Oude Gueuze Tilquin à L'Ancienne - Gueuzerie Tilquin

wadecats

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

first release of this gueuze - 750ml Bottle purchased from Hill Farmstead brewery in Greensboro, Vt.
This is a wonderful gueuze, comparable to the March 4 2011 Cantillon gueze in color with a slight bit more darkness but slight less clarity and carbonation. The amount of yeast was pretty mild compared to other gueuzes out there.
Taste was very acidic, steamed shelfish-like, and sour with a little more roasted bread taste hanging on at the end - light on the vinegar flavors of a new bottle of gueuze.
Mouth feel was appropriate - heavy tartness and light bitterness left on the tongue.
I'm excited to taste this gueuze in eight years - looking forward to trying the other work of this gueuzerie.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 02:06:39 | More by wadecats

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.99/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a vintage 2011-2012 bottle into a Kriek Belle-Vue tulip. Served around 55 degrees.

Appearance- Almost clear copper/red color with a half fingered foamy white head. Left leaving no lacing.

Smell- Incredible. Immediately I get vanilla (presumably from the oak aging), lemon, tobacco, some vinegar and earthy smells.

Taste- Lemon, tart apples, vinegar. Yeasty/ earthy flavors with a mild bitterness at the end.

Mouthfeel- Very carbonated. Tart mouth puckering actions.

Overall- This is incredible. Damn near perfect gueze.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 03:36:17 | More by Seanniek91

mlazzaro

Massachusetts

4.97/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

375ml cork and cage 2010 bottle
Smell is very enticing: sour wild yeast - acidic to the nose. Exciting aromatics, I like it. Thin layer of frothy head, with surprising head retention. Looks like a wheat beer with a good haze and yellow-orange hue. Flavor wise, you can't ask for much more in a traditional Gueuze. I can't believe I've never seen, or heard of this beer before as it is truly outstanding. Bright lemon citrus brettanomyces character - tart and puckering. Lingering subtle yeast flavors in the after taste. Mellow oakiness. Pleasant raw wheat body. Decent ABV for a lambic. Will certainly keep an eye out for this one in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 02:02:05 | More by mlazzaro

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.9/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wow, excellent brew! Poured cold with a large, off-white, foamy, frothy, thick head that lasts a while and lots of lace. Color is a slightly hazy amber with a load of tiny bubble trails. Aroma is yeast, sour, bread dough, malt - a fresh and clean quality. Flavor's like nose, fresh and clean, very dry with bitter and carbonic working very well with each other. Back of the tongue is left with an astringent feel. Body and carbonation are perfect. Finish is like flavor, with a slight dry champagne flavor and again very clean. Outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 22:38:33 | More by drpimento

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.78/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

into a tulip it was a light orange brown with a very nice three finger head of lace and a good amount of carbonation streaming up from the bottom of the glass. Nice retention only gradually let the head fade away, what was left was a very nice set of concentric side glass rings of lace. Smell was very sour, lots of grapes and other fruits. A bit light on the nose before the sour wrath kicks in. Flavor was very full and robust. Nice yeast filled flavor wrecks your taste buds but calms down considerably on the finish. A huge rush of sour fruit than kicks into overdrive and puckers your lips through the finish

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 02:44:18 | More by mikesgroove

RashyGrillCook

California

4.76/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured into a tulip. Bottle dated 05/03/2021.

A:Perfectly clear golden, amber with an orange hue through the middle. A thin, maybe 1/4 inch, bone colored head with some impressive staying power for a Gueuze. Fine textured bubbling can be seen rising up constantly. Really no room for improvement here. 5

S:Earthy but in a fresh way like a walk through a citrus grove during a sunshower(Lol). Salt water taffy comes to mind along with some acidity coming through. 4.75

T&M: The low pH is very noticeable and forces salivation at an incredible pace. Sweaty start with a well balanced effervescense but mellows out into a typical barnyard Gueuze profile. This one finishes out nicely with some clean citrus notes. 4.75-4.75

O: This is definitely a top 10 Gueuze for me. The mouth watering quality is just out of this world, its ridiculously refreshing and the head stuck around for the entire time I enjoyed this brew. I will definitely buy again. 4.75

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 14:20:20 | More by RashyGrillCook

peabody

Kentucky

4.73/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours out a champaigne color with very small white bubbles. Lots of effervescence and this one keeps bubbling all through the drinking process.
Smell is lemon peel and sour apple with a slight bubble gum right out of the bottle.
The aroma gets more malty as it warms.
Taste is the star here. Lots of refreshing lemon peel and green apple skin. No alcohol detected.
Mouthfeel is only a bit sticky but the sourness keeps the palate very clean. Pairs well with cheese and apples.
Overall this would be a 4.65. One of the better gueuzes out there. Gives the other belgiums a run for their money.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 01:40:25 | More by peabody

sweemzander

Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

375mL corked and caged bottle poured into a tumbler.

(A)- Pours a clear goldenrod yellow, almost orange color. Produced a good frothy white head that dissipated after a minute or two. Good lacing too actually.

(S)- Love the smell. A dry, dusty earthy floor type smell to it. Deep lactic acidic notes that turn into almost a funky cheese type of must. Bits of lemon and just overall, funktastic.

(T)- Similar to the smell. An awesome sharp acidity that flows into the dry, funky cheese, dirty floor from the smell. I know gueuzes do not have fruit added, but I swear there is some acidic lemon in this one. An all over awesome and classic taste that further reminds me why this is my most favorite style of beer ever.

(M)- A wonderful carbonation level and an even better balance. While some really stick to either the funky side or the heavy acidic side of the style, this one centers right in-between so it has the best of both worlds at the same time. The sourness is spot on and the dry funk with subtle fruit sweetness just makes this all come together.

(O)- I had heard good things about this one, and am glad they were true. An absolutely classic example that is both dynamic and a perfect balance of everything I like in a gueuze. World class.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 21:14:28 | More by sweemzander

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.71/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml green bottle purchased from Slowbeer in Melbourne. I'd tried the draft version of this in Belgium, and I was extremely excited to see the bottled version make it to our shores. Shared with my brother Sam.

Pours a clear orange hue with a fluffy white head that stays pretty persistently. Lacing streaks across the glass as the beer goes down. Body is light but vibrant, and the carbonation is pleasantly fine. It looks the picture of a gueuze.

Nose is wonderful, clean crisp apricot characters, sharp Gueuze-like pungent funk. Some of that classic overtone that reminds me of plastic, but which Sam just pointed out is also quite akin to roasted sesame. It's so classic, so fresh, so funky and so perfect. I love a good gueuze, and Tilquin is really pumping out the good gueuze.

Taste is everything I remember. Clear direct gueuze-like funk, solid but not overwhelming acidity, and more fresh apricot flavours which really provide some depth and structure to it. It's also light and crisp, with a sharp uptick in the acidity towards the end, which gives it a moreish bite that makes you want to take another sip. It's really, truly remarkably lovely.

Feel is crisp, bright and refreshing. It absolutely backs up the flavour and aroma in every way.

Overall, this is most definitely one of my favourite and certainly most drinkable Gueuzes. It's a style I love already, and when someone does it as well as this, I feel right in being effusive. This is just an absolutely fucking brilliant beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 06:31:25 | More by lacqueredmouse

homebrew311

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into snifter. Appearance is hazy orange with dense creamy white head, great retention, some lacing. The nose has a lot going on...notes of sourdough, lactic acid, and oak come through the biggest. Some delicate waves of lemon and funk come through as well. The taste incredibly tart and fruity. Note of white wine, oak, and loads of lactic acid are present. There is some underlying funk that is at the perfect level for my taste. The front is puckering tart which develops into a balance with some moderate sweetness. This one is delicious. Mouthfeel is light with high carbonation. Overall, this is one of my new favorite gueuzes. Great range of flavors and delicious balance. Very tart and definitely worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 05:17:54 | More by homebrew311

jibbyvonjibb

California

4.63/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

bottle 750mL
A: yellow-golden. hazy. small head with tiny bubbles. 4
S: amazing aroma. oak barrels. honey. orange. apricots. . yeast. 4.5
T: citrus prominent. delicate lemon-peel bitterness lingers in aftertaste. no residual sweetness. 4.5
M: light carbonation creates silky mouthfeel. 4.5
O: excellent, balanced gueuze. If I had to nitpick, I would say that it has a little bit too mich yeasty character. otherwise, it's one of the best gueuzes available. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 23:06:54 | More by jibbyvonjibb

notchucknorris

California

4.63/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy apple cider color with a thin bone white head.

S: Tart green apple, pear, lemon curd, some slight barnyard funk, apple pie filling, rhubarb and some faint cedar on the back end. Smells pretty incredible.

T: Opens with a nice vinegar snap of tartness. Green apple and sour white grapes followed by a slight hint of grain and a very tart, lingering, slightly dry finish that leaves you wanting a lot more. Lemon comes in on the finish as well. Mouthfeel is light and the carbonation is pretty lively without being overwhelming. A pretty fantastic gueuze.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 21:21:10 | More by notchucknorris

Cubatobaco

Virginia

4.63/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Single 12.7 oz bottle
Best before 21/03/2022

A - hazy, golden amber in color, 1/8" white head with slippery lacing, nice effervescence

S - sour notes, light funk, green apples, citrus, white grapes,

T - sourness that puckers your cheeks, like a mouthful of sweet tarts, vinegar, green fruit, Brett, flavors I've only found in white wine,

M - very wet and thirst quenching, extreme acidity, puckering, crisp and refreshing

O - My first Gueuze that I recall. If this is how most of them are, I can see me hunting down more of this style. What a remarkable beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 01:55:53 | More by Cubatobaco

julian

Washington

4.6/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

37.5cl bottle brought back from a trip to Belgium.

A: Pours a coppery orange color with a ½” thick snow white head that dissipates quickly leaving a nice thin layer on the surface. Hazy. 4.5

S: Tart apples, subtle vinegar, citrus, some grassy/hay, and general lambik funk. 5

T&M: Tart, dry apple flavors, highly carbonated, dry (did I mention that?), citrus/citric acid. Funky. 4.5/4.5

O: Nothing about this beer is overwhelming. Every element is complimentary to every other element. This is an expertly blended Gueze. I hauled it all the back from Belgium, and given another opportunity to do so, I’d fill up a whole suitcase with this godly nectar. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 16:28:43 | More by julian

larryi86

Delaware

4.58/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12.7 oz bottle best before 15/2/2021 poured into a snifter

A- A hazy golden color with a touch of orange with one finger white head.

S- Sour, lemons, tart apples, getting some funk and earthiness. It is making my mouth water.

T- Sour and complex, getting sour lemon, tart apples, hint of funk, white wine flavor in the finish. Very bright and lively.

M- Smooth, crisp, dry.

O- I love this Gueuze and can't wait to get more. As soon as the aroma hit me I knew I was in for a treat, and it did not disappoint!

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 22:28:56 | More by larryi86

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.58/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml corked and caged bottle 6,0% Abv.
Served chilled in an over sized wine glass.
2010/2011 vintage.
Ref A1011
BB 22/01/2011

It has been a long time since I have had a good Gueuze. I have been saving all my sours to do a comparative tasting. I will be having one different sour every day for the next two weeks or so.

Appearance: Beautiful, lightly hazed, golden-apricot body topped by a large white head that lasts pretty well but leaves only minimal lace.

Smell: Holy shit; how I have missed the smell of a well crafted gueuze! The nose is right up there in terms of both power and complexity.
I never know where to start when analyzing a gueuze, so I will merely list the notes that I find over the course of the bottle.
Lemons, tart green apples, a mixture of rotten and not quite ripe apricots, tart white grapes, musty basement, sweaty socks, light oak, and surprisingly some sweetness (appletiser note). Initially the barnyard character was very light, but as the beer warmed it became quite a bit stronger.

Taste: Wow, the initial sip is actually quite a lot tarter than I thought it would be - though I guess it should have been expected since this blend contains both Girardin and Cantillon.
The flavour contains less fruit and more musty funk than the nose. Tart lemon and apricot notes are still there along with musty basements, sweat, old oak and earthy wild mushrooms.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a high level of carbonation (the bubbles could be a tad smaller for me). Extremely dry finish; tough not quite as arid as Girardin Black Label.

Overall: A great gueuze and one I will certainly have again! I wonder how the Lou Pepe Gueuze that I am drinking tomorrow will compare.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 09:36:03 | More by Thehuntmaster

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.58/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Lists both 2010 and 2011 on the label. BB is 04/03/2021, so I am guessing that this was bottled early 2011.

Cork almost explodes off once the cage is removed, but thankfully no gushing. Beer is a cloudy orange colour, almost caramel in colour. Moderately sized white head dissipates quite quickly, leaving nothing but some white film.

Quite a beautiful smell, and noticeable even far from the glass. Apple, pear, lemon. Seems very tart. Brett. Funky, horse blanket scents. Floral. A bit of oak. Lovely. I'm almost afraid to taste it as I don't see how it can live up to the smell.

Well, the taste is perhaps not quite as good as the smell, but it is excellent nonetheless. Tart but not overly so, the flavour is a marriage of funky brett and light fruits (apple, pear). The oak is there as well. Complex and flavourful but subtle, a very soft blend of flavours.

Quite light bodided, moderate carbonation, velvety soft. Puckering.

Overall, fantastic. A really excellent gueuze. Wish I had bought more!

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 02:11:04 | More by jrenihan

GRG1313

California

4.55/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks Adam. Really delicious first rate Gueuze.

Pours straw orange with a short white head. Nose is complex funk, tart, tangerine and green grass; yet, very inviting, fresh and appealing.

Mouthfeel is tart, light carbonation, fresh and you really want to gulp it - just very inviting.

Flavor profile is more complex than most with layers of funk, green apples, green peppers, grass, tangerines and sweet citrus front tones. All in all just layers and layers of flavor.

Finish if funky but long lasting and pleasing, setting you up for another taste.

This competes with the very best of them. Loved it.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 21:28:11 | More by GRG1313

Heavenisbeer

Georgia

4.55/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Into a tulip.

A: The champagne of Belgium indeed. One-finger head off the pour, into a refined bubbly ring clinging to the edge of the glass, with a few bubbly islands (they eventually disappear completely). Effervescent, yes. The carbonation release is ceaseless. Orange, cloudy, cider body. Great look.

S: Sour, oak-y, grassy. Acetic. Some sour fruits. Touch o' the barn.

T: WOW. The sourest I've had. Super sour, funky apple skin. Crabapple core. This gueuze takes your tonsils and your soft palate into an alleyway and beats 'em down, and it's wonderful. And even though the ABV is only 6%, there's a light alcohol warmth that sticks around to keep you company after the beatdown.

M: Dry, dry, dry. Dry. Lovely.

O: I'm blown away. I love sours, and this just took me to another realm that I hadn't been to, and I'm much better for it.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 01:49:04 | More by Heavenisbeer

Khazadum

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- Fantastic carbonation. Tons and tons of bubbles cascade throughout my glass in singular fashion, not a stream but a many individual adventures. The head is creamy, but not pharmaceutically. The variety of minuscule bubbles create the illusion of meringue. Great lacing, retention on par with what it should be. This all sits above a carmelly yellow. Cough drop memories.

S- Lemon, almost antisceptic in nature but right before then. Delightful, doesn't remind me of a men's bathroom but I can see a resemblance. Following that is that characteristic aroma you only get from white wine. Herby, and acetic acid. Barely any citric. The last notes you get are toasted wood, floral bouquets, but not too much in the way of oak.

T- First impressions are instant sour presence and white grapes. Hits of white wine jump and bite the center of the tongue as well as the characteristic bittering of citric acid. Very nice complement to the dominating acetic acid that is the overall main flavor. Its all about how to complement the acetic acid here. Its strong, its lingering, but its not overwhelming. There is a minor bitter that is reminiscent of lemon rind, finish keeps it going in manner that joins and becomes indistinguishable from citric acid. Otherwise this beer leaves you thinking you are moments away from a clean break.

M/D- Moderate body, fluid, creamy, sharp, minorly bitter, clean, stringy ending. Its crisp right off the bat but the carbonation benefits the overall picture. If that finish was just a tad bit less present this would be a perfect mouthfeel. I'm left with tart presents on the insider of my cheeks and lips as I drink further onward. Love the leftovers, don't care if their sloppy.

This beer has reminded me why sour is the best 'style' of beer. It is so balanced while still maintaining a harsh, aggressive personality. Delicious and worth drinking every so often, regardless of the price. Probably one of the best gueuzes I've ever had. I can't wait to share this beer with others.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 23:42:01 | More by Khazadum

jvillefan

California

4.53/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: A very slightly hazy golden yellow body with a one finger very white head that disappears very quickly.

S: There is a yeasty musty aroma. There is some tart bite with some sour apples.

T: There is a very dry apple and tart flavors. There is a pleasant amount of musty yeasty flavors that bring the gueuze together.

M: A nice body for a gueuze with some very nice and sharp carbonation.

O: Great gueuze and sour. Not the best but still well worth picking up if you can.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 05:57:08 | More by jvillefan

LambicKing

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle bought at Dranken Geers, poured into my 3F gueuze glass (yes, I had the whole thing).

A: Light, hazy yellow body with light orange hues. 1 finger of fizzy head rapidly dissipates to very light edging.

S: Brett funk, apple skins, light citrus.

T: Funky and VERY SOUR. Sour apples, light grapefruit. Love it. I guess it's tough to screw up when blending Jean's lambics.

M: Perfect carbonation, not too much or too little. Dry, crisp finish as a quality gueuze should.

O: What a great gueuze. Much better than the first bottle I had (which was also good). I don't know if 1-2 months of cellaring helped the gueuze to mature/meld, but a much better round this time. Not my favorite (Lente/Zomer), but it's up there.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 16:40:23 | More by LambicKing

wschmit

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle into a small Cantillon flute. Opens with a pretty loud pop. Best before 18/02/2021. May have to lay a couple of these away.

A: Lovely, hazy goldenrod body with a slight white head that doesn't last too long. Definitely carbonated, though--pops like Rice Krispies in the glass. Classic looking, really.

S: A bit like salami that's been left out of the refrigerator for a while--meaty, salty smelling, almost. Pleasant floral notes deep down in the back of the nose, reaching for them. A fascinating nose. Some bits of straw in there, dust. Even a bit of strawberry.

T: Bright tartness, almost like 7-Up, but with some solid funk. Not overwhelming, however, and a great quality gueuze profile without being too strong in any one way. Some definite gym bag or sweaty sock notes, but towards the end and easily overlooked.

M: Good carbonation and moderate body really bring out the whole range of flavors. Immensely refreshing.

O: Top notch, for sure. 22 bucks for the 750, I think, but worthwhile for something whose complexity trumps even high-quality wines. An exemplar.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 05:00:07 | More by wschmit

timtim

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

nice ambery-orangish with a white head that fades to a collar and leaves a little lace. nose is lemons, grape nerds, fruit loops, sweet tarts, citrus rind, must, funk and cobweb. taste is a fine balance of cheesy, goaty, funk with grapefruit rind and lemon. the sweet cereal and candy that i get in the nose is blended with the sour extremely well to create a really nice flavor. medium body. silky to me and just sharp enough. good finish with no improper aftertastes. just delicious, and for a first effort, what pierre tilquin shows us is straight yum. extra points for being so new to the game and creating a gueuze that will stand up to the best. can't wait to see what the future holds!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 03:17:39 | More by timtim

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a nice straw yellow color with a thin white head that recedes rather quickly. the smell is tart lemony with hints of apple and a nice funk. the flavor starts off with a light funk, followed by a crisp tartness. the mouthfeel is light and well carbed, overall a superbly balanced gueuze

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 21:33:02 | More by rowingbrewer