Oudbeitje Lambic - Hanssens Artisanaal bvba

leschkie

California

3.18/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Slightly modified version of the Lambic on-tap at CBS. This one was aged in baby bourbon barrels. Poured into a small-sized goblet.

Appearance: Like a slightly hazy apple cider with essentially zero carbination to speak of. Any trace of lacing is non-existent.

Smell: Strong vinegar and tart up front followed by the barrel...mostly woodiness with subtle hints of the bourbon. Some fruitiness, probably strawberries, but you really have to go searching for it. Based on smell alone, not sure if aging a lambic in bourbon is the brightest idea.

Taste: And I was right. The combination of bourbon and sour fruity tartness just does not go well together. Perhaps with the properly chosen fruit, but strawberries? Nuh-uh.

Mouthfeel: Actually much better than I expected, considering the zero carbination present in the beer. Glad this one felt thicker than other lambics I've had. Quite refreshing as well.

Overall: I consider Hannsens' original version of the lambic to be average at best from the start. I just thought that perhaps the bourbon might have been its secret weapon to sway me, but I was dead wrong. It actually made it worse. I think that was probably the last straw and won't be returning to Hanssens' offering of a lambic anymore.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2011 23:58:18 | More by leschkie

yankeepride

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a cloudy yellow/gold with absolutely no head at all. Smells like a lambic, but much more faintly so than some of the notorious cherry versions. Taste is light, mildly sour, and has a mellowness to it that I have not had in this style before. I'm not sure I would have identified strawberry if it weren't noted on the label, as it is not a strong, powerful flavor. However, knowing they were in the mix, you get a sense of "oh yeah, I can get a taste of them" as the sour element fades away into just a light, barely-present sour coating on your tongue and teeth. Overall, a really refreshing beer, but in its style, there are others that have a bit more of a 'wow' factor.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 21:38:46 | More by yankeepride

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

3.76/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served from a corked and caged 375ml bottle into a Hill Farmstead stemmed tulip. Served at cellar temps.

Appearance- Beautiful golden/orange with zero head and no bubbles bouncing around the glass. Absolutely beautiful color.

Smell- So funky. Asparagus, fresh cut wet grass, some fruit, but I can't determine if its strawberries or not. Lemon acidity takes over the rest of the lingering funky smell. Truly the funkiest beer I've smelled to date.

Taste- Herbaceous, piney, vanilla oak flavors, lemon rind, and very light strawberry at the end. Lingering vinegar acidic flavors. Much more earthy than fruity. Would be better with some carbonation.

Mouthfeel- Still with no carbonation. Moderate body. Sour puckering mouthfeel and lingering mild acidity. Mouth cleansing.

Overall- I can't get into the sours without carbonation. This is the second I've had and I doubt I'll try anymore. Taste was great, but it needs bubbles.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 16:18:17 | More by Seanniek91

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From: The Corkscrew, Urbana, IL
Date: None, lot D marked on label
Glass: Drie Fonteinen gueuze glass

The cork is removed with no pop, and the beer pours with no head, as is correct for all true unblended lambics. The strawberries apparently did not provide enough sugar, or the sugars were consumed already before being blended and bottled, for carbonation to form in the bottle. There are a few large bubbles from a vigorous pour, but these soon fall. There is also no lacing, as to be expected from the lack of foam. The body is a rich, warm, golden orange color with yellow highlights; light brings out a brighter, not paler, golden orange hue. Beer is transparent, but there is no carbonation to be observed.

Aroma is of faint fruit esters mixed in with some solid, but weak enough to be palatably enjoyable, lactic and acetic acid. The specific fruit is weak, though strawberry is likely to be discerned by the careful observer. There is also a moderate oaked cheese component if the glass is swirled before inhaling.

As a lambic, this is good: with the strawberries to add a bit of additional character, it is excellent. The fruit, though mild, is there, and cooperates very well with the character and flavors of the lambic as a whole. Front of palate notes acidic tartness with hints of strawberry flavors and a mild note of Brettanomyces. Mid-palate detects subtle strawberry flavors atop a rich palette of lemon and vinegar-like sourness, leaf-like tannins, oak, and not-too-funky cheese. Back of palate is quite sour, with lemon and weak vinegar acidity being most noticeable, but also faint oak. Lingering aftertaste of mildly sour acids, a bit of oak, and faint cheese rind.
Note: adding the dregs decreases the tartness somewhat, while increasing the tannic, oak, and Brettanomyces flavors somewhat.

Beer is medium-bodied with little to no carbonation, as befitting the style. Despite the lack of carbonation, this does not stagnate on the palate: the sourness easily moves this along. Closes semi-dry, with little sweetness or stickiness on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 02:36:44 | More by falloutsnow

GuzzLah

Illinois

3.24/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy yellow-orange with no head and no carbonation.

Nice aroma of strawberry, lacto and mild barnyard.

The flavor is like the aroma with a salty sour acidic finish. It has the texture of water.

Overall, I'd like it much better with some bubbles and realize flat is appropriate for the style. It's quite pricey at $15 per 12oz. and not really worth it to me.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 22:28:15 | More by GuzzLah

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.89/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from Sam’s in Durham. Served in a Hanssens tumbler. Hazy peach color. Beautiful strawberry nose. Not at all faded. Moderate lactic and strong strawberry. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 03:16:53 | More by Thorpe429

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours lightly clouded dark orange with no head or lacing. Vigorous pour generates a handful of bubbles at most. Low carbonation and medium light body; traditional lambic feel.

Strongly acidic aroma; lots of lemon and a good deal of musty funk, as well as some pleasant strawberry notes and hints of oak. The flavor is much the same, dominated by powerful lemon sourness and acidity, tart and fruity strawberries, ample bretty funk and moderate oak. Lightly sweet.

The strawberries in the aroma are lovely but somewhat overshadowed by the assertive lemon juice in the flavor a bit.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 20:13:30 | More by tobelerone

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Hanssens Oudbeitje Lambic

LOOK: Pours a still looking clear golden peach color.

SMELL: Strawberry is bright and in the forefront.

TASTE: Very tart base beer provides a nice sour edge. The strawberries that dominated the nose are much softer in the taste with just a small unripe green/pink strawberry tartness. Dry wheat base, oaky and full on sour.

FEEL: Light to medium body, a bit syrupy, with micro carbonation. Dries out in the finish with moderate barrel influence and lingering tartness.

OVERALL: Smells incredibly of strawberry, which fades in the taste and stays sour. Drinks like an unblended Lambic, as carbonation is minimal even from Hanssens standards. Still, I found this to be enjoyable. A nice dry sour from Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 21:50:41 | More by Stinkypuss

warnerry

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a slightly hazed golden orange. Completely still.

S - Aroma has the Hanssens signature funk profile, which is on the heavy side and has aromas of cheese and, significant lemon tartness and some subtle sweet strawberry aromas.

T - Quite tart up front, with lemon leading the way. Quite funky, with a strong eartiness to the funk. Strawberry really seems to get lost here, though it does come through somewhat midway in the taste.

M - Crisp mouthfeel, but has a slight oily slickness to it.

O - Pretty tasty, and I'm glad I tried it, but for the price there are other gueuze/lambics I would go to first, especially since I didn't get a ton of strawberry out of this.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 23:00:23 | More by warnerry

spdyfire83

Ireland

4.23/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

263rd Review
37.5cl bottle to gueuze glass

Enjoyed at De Kelk in Brugge while visiting in early June 2012.

A: Bright hay yellow. Single (bubbly white) fingernail head on medium pour.

S: Smells of funk, hay, must, and strawberry purée.

T: Taste follows smell exactly. A very nice balance of gueuze and strawberry freshness here. Refreshing and crisp!

M: Light bodied with soft carbonation.

O: Balanced, clean, and smooth. Fun to drink at a great beer bar in a sweet town!

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 08:24:20 | More by spdyfire83

CaptCleveland

Ohio

2.35/5  rDev -37.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

375ml bottle purchase at Bestway, awesome bottle shop in Greensboro, NC.

This bottle was actually grabbed by my wife who was looking for a "fruity lambic". $9.49.

Hazy, orange, marmalade-colored elixir, poured into a goblet. No head or lacing.

Strong funk, cheese, grass, barnyard animals.

Incredible bitterness assaults the buds. Tart, brief strawberry flavor. Funk rides roughshod throughout.

Thin, tin, under carbonated.

Not my style.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 02:07:19 | More by CaptCleveland

aasher

Indiana

3.4/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've been eyeing this one for a long time now. It pours a light bodied bright gold in color with a slightly pinkish hue, slightly cloudy and with no head or bubbles. The nose is what I expected from Hannsens, nice acidity, moderate funk, and a strawberry juice aspect that offers a touch of berry sweetness. The flavors are interested. Of course there is the acid and funky yeast but it has an odd juicy strawberry sweetness. It's kind of earthy and vinous. The mouthfeel is also a little flat. It's ok. I know there aren't many strawberry lambics out there but to me this tastes like a Geueze with Strawberry juice added. It's ok but being more expensive than their gueuze or kriek, I would prefer one of those any day.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 21:57:19 | More by aasher

nas5755

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- soft tiny pop with the cork, intense funk, minerals, and sour are present immediately. hazy golden blonde, with a pink tinge, no head with lacing

S-minerals, intense funk, sour, barnyard

T- Sour barnyard. Funk, dirty pond muck, lemons, tart berries. The strawberries are present as a tart afterthought, complementing the sour and funk balance. A very nice beer.

M- mircocabronation, solid, feel, sour.

O- I love Hanssens, and I love fruit in my lambic. Great beer. I assume that this and other Hanssens would have much higher scores if they were more carbonated like the Cantillon. However, I am fine with Hanssens and the lack of simple-syrup that Cantillon adds to produce beautiful intense carbonation in there beers. One of my favs, and way, way, way better than the upland strawberry which lacks funk.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 20:32:20 | More by nas5755

d4radio

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A- Copper, slightly hazy, settled relatively clear, thin ring of head around the outside of the glass lasted through out

S- Initial wafts had gentle acidity with faint strawberry notes, big smell gave a great funky smooth aroma with strawberry overpowered by nice acidity, after agitating strawberry and funk smoothed together for a great aroma

T- Smooth, soft, less tart than aroma prepares you for, starts with a strawberry note with good sourness and thins out to a tart fruity aftertaste, once the palate adjusted to the sourness strawberry and dryness shine through

M- Soft, low carbonation, dry

O- A great fruit lambic, gentle acidity balances out lambic funk and mixes with strawberry well

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 03:14:48 | More by d4radio

jmarsh123

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a crystalline dark orange with absolutely no head despite a vigorous pour.

Smells of tart berries, apples with some musty horse blanket.

I get lots of tart berry and lemon in the flavor especially a tart strawberry on the back end. Not very funky at all and the berry tartness overwhelms a bit.

A bit too thin bodied and carbonation level is too low for a lambic.

Not horrible, but far from a top of the line beer. There are some issues, but overall the strawberry is somewhat pleasant if not a bit too tart at times.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 22:54:26 | More by jmarsh123

SalMineo

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer was terrific. It had been sitting on the shelf in a cool dark place for a while. As we all know lambics can last a long time if stored properly.
Pour- Reminded me a nice rose champagne look to it. It had a faint pink golden color with a little bit of head. Saw a bit of carbonation which i loved. You could also see that lactobacillus or brettanomyces working its magic at the bottom of the glass.
Smell-My second part of this beer is the smell coming off of it. It had the smell of unripened strawberries loved it it was so good. Of course you can definitely smell that earthy funkyness to it which I love.
Taste-The most sour beer I've ever had and I loved it. It had so much zing and acidic bite to it that it even made pucker my face at the very end. I did detect the taste of strawberries not yet ready to be eaten.
This beer was incredible definitely one of my favorite of the lambics.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 15:00:16 | More by SalMineo

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Relatively clear gold. No head in sight. Carbonation is light for the style. Pours on the heavier side and leaves the faintest vestige of bright-white at the edges of the glass.

Smell: Light hit of strawberry of a solid citric bite. Mild earthiness lingers in the back. Sugary strawberry. A little woody. The sweetness masks what would otherwise be a very pleasing sour aroma. It all works in the long run.

Taste: An upfront sour bite is quickly followed by a mild fruitiness and mellowed wood notes. The finish is more directly sour, a sharp tangy bite on the back. Lingering earthiness and some nice strawberry sweetness to liven things up a touch. Almost lemon-like tartness. Woody, but only a touch.

Mouthfeel: Dry and heavy for the style. Body is moderate and the carbonation is on the low side. It still drinks relatively well and has enough depth to keep it all moving.

Overall: I've had a few Hanssens lambics and this one is a notch above some of the other fruit iterations I've encountered from them. Nice balance, but for something touting strawberries, I'd like to see a bit more fruit in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 20:04:18 | More by Goblinmunkey7

gford217

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

375ml bottle. 2000 vintage.

Little sound when the cork slides out and the pour produces a few disparate bubbles on top of a fairly clear golden amber with some pinkish hints. I decided to leave the residue in the bottle to start.

Aroma is nice and complex with some acetic acid, light sugary strawberries and a little bit of earthy funk thrown in.

Taste is initially acidic with a serious zing on the tongue. The strawberries are very subtle and don't show out as much as in the aroma. The finish is fairly dry with a little lemony tartness.

Mouthfeel is close to flat with low carbonation and some dryness.

Not the best lambic I've had but better than most out there. Glad I got to try this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 02:55:00 | More by gford217

n2185

North Carolina

2.68/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: pours a hazy gold with less than a finger of white head that vanishes completely.

S: loads and loads of sour notes with some slight barnyard aromas as well. There are also notes of spoiled milk or pungent cheese.

T: similar to the aroma, loads of sour notes with some tart strawberries as well. There are some funky notes as well and that sour dairy presence.

M: medium-light body with low carbonation, this beer is a bit watery and could use more carbonation.

O: an alright beer, this beer is overly sour and undercarbonated. A bit difficult to get through.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 22:30:31 | More by n2185

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

2.8/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Bottled in 2000, thanks for sharing John.

A- The cork falls without a sound; obviously no carbonation left after more than a decade. It pours a very nice deep golden orange color, but appears lifeless in the glass.

S- Pretty damn funky smelling. Has some lemon zest, light berries (strawberries comes to mind first) and some woody barrel hints. Taking a deep whiff inside the glass is nose puckering.

T/M- Slightly tart in the middle of the palate, but not am overly sour beer. Initial taste is fruity and full of vanilla. Definitely a woody, bitter, almost acetone, flavor found deep within the funk. Bitterness really lingers awhile. Body is pretty full and there is no carbonation to lighten it up. A bit too heavy for my preferences in style.

O- Not sure age had immensely helped this or not? Perhaps if it was lighter.on the palate and had less acetone, it would help. As is, I wouldn't care to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2012 19:50:04 | More by TheGordianKnot

rarbring

Sweden

3.8/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A clouded orange brew with no head to mention, very small curtains.

Smelling of stable and overripe strawberries. Very "bretty".

A fructose strawberry start, then a sharp acidity that covers any funky nuances from the aroma.

Nearly no carbonation, a fresh and cleansing feeling, a dry acid finish.

A difficult one, very sour, big difference between smell and taste. But in all good.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 11:28:16 | More by rarbring

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice label on this corked bottle.

A - Seriously, it actually looks most like urine. Just saying. Not even one single bubble upon opening, or pouring. No sound when uncorked. Still, hazy brew.

S - Cork smells like vinegar and the rind of a sharp brie. Faint hint of strawberry. Definitely strawberry notes in the glass, but mostly hidden by an array of strong scents. Alot of bitter funky cheese notes. Sharp brie, dry wood, funky straw and wicker. Vinegar for sure, with barn and a medicinal/plastic hint.

T - Very tart and acidic, as if the base was vinegar. Biting and drying like bold white wine. Sour wood and pungent acidity with that bitter fruit skin kick. The strawberry is hardly here, with it sitting in the back of your mind. Drinking this really does make you question whether your stomach will be affected later or not. It feels wrong, but I keep sipping, giving my trust.

M - Very flat and super dry, with a crazy tart kick. Medium bodied, with some apparent yeasty softness to it. Stinging, and drying.

O - Truly one of the weirdest brews I've had to date.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 02:47:45 | More by BeerForMuscle

harrymel

Washington

2.05/5  rDev -45.2%
look: 1 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

375ml c&c without a lot notched.

The cork came out of this one easily and free of audible carbonation. In fact, I'm surprised the beer doesn't leak out, as easily as the cork popped out and easily I was able replace it... The beer is golden with a twinge of pink. Free from any visible signs of carbonation and pretty much looks like still chicken broth to be honest. Not attractive.

Smells of lemons, grass, hints of manure and mung bean sprouts. Nothing particularly special, does smell sour, which makes me happy.

Quite sour indeed, a tightening of my masticating muscles indicate as much. Indeed there is a slight sweet strawberry I didn't anticipate. Some notes of lemon and metal. A little soil in there as well.

Not even what I would classify as an effervescence. This beer is flat, thin and has a wet finish. It is better as it warms, then it takes on a buttery feeling.

This was an interesting experience. The highest beer I've ever rated was a straight unblended lambic from the barrel; completely flat. Although I found that experience to be outstanding, this one is far from that. The beer is ugly, and feels awkward. I expected carbonation, where previously I had not, that totally flavored my experience. Although thrown off, I was not completely disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 02:14:10 | More by harrymel

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle into a flute glass

A: Cork comes out with a very slight pop. And yes, there is really no carbonation. Pours a fairly clear, golden color.

S: I can smell the funk from a foot away when I pop the cork. Very, very funky and fruity sour aroma. I get lots of lemons.

T: Wow - this is a sour beer - crazy sourness. Tons of funk as well - lingering far after the sip. It's a bit extreme with no fruit whatsoever.

M: Really no carbonation and a bit thick. Not very good.

O: Very sour, very funky - just not all that interesting. The lack of carbonation doesn't help, either. I'm not a big fan of this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 23:25:09 | More by coreyfmcdonald

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

375ml bottle into a Weyerbacher tulip. Thanks to JAHMUR for sharing.

A: Hazy pale orange body, lightly frothy white head. Ok.

S: Crazy sour, crazy funky. Yeah, just crazy. Cheese, dirt, lemon, strawberry, grass, leaves. Awesome.

T: Super sour, earthy fruit. Strawberries - stems, seeds, and all. Puckering acidity. Clean, sour finish. Yes.

M: Fairly still medium body. Smooth but lifeless.

O: You can count on Hanssens to be anything but boring, and this one is no exception. Offensively sour and funky, and that's why I love it.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 20:52:35 | More by woosterbill