Brooks WhittingtonLocated in Bierghes, Belgium, Gueuzerie Tilquin officially opened its doors in the summer of 2011. The gueuzerie founded by owner Pierre Tilquin—otherwise known as a gueuze blendery—featured only two different lambic blends when it first opened: the 6.4 percent ABV Oude Gueuze Tilquin à L’Ancienne and the 4.8 percent ABV Gueuze Tilquin Draft Version.
Since that time, the blendery has released more than 20 different beers including a number of fruited lambics. One of which is subject of today’s review.
First released in 2015, Oude Mûre Tilquin à l’Ancienne is a 6 percent ABV lambic conditioned on “fresh frozen” blackberries that is sold in both 375ml and 750ml bottles. According to the brewery, the concentration of blackberries to beer is approximately 260-300 grams of fruit per liter and it is refermented in the bottle.
Visually, the Oude Mûre Tilquin à l’Ancienne pours a light ruby brown with a respectable amount of fluffy, off-white head that dissipates fairly slowly, eventually leaving behind a thick ring round the edge of the glass. There seems to be plenty of carbonation present, and aroma from the top of the glass brings notes of blackberry, tannic oak, citrus, wheat, malt, dough and a slight vinegar taste.
Starting out, the Oude Mûre Tilquin à l’Ancienne features lively carbonation that coats my tongue, along with a profile that is full of both blackberries and oak. The finish is not only noticeably dry but also has some very obvious fruity sour notes, though they never get strong enough to overpower any of the other flavors and never come close to negatively impacting the profile as a whole.
Secondary flavors of hay, citrus tartness, straw, lemongrass, earth flit in and out on a constantly rotating basis, while the overall profile features quite a bit of funk to it. Although there is slightly more of a vinegary bite as the beer warms to room temperature, that is about the only change to the profile.
