Zwanze 2019

Lambic - Gueuze

Lambic brewed March 1st, 2016, with a twist on our classique recipe of 35% unmalted wheat and 65% malted barley. The twist on this particular brew is that we substituted 15% of the pale malt for a smoked malt, which of course isn’t traditionally used in Lambic. Historically, grains used for brewing were dried over a wood-burning, and so in all probability many beers would have had a slight smokiness to them a few centuries ago. Could this be the case of the precursor to Lambic? Maybe, and it’s this possibility that inspired us to dream up the beer. We only used a small quantity of smoked malt because we wanted to keep the flavor of the beer balanced – we didn’t want the smoked malt to overpower the traditional characteristics of the Lambic. The beer was blended after two years of barrel aging, on January 26, 2018. After 20 months of bottle conditioning, this beer has developed the classic flavors and aromas typical of a Gueuze, a subtle woodiness, a slight fruitiness and a dry finish with a fine acidity. The delicate smokiness principally on the palate, brings a touch more complexity to this beer, without smothering the typical character of our Lambic. So, have we reproduced this ancient style of beer which existed during the time when wood-smoked malts were commonplace? Nobody can know for sure, but what we do know is that the delicate smokiness of this year’s Zwanze marries well with the specific aromas and favors of Lambic. Santeï

ABV

5.5

Rating

4.30271

Rating count

2,900

Last updated

almost 5 years ago

 

Anders Q

The smokiness is really light. Could be more interesting if it's just a little bit more.

4.25

over 2 years ago

 

Robin van Kampen

2019 hele lichte smokyness. Maar het bouwt op naarmate je drinkt. 4,25 zuur zit er ook mooi in

4.25

over 2 years ago

 
4.25

almost 2 years ago

 

Yael Flament

Fumé estompé! Ressemblance avec la bouteille dégustée en 21

4.25

over 1 year ago

 

Ambre D-n

Le côté fumé s'est largement estompé

4.25

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

over 1 year ago

 

Chester Hung

4.3 煙燻烏梅汁 微清草味

4.25

over 1 year ago

 

Funkd_up

NZD, moeder lambic

4.25

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

over 1 year ago

 

HopMyLife

Good grief. The smoke gives a completely different layer of aggressive flavour. Almost too much but pulls in and rounds out on the tail

4.25

over 1 year ago

 
4.25

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 
4.25

about 1 year ago

 

joe w.

Has really developed nicely.

4.5

over 4 years ago

 

Bailey W.

A great lambic, the smoke is very subtle.

4.5

over 4 years ago

 

Michael Humphries

The smoke is light, just enough to add an extra note without being overpowering. That's really well done, earthy.

4.5

over 4 years ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

over 4 years ago

 

Issam Eid

Mild smoke more of Spicy oak with solid geuze backdrop

4.5

almost 4 years ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

almost 4 years ago

 

Jens

Gott men ingen røyk.

4.5

almost 4 years ago

 
4.5

almost 4 years ago

 
4.5

almost 4 years ago

 

Tom Yoo

All the smoke is gone

4.5

almost 4 years ago

 
4.5

almost 4 years ago

 
4.5

almost 4 years ago

 

Henning J

Sweet, no smoke

4.5

almost 4 years ago

 

Yael Flament

Fumé intéressant!

4.5

almost 4 years ago

 
4.5

almost 4 years ago

 

Nikita Vershinin

Very gentle smokiness

4.5

over 3 years ago

 
4.5

about 3 years ago

 
4.5

about 3 years ago

 
4.5

about 3 years ago

 
4.5

about 3 years ago

 
4.5

about 3 years ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

about 3 years ago

 

Mat Carbo

#TheEndOfAllTastings

4.5

almost 3 years ago

 

Max von Jagemann

glad to revisit this one. love the subtle smoke

4.5

almost 3 years ago

 

Björn

lci 24.09.

4.5

No checkin location

almost 3 years ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 

some hippie

Smokier than I remember. Tart, lemony, dry, musty funk. Nicely balanced.

4.5

over 2 years ago

 
4.5

almost 2 years ago

 

Siebe Verheyden

Neeje zeker

4.5

almost 2 years ago

 
4.5

over 1 year ago

 

Sakarias Kirjonen

Earthy aroma, very smooth, red apple, slightly bitter. Fantastic balance

4.5

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 

Krzysztof Bruszewski

Smoked lambic.

4.5

over 1 year ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

over 1 year ago

 

Maxime F

No Zwanze Day'23

4.5

over 1 year ago

 

luk kantor

W aromacie funk, morela, cytrusy, za tym wędzonka, dość spożywcza, w smaku podobnie, świetny balans, niestety lekki ocet ale i tak fajne

4.5

over 1 year ago

 

Levente Szente

Inkább teás, mint füstös.

4.5

over 1 year ago

 
4.5

over 1 year ago

 

some hippie

Smoke has faded even more, but I'm still a fan.

4.5

over 1 year ago

 
4.5

over 1 year ago

 
4.5

over 1 year ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 
4.5

No checkin location

about 1 year ago

 

George M.

1 year on. oooooooof

4.75

over 4 years ago

 

Alin Sas

Changed a bit, wow

4.75

over 4 years ago

 

Collin A.

I'm surprised at how much I like this. The smoke works surprisingly well. It's subtle in the nose but pretty prominent in the taste.

4.75

No checkin location

almost 4 years ago

 
4.75

almost 4 years ago

 

Tim Slaettengren

Good, fyllig och fin med en rökig twist.

4.75

almost 3 years ago

 

Gael G.

Seems smokier than before somehow! Still mild and not overpowering that beautiful gueuze blend which has a bright future ahead, but it's definitely more there on the nose and palate. Top 3 Zwanze beers ever for me.

4.75

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 

Richard Davies

Delicious- love the hint of smoke

4.75

about 1 year ago

 

Niels Dopter

Sooo clean, clearly just a classic gueuze, Witt already 5 years in bottle ! With a delicious, gorgeous smoked twist!!! It works well! Let's add smoked malt to lambiek more often!!!

4.75

about 1 year ago

 
5.0

No checkin location

over 4 years ago

 

Jon

Love this.

5.0

over 4 years ago

 
5.0

No checkin location

almost 3 years ago

 

Tyler Rodwancy

Tart and smokey and delicious. Cheers to #5k

5.0

over 2 years ago

 

b s.

Catching up on Brussels drinks. Pro tip: If you go to the brewery right after Zwanze Day, there might be vintages you can try. This one has a small addition of smoked malt, which really played well with everything else.

5.0

No checkin location

over 2 years ago

 
5.0

No checkin location

almost 2 years ago