3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze (Citizen Review)

Here's another review from Citizen Andy.  Andy is our man in NorCal, doing good work for the Nation.  I met him at Russian River, so you can assume he has good taste.

3 Fonteinen
Oude Geuze

375ml bottled nov 18 2010

Served in: Belgian snifter

Appearance: Thin white head, lots of carbonation, streaming bubbles like Champagne. hazy appearance, carefully poured to keep the lees in a bottle.

Smell: yeast funk, smokey pepper, apple, pear, bubble gum.

Taste: Immediately tart and bitter from the carbonation breaking on my tongue. Acidic pear and citrus, finishing with a great palate cleansing tartness. That apple/pear tartness sticks with you for a while. Something wine like, a mix of grape and barrel, but hard to distinguish between the two. A low level, almost fleeting, plastic phenol taste, but only occasionally.

Mouthfeel: Spot on. The acidity level combined with the amount of carbonation (medium-heavy) is greater than the sum of its parts. Draws all the favor out without being a harsh burn.

Overall: I haven't had many guezes to date, but quite a few sours beers. This is a well balanced sour beer that would be perfect for a first time sour beer drinker. It isn't as funky as a Cantillon Geuze. I have heard the sourness level varies with vintage; this vintage wasn't as sour as a Cantillon Geuze. Given the chance at a Geuze, pick this one up before Cantillon.