All oak barrels in the Boon brewery have their own history and are characterized by unique microflora of wild yeasts. The bottles of Oude Geuze “VAT” are a combination of one specific wooden barrel (mono) and a minimal percentage of young Lambic (blend), which starts the refermentation in the bottle. The use of Lambic from one specific oak barrel (such barrels are also called “casks”) creates geuzes with very idiosyncratic characteristics: wine-like, whiskey-like, bone-dry or very tender. The number on the bottle always refers to the barrel number.
This box contains 4 such monoblend geuzes (VAT 91, 92, 108 and 110), each different in taste. This makes it ideal as a tasting package or as a gift box. The extra “tasting manual” explains the different beers and barrels, the art of Gueuze serving/tasting and includes space to take your own tasting notes.
4x375ml Bottle Gift Set - Includes:
The type of Lambic from VAT 16 is comparable with VAT 122. However, there’s a difference of 2-and-a-half years of additional ageing in the oak barrel of this VAT 16. Meaning it has matured for some 4 years in Foeder nº 16!
This Oude Geuze certainly shows that more maturation adds extra dimensions to the flavour. In fact, this Oude Geuze is very much vinous in nature.
In addition to the fruitiness, you also notice the spicy flavours and the typical vanilla and caramel notes derived from the oak itself – which you would expect in an old Lambic of this kind.
Foeder nº 16 was originally a beer barrel that was used for some time to store wines from the Rhône valley in France. This barrel has been in service at our brewery since 2005 and is ideal for ageing Lambic for 3 and even 4 years.
VAT 59 is a perfect example of an Oude Geuze with a sturdy oak character. Woodiness, combined with the fullness of body of this Oude Geuze, gives it a very pleasant and well-rounded feeling.
Slightly smoky notes, a gently enhanced bitterness and flavours of nuts make this Oude Geuze one to linger with and enjoy. Foeder nº 59 was originally a calvados storage barrel.
This barrel has been working with us since October 2007. And over the years, it has now been in service long enough to be called a ‘Lambic’ barrel. Remarkably, it now releases more of its woody character into the Lambic than it did in the past.
And you can definitely taste it!
VAT 93 is a more bitter Oude Geuze. You can identify the bitterness a little faster in the nose. And when you taste it, you notice what is a friendly acidity. In addition to this volatile bitterness, a mild fruitiness also comes through, with just a tiny touch of wood and vanilla.
Although the bitterness comes first, this Oude Geuze is still very nicely balanced and full of flavour. When this bottle has matured some more, it will reduce the bitterness. Foeder nº 93 was originally a barrel for red wine and now, after more than 10 years, it is now a fully fledged part of our fleet of barrels.
The Lambic beer produced in this barrel now always features all of the typical Lambic flavours and virtually nothing remains of the wine that was once in it. But we can still detect just a hint of acidity.
VAT 122 is a wonderfully lush Oude Geuze. It’s delicate and has gentle vinous (wine-like) notes. In the background, you’ll notice soft tones of oak and frangipane.
Foeder nº 122 is a large barrel added more recently to our collection. In fact it’s one of our biggest barrels of all, holding around 25,000 litres. It was originally used to store and age red wine, but in its second life, Foeder nº 122 has already been filled 3 times with beautiful Lambic beer.
And the 3rd time we filled our VAT 122 with Lambic was also the first in which the typical wild yeasts we use at our brewery really come to the fore from this barrel.