Introduction

For 135 years the Fonteinen brewery has been making one concept in beer - Lambic. Unique to the Zenne valley in Brussels where their beer is exposed to the wild yeasts that grow along the Pajottenland. The beer produced by the craftsmen in the valley is dry and wine-like, sporting the technique of the beer-maker tempered by a history of wines. Fonteinen is making their Gueuze in a unique fashion — rather than blending lambics from multiple breweries, they only blend their own in-house beer. Aged in oak barrels and bottle finished, the result is a singular beer among a tribe of unique beers.

Blend No. 66 (season 17|18) was made with lambics from 7 different barrels and 11 different brews. This queze is sharp, dry and vinous — the Armand & Gaston + Honey is a perfect beer to cellar a few bottles and open them at different years to find their unique voice through age. Serves well at 10°C and can cellar for years.

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How it looks

Practically explodes out of the bottle, pouring a murky apricot colour with a frothy, aggressive head of foam that quickly recedes to a thin layer up top.

How it smells

First blush reveals two strong competing scents — the bright, crisp sugary scent common to sparkling wine and a rich fruit scent of over-ripe plums. Some lemon citrus flesh and rind around the edges.

How it tastes

The sharp, sweet and dry character of a sparkling wine is very much at the front of this beer’s taste profile. Counter to the nose, the thick ripe plum scent gives over to the lemon, with crackling sharp lemon rind and flesh in the taste. Some salty minerality, a bit of bittern green hop flavour and the soothing presence of oaky vanilla on the bottom end make the finish more pleasant than cutting. Smooth mouthfeel and dry finish expected of a champagne cousin.

Recommended food pairing

A beer this close in character to champagne but with stronger fruit flavour demands an old favourite: the cheese platter. Gouda and brie are must-haves on the wood.