly complex for the style.

M: Medium mouthfeel with strong carbonation.

O: A good, but not very complex Gueuze. Not as good as 3F or Girardin, but a good choice for the availability and price.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 23:16:22 | More by coreyfmcdonald

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

355 mL capped-and-corked bottle from the LCBO; packaging code L D27LGC. The label says 5.5%, but a sticker slapped over top says 6.7% (probably determined during the LCBO's lab testing). Lambics of any stripe are pretty rare around here, so I have been pretty eager to try this one (my first gueuze) since I picked it up a few weeks ago.

Pours a slightly hazy golden-yellow colour, topped with about one finger's worth of fizzy, sparkling-white head. It manages to stick around for a few minutes before thinning out, leaving behind a smooth cap and collar on the surface. Minimal lacing. The aroma is acidic and slightly vinegary, with some funky barnyard/wet hay notes. A little vinous, with hints of lemon and orchard fruit. Fairly pleasant.

Tasty stuff, with just the right amount of acidity - not face-puckering by any means, but still a prominent feature of the profile. Lemon rind, sour plums, white wine and green apple flavours are detectable, alongside some faint wheat malt sweetness, with a musty, funky barnyard flavour coming through toward the finish. Fairly dry aftertaste with some lingering tartness. Light-bodied, with moderate carbonation for a relatively fizzy mouthfeel (but not on the level of champagne or macro lagers). Drinkability is ok, but not something I'd be interested in drinking all night - the serving size is about right for me.

Having had almost no previous experience with these sorts of styles (only one framboise and one Flanders red), I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from a beer style that is usually described as tasting 'funky'. It's definitely a novel brew for me, but not something that is likely to jive well with the palates of anyone not already accustomed to lambics, sours, champagne or white wine. An acquired taste, for sure.

Final Grade: 4.1, an A minus. Lindeman's Gueuze Cuvée René is an interesting, refreshing changeup from the IPAs, hefes and ambers that have made up the majority of my beer intake this summer. This is good stuff, perfect for introducing a newbie to the world of gueuzedom, but not something I plan to seek out or hoard in the future. Decent value for the price, and worth a try for anyone curious about the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 00:46:03 | More by thehyperduck

match1112

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

355ml bottled on 3 FEB 2012 into a flute glass.

a: clear golden amber body. off white head quickl towers up then fizzes out. no lacing left behind but plenty of champaign like bubbles rise up.

s: apple cider vinegar. maybe a little pear and some grass. a whole lot of funk going on in there, mellows as it breathes.

t: more acidic than anything. there is some apples and pears amongst a field of fresh cut grass.

m: very champaign like, thin body with alot of carbonation.

o: not a fan and probably wont buy again. does not compare to the few others i've had for the style. way too much acid without having a nice sour blend to it. aftertaste reminds me of acid reflux.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 22:53:04 | More by match1112

Norfolkbarry

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

A- champagne like.

S- citrus like.

T- fizzy sourness, tart and citrus like. Minimal hops except in the aftertaste.

Summary- just a very pleasant gueuze all around. I have enjoyed it on several occassions and found the different lots to be consistent.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 21:27:55 | More by Norfolkbarry

allergictomacros

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Hazy yellow. Fairly decent head, in an inappropriate glass.

S - Nose is fruity, chalky with some funk. Tart.

T - Sour, earthy flavours. Faint graininess in the aftertaste. Dry, crisp and clean. Faint bitterness in the back.

M - Light, lightly fizzy body.

D - Very champagne-like. Light, dry, drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 00:55:08 | More by allergictomacros

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a quick immediately dissipating head with an active carbonation, leaves some wisps of film and decent lacing. Colour is an orangey brown gold, a sort of burnt tawny.

Aroma is very defined, very boozy plums, red wine vinegar, fermented berries with a lot of fruitiness. Some dryness and the underlying sourness.

Taste is quite sour, with a raspberry/cherry note. The sourness is really strong on the palate. Quite fruity as it warms, shows some berries and plum character with a lot of tartness. Good depth and complexity, finish is tart and dry.

Mouthfeel is quite full, dominated by the bitter sourness. Quite a full body, nice mouthtingle/sting, notice the carbonation slightly.

I don't know if I will even be a huge fan of this style, sourness and sting is pretty overwhelming. However, this one has a lot of complex fruit flavour to it. Great depth, this beer is an experience for sure. Fans of Lambics should give it a try, but not sure I'll be stocking up.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 02:26:11 | More by mick303

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz capped and corked
Bottled: LA12JGCR
Lost Abbey tulip

A: Pours a typical Gueuze look: hazy, light orange color. Lots of carbonation. Three fingers of bright white head. Tiny bubbles up the bottom of glass.

S: Smelled it as soon as I popped it. Funky. Digging in there I do get a touch of sweetness, as I have heard. Green apple. White grape the normal stuff.

T: I was expecting more tartness on the tip of the tongue. It's there, just not that much. You do get that prickly carbonation. Definitely some fake green apple character. Sweetener added? It is dry, but not bone dry as you see with others.

M: Light bodied with big carbonation.

O: It's good, maybe B+ to A-. I just think that in this category there are much better options out there.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 13:00:56 | More by inlimbo77

scottfrie

California

3.28/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

375ml bottle into Cantillon gueuze glass. It’s hard to read but I think this was bottled in 2008.

A: Pours a fizzy burnt golden with a thin white head that quickly faded into a nearly invisible film.
S: Light notes of dry funk, a twinge of citrus, and good dose of gueuzey earth and straw. I get light notes of golden fruits, peppery spices, and Belgian sugar as well.
T: Hints of peach come through alongside notes of dry funk, citrus, earthy must and straw. Peppery yeast and spices bring up the finish, and the aftertaste is sweet with hints of lemon zest.
M: Medium body, drying mouthfeel, light sweetness, with very fizzy and bubbly carbonation. Bubbles feel big and prickly on my palate.
O: A bit plain in flavor and too spritzy for my liking, but this was an easy drinking gueuze with a moderate acidic bite. Worth checking out if you are getting into the style, but it doesn’t compare to the other great gueuzeries of Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 20:38:22 | More by scottfrie

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle acquired via trade last year via Ontario. Poured at ~7C into wine glasses. Paired with cherry pie. Bottle stamped L E10KGC

Pours a yellowish hue with a fizzy head that isn't lasting, though remains as a ring for longer than expected. Aroma is delicious with cherries, tartness and citrus on the nose. Body has many of the same flavours in it, and matches to perfection with the chosen food. Acidity is light, which keeps this as a solid sour that is "entry-level" perhaps, but it has won a friend of mine as a convert.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 18:29:01 | More by kjyost

rarbring

Sweden

4.4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A clear sparkling deep brass brew, a small white head with little lacing and small curtains.

Funky stable notes, earth, horse and vinegar.

Starting with a perky dextrose sweetness, then lemon, yeast, stable, very balanced.

High carbonation, small foamy bubbles, a refreshing texture, medium small body, a sour dry finish.

A very well balanced and smooth gueuze. School!

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 00:23:04 | More by rarbring

ChadQuest

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled exactly 11 months ago to the day, if only i knew what hour...

hazy straw yellow body with a few fingers of loose bone white head on top.
The aroma is a clean light musty lemony thing that is nice.
The flavors are a sour and tart, there is a citric tasting acidity is just enough to make a crisp clean feel but leans more funky overall. Lemon and pear are refreshing, green apple skins.
mouthfeel is dry and clean.

I enjoyed this, got even better as the bottle went on, i should age a few and see how acidic i can get them, i like acidity. A great beer that is always on the shelf, which is great.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 03:49:55 | More by ChadQuest

snaotheus

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into sample glasses

Pours pale whitish-yellow, cloudy, carbonated, medium-small head. Smell is sour, fruity, citric maybe. Smells good...but I'm not a big gueuze guy so I'm not sure what to gauge it against.

Taste is a nice expansion of the smell. Jaw-clench sour, sour dry plum flavor, just a hint of bitterness, some fruity sweetness.

Mouthfeel is dry and light. Overall, I like it. I hope this is what gueuzes are supposed to be like.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 18:56:54 | More by snaotheus

hardy008

Minnesota

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

Cloudy gold with a greater than two finger foamy white head which fades quickly, and leaves spotty lacing. The aroma has barnyard funk and lemons. Very musty and tart.

The taste has green apples, lemon, funky yeast, and is very tart. Finishes dry. There is a very light amount of sweetness, which is not easy to detect, but it is overpowered by the tartness, as it should be when you are drinking a well made Gueuze.

Light bodied, low carbonation, dry, and mouth puckering. Very nicely made, and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 03:44:12 | More by hardy008

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a hazy golden orange in color with a fair amount of sediment/yeast that is visible in the pour (and remains in suspension after the pour). The beer has a medium thick head (less than a quarter of a thing) that reduces to an extremely thin film covering about 80% of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Minimal amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to light aromas of barnyard funk and light amounts of sourness. There are additionally some very light vinous notes as well.

T: Starts out with some barnyard funk and sourness but eventually some vinegar like vinous notes come out as well. There is almost a bit of a bite to the taste of this beer but it is slightly sweeter than others in the style.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Very prickly on the tongue.

O: Very enjoyable and easy to drink for the style with the extra sweetness and not as intense sour/funk. Definitely a sipping beer though.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 11:54:08 | More by dbrauneis

KajII

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Best served in a Flute glass]

The pour was a clear golden orange with a huge (3-4 finger) white pillowy head that reduced to a thin cap which lasted throughout and had fair light spotty lacing.

The aroma was of a funky barnyard Belgian yeast and some light grain malts with notes of citrus (lemon), green apple, pears and a mild white grape winey odor.

The taste was sour yet still slightly sweet with hints of apple and pear early on, but quickly became very sour with a slight acetic taste taking over. It also possessed notes of yeast and citrus with a mild white wine presence at the end. The flavor lasted a nice long while, with a fruity tart taste left lying on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was light in body and dry in texture with a very strong champagne like carbonation.

Overall a good tart fruity brew with a nice sweet sour ending...

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 22:32:24 | More by KajII