Oude Gueuze Tilquin A'l'ancienne

This is a 6.4% ABV spontaneous fermentation ale from Gueuzerie Tilquin in Rebecq, Belgium. They take and blend beers from other Belgian breweries, in this case mixing lambics (brewed with wild yeasts) that are one, two and three years old. This beer is unpasteurized, unfiltered, and refermented in the bottle.

The beer pours copper, amber and orange golden in color. There is a relatively short head of pure white foam, somewhat thick, but fairly quick to dissipate. The aroma is funky, tart, earthy, woody, sour and a touch floral. The taste follows the aromas directly and ends with a mouth puckering and lip smacking tartness, like a pleasant vinegar, but balanced out by all the other flavors. It is exquisitely dry, yet refreshing. Master blenders indeed, this is perfectly balanced. One of the nicer sours I have tried.