91 Rating – Brouwerij Boon – Oude Geuze Boon Black Label

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
At Boon Brewery, we finished the building of a new brewhouse in 2013 that was specially designed for the production of traditional Lambic. The ultimate test for this brewhouse was the creation of Traditional Geuze with extreme qualities: Fermentation degree of 100%, but with a lot of body. The blend of 1- and 2-year (and 1 pint of 3-year) old Lambic was bottled in March 2015. After aging over a year in the bottle, the quality is surprising: a delicate taste with hints of oak, vanilla, lactone-esters and an absolutely dry but pleasant mouthfeel with no astringency.
 
BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
In 1978, the first labels of Geuze Boon were white font on a black label. It was surnamed “black label” by our customers and this label was used until 1991. I thought it was a good name for this beer, bottled in 2015, 40 years after I started Boon Brewery.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
Absolutely, completed with some very old bottles of our single cask Geuze VAT range, such as Geuze VAT 44 and Geuze VAT 79.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Traditional Geuze, bone dry, chardonnay, oak, vanilla, funky body.

BC: Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
In the last five editions of the World Beer Cup (a period of 10 years), Boon Brewery has received a Gold Medal in the "Old-style Gueuze" category. No other brewery can boast this achievement. In 2016, the European World Beer Cup ceremony was held in Munich’s Hofbrauhaus and Oude Geuze Boon Black Label won Gold. It was the first time in the Hofbrauhaus's 400-year existence that an Old-style Gueuze was tasted by German brewers on the premises.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
Oysters and seafood are great pairings for this beer, but it will also hold up to gamey meats like venison. This can also be a celebratory beer akin to a sparkling wine and paired with similar foods.

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Photo Courtesy Brouwerij Boon