Lambik (2 Year Old Unblended) - Brouwerij Girardin

largadeer

California

4.55/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pour from a bag-in-a-box...I guess that's sort of like a cask? Nice amber hue, and surprisingly clear. As expected, there's no carbonation.

The aroma is very oak heavy, mushroom-y with cider undertones. Very fruity, some nice red apple and lemon notes. Reminds me quite a bit of Cantillon's Bruocscella Grand Cru. Perhaps a touch more cidery than I'd like, but still nice.

Lot of oak on the tongue, very tannic and earthy. Fruity, cidery, some bitterness too. Actually, quite a bit of bitterness for lambic. Surprisingly hoppy, with an herbal/earthy quality. Sourness is moderate, not bracing by any means, with no noticeable acetic notes. Tons of oak/tannins in the finish, along with more of that curious bitterness that works very well with the oak. Immensely drinkable stuff, the bitter/sour dynamic works really well.

Serving type: cask

05-06-2011 20:04:32 | More by largadeer

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.83/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presentation: This 2 year old unblended Girardin lambic was served in a straight sided Lindeman's Gueuze-Kriek Glass at the 'In De Oude Pruim' in Beersel. Brought to our Table by the woman that was “on duty” that day, I shared a glass or three of this with friends and fellow BA’s BelgiumBeers and Greencard.

Appearance: Zero carbonation, absolutely flat and devoid of any life whatsoever. Like a watery Sherry cordial, it exhibits a darkish ruddy brown body that was clear. The straight sided traditional Tumbler (although it was a Lindeman’s glass) really helped to scatter the light in this one and produced some dark orange flashes when held to the light. Looks simple yet great.

Smell: The nose is unmistakably lambik, and Girardin. Whereas the 1 year old exhibits lots of lemony grapefruit character, the 2 year old is still fruity but it has certainly developed a deep musty feel over time with straw, wet wood and a damp barnyard yet it still has a very fruity aroma overall. It begs to be nasal probed.

Taste: Less acidity than the 1 year old, a little more rounded with a tad more sourness and the development of some white grape character. Lots of wood (Oak?), the sharp grapefruit has developed more into a granny smith cum cooking apple taste that is mixed well with a malt vinegar feel. The back end has more Brett than most need, but easily enough to handle for lambik heads. Soggy damp faded hops long past their ‘Use Before’ date are detectable, just, but they impart no bitterness whatsoever. Complex, it offers something new every time I get to drink this. Has a very astringent biting tart finish that can clench the teeth. Quite an exceptionally refreshing libation!

Mouthfeel: Has the texture of Oak wood, the feel of damp straw from the barnyard floor with the refreshing zesty quality of a light wine. Has a very Lambik feel that is somehow difficult to describe at times, yet so unique that you would instantly recognize it again in a blind tasting. This has a big body actually.

Drinkability: Easily a ‘5’, it slakes the thirst and cuts through a dry mouth like a hot knife through butter. Complex and flat, yet incredibly quenching, and very refreshing. Has a massive Drinkability that is one of its main attractions for me.

At 2 years old, this is probably at its height of perfection for drinking neat; this is a truly authentic lambik, aged for at least 24 months, which beggars belief. Astounding complexity all wrapped and delivered in a rather simple package. Fantastic!

Overall, just an awesome experience, Girardin is probably at its best at 2 years old for my liking, when it really gets to taunt you with sour apples, malt vinegar and woody Brett all at the same time. At 5% this is one that I could happily imbibe to excess on a warm sunny afternoon when sat outside. Worth the trip to Beersel alone. Strongly Recommended!!!

*Given its rather unique all-round character, all Marks stated are for the Lambik Style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2004 01:13:28 | More by TheLongBeachBum

alfrantzell

California

4.9/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

From a bag-in-a-box at De Oude Pruim in Beersel. Just €2.50. A steal.

Dark, nearly brown, no carbonation to speak of. Straw, grapefruit, and wood are the smell. The taste finished on.. hops? Oak? Surprisingly bitter. Someone told me in broken English something about dry hopping. Either way, it was assertive for unblended lambic and big-boned to boot.

If we didn't have a train to catch, we would have stayed and had much more.

Serving type: growler

04-17-2010 20:50:15 | More by alfrantzell

ManforallSaisons

Belgium

4.93/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served as "Oude lambic" at In de Verzekering tegen de Grote Dorst in Eizeringen, Belgium. While the specific age wasn't disclosed, I am guessing that the 1-year Girardin on this site refers to the 'Jonge' (young) version of up to a year old. It was decanted somewhere out of view and arrived in the house glassware, a simple straight-sided tumbler. The color was dusky amber, more faro-looking than the typical unblended lambic. There was just a bit of froth that immediately dissipated, like on a glass of Moroccan tea, with no trace of carbonation in the mouth. I was prepared for lambic-brewery-loft-funk smells but was blindsided by a strong bolt of dry cider, some apple-peel sourness and a bit if apple-bruise sweetness, overall like sticking your head into the bottom of the sack brought home from the orchard. The flavor departed the cider theme with a smoky complexity, plus a grapefruit-y tartness and a little flick of brown sugar to leaven the sourness and make for a clean finish.

Serving type: cask

12-19-2010 16:25:50 | More by ManforallSaisons