Armand'4 Oude Geuze Lente (Spring) - Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen

jdklks

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev -5.7%

12-31-2011 22:23:43 | More by jdklks

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev -0.4%

05-19-2013 16:54:50 | More by tom10101

coryking

Missouri

4.75/5  rDev -0.4%

05-08-2013 18:28:52 | More by coryking

pperez38

California

4.75/5  rDev -0.4%

05-02-2013 09:55:30 | More by pperez38

VAbdoyan

California

5/5  rDev +4.8%

05-02-2013 07:04:31 | More by VAbdoyan

cfrances33

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev -0.4%

04-29-2013 01:39:44 | More by cfrances33

ElGallo

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +4.8%

04-21-2013 01:23:27 | More by ElGallo

beernads

Florida

5/5  rDev +4.8%

04-11-2013 07:04:12 | More by beernads

Caudalie

Quebec (Canada)

5/5  rDev +4.8%

04-05-2013 20:59:32 | More by Caudalie

Beerenauslese

California

5/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This pours a slightly hazy golden amber body with a thick light beige head. Curtains of sticky lacing and pretty good head retention.

The nose is complex and inviting, with lemon, vanilla, grassy herbs, and a hint of toffee sugar.

This has such a delightful taste, a fresh lemon tartness balanced by toffee sugar, while the oak aging provides spice and light tannins. Aged hops provide just a small amount of bitterness in the finish. It is hard to imagine how blending young and old lambics can actually produce such a wonderful tasting beer, but thankfully here it is. It is not overpowered by funk or wildness; it is more like a wild beast that has been tamed.

This is light bodied and the carbonation is moderate, producing a mousey light and airy mouthfeel like a good champagne.

I could drink this forever it is so addictively satisfying. Each sip provokes the next. If any beer does, I think this qualifies hands down for the champagne of beers title. It is like a perfect lemon confection (reminds me of lemon tarts, lemon squares) yet more complex with a spicy lingering finish. Nothing is off in this beer, it is the evocation of spring.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 02:45:50 | More by Beerenauslese

celticfutblclub

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +4.8%

03-30-2013 15:39:33 | More by celticfutblclub

Gonzoillini

Illinois

5/5  rDev +4.8%

03-21-2013 00:24:31 | More by Gonzoillini

zestar

California

4.75/5  rDev -0.4%

03-20-2013 08:25:03 | More by zestar

getinked

California

5/5  rDev +4.8%

03-16-2013 15:44:51 | More by getinked

SkiBum22

New York

4.5/5  rDev -5.7%

03-15-2013 11:36:56 | More by SkiBum22

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev -0.4%

03-15-2013 02:11:46 | More by yourefragile

drummermattie02

Texas

4.5/5  rDev -5.7%

03-12-2013 14:24:16 | More by drummermattie02

Damian

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank from a 750 ml bottle
Served in a Drie Fonteinen gueuze tumbler
Thanks to my friend Fclfcs for generously sharing this bottle.

Review #750

The beer poured a cloudy orangey amber and was topped by a large bubbly head that fell rather quickly. A thick cap of white froth coated the liquid. Light lacing along the glass.

The nose was funky and dry. Lots of horse blanket. Somewhat spicy. Musty, basement-like notes.

The flavor profile was intense. Strong tart lemon on the front end. Dry, crackery malts. Somewhat spicy. Lots of funk and must, but well balanced and highly drinkable.

The body was lighter bodied with a crisp, bubbly effervescence.

This is a fantastic gueuze that is noticeably more complex and intense than the Drie Fonteinen Classic Gueuze offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 20:41:56 | More by Damian

claaark13

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev -0.4%

03-05-2013 20:20:27 | More by claaark13

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared with JLindros and company at the last whale tasting. Reviewed from notes

A - Poured into my Kate the Great tulip a light honey blonde hazy hue with a one finger head that fades to leave lots of side lacing.

S - Super, super funky and bright. Light yeast notes, tough of lemongrass and earthy notes. Again though I get a faint hint of rubber.

T - Taste is the same as the nose, minus that rubber too thankfully. Super funky here, nice and tart with good fruit (lemon) notes. Slightly juicy, good grass and hay notes with good lightly bready malts.

M - Mouthfeel is quite tart with a nice crisp finish. Good and light.

O - Overall this is a good tart brew. Its bright, sharp, really quite nice. One of my favorite out of the Armand series.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 02:21:31 | More by rudzud

Blanco

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +4.8%

02-19-2013 04:40:16 | More by Blanco

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.89/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Bottled March 19, 2010. Very excited to try this one.

The beer is cloudy amber, rather caramel coloured. A good-sized white head on top. Moderate retention, some lace.

Smell is lovely. I get light fruit flavours up front; apple, cherry, lemon. Then there is the funk- not as heavy as I expected but very nice. Horse blanket, barnyard. Oak. Very complex and really inviting.

Wow. Taste lives up to the nose and then some. The funk is quite present, but refined. Strong lemon flavoured acidic element, along with apple flavours, and a touch of cherry. Moderately sour, relatively dry. Wheat provides a crispness. There is a lot going on here and it is all perfectly in harmony with each other. What really sticks out about this beer is that it does so much but does not go overboard with any of it. Quite funky but not overwhelmingly so. Sour but not bracingly so. The fruit is larger and broader than expected.

Medium bodied, moderately carbonated- just the right level. Tart. Wonderfully refreshing.

Overall- amazing. Amazing that this beer lives up to and surpasses its reputation. Just phenomenal. The only problem is that I suppose I will never have it again. I hope this bottle never ends- can't say anything more than that.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 03:17:42 | More by jrenihan

sweemzander

Illinois

4.99/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750mL corked and caged bottle poured into a tulip. Major thanks to Kevan for sharing!

(A)- Pours a hazy golden orange color. Produced a wonderful cap of white froth. Surprising retention that still kept some froth present with the last sip.

(S)- A great combination of dry straw cheesy funk combined with an earthy lemon rind and acidic oak. Even has a subtle hint of orange citrus at the end as it opens up in the glass.

(T)- Just wonderful. Similar to the smell in alot of ways. It is funky, but restrained. Superb showing of sour oak with bits of grassy straw and subtle citrus. Extremely dynamic and my words fail to really describe this one as it is in the glass. It really starts to show some nice citrus notes at it opens up and warms with orange, lemon, and grapefruit.

(M)- A lively carbonation level that combines so well with the vibrant oak, funk, and sour fruit. The dynamic play in this is spectacular and each sip is just as rewarding as the first, if not more so.

(O)- Practically perfect in every way. Such a dynamic and vibrant play on what a Gueuze can be like. Each sip brought some new flavors to the palate in such a fantastic way that, again, my words only scratch the surface on this one. Simply fantastic!

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 18:24:13 | More by sweemzander

kevanb

Illinois

4.86/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

750ml bottle poured into a Drie Fonteinen tumbler.

The beer pours a lovely copper color, hazy complexion, many bubbles rising to the top of the glass with a great, 3 finger, white, cloudy head that has impressive retention, lasting the entire session that leaves behind a great amount of sticky lacing. The aroma is wonderful, lots of signature funk, bright grapefruit citrus, lemongrass, chewy oak, rosewater, nice and complex, lightly tart and acidic, everything you want from a great geuze. The flavors are super bright and vibrant, citrus, grapefruit, lemongrass, light funk, zesty yeast, floral, meadowy flavors pop out as well. A nice oaky barrel character is ever present that helps blend everything together in perfect harmony. Every sip brings out something new, something more complex, the citrus is super fresh, the floral flavors are so light and layer themselves so well with the funky, oaky elements. The body is super light, crisp and lively, dances on the tongue so well but finishes so smoothly and freshly.

Verdict: Just a spectacular Geuze from Drie Fonteinen and arguably the best of the Armand'4 series, the flavors are just so fresh and balanced, the complexity is only matched by a small few and the aroma is so wonderful that this really is the whole package of a perfect Geuze.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 22:15:15 | More by kevanb

jegross2

Illinois

4.98/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewing the Armand'4 Oude Geuze Lente (Spring) from Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen out of Belgium.

Score: 99

2011 vintage bottle served in a taster glass and enjoyed on 05/11/13 to celebrate the end of law school. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy orange-amber color with a finger of white head. Good lacing and retention. 4.5/5

Smell: Tart lemon juice, pear and subtle musty vinegar. A little fruitiness. Residual funk. Really nice sour citrus aroma. 5/5

Taste: Sour lemonade-like with good pucker. Acidic orange, a little apple and pear. Lots of juicy sour citrus. Only a little vinegar funk. Layering sourness. Nice and subtle grassy hops too. Really excellent! 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, perfect carbonation. Excellent layering pucker. Dry. 5/5

Overall: One of the best sours I have ever had. Shame it took me a year to type this review up. I need to get a bottle.

Cost: Depending on the exchange rate, this one is likely to run between $45 and $60 for a 750 ml bottle (if you can still find it online).

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 04:53:23 | More by jegross2