Hanssens Oudbeitje

Brewed By: Hanssens Artisanaal in Dworp, Belgium  

Purchased: 375ml/12.7 bottle bought at West Lakeview Liquors in Chicago, IL; 2014 

Style/ABV: Fruit Lambic (Strawberry), 6.0%

Reported IBUs: ?

Tonight's beer was a random shelf grab from West Lakeview, which is something I occasionally do. West Lakeview has a large selection of European/Belgian beers, and this one seemed interesting enough. Who doesn't love a nice strawberry Lambic/Wild Ale. About Hanssens Artisanaal:

Hanssens Artisanaal is a brewery based out of Dworp, Belgium. The brewery started back in 1896, when Bartholome Hanssens bought an old dairy farm, and started the "Saint Anthony" brewery, brewing brown table beer using water from the stream behind the brewery/farm. During World War II, the brewery was compromised. Following the war, Bartholome shifted focus to brewing lambic beer. In 1929, Theo Hanssens took over the brewery; and in 1931 he turned the space into a house where he designed bottle drying racks and other features which are still in use today. Theo was succceeded by his son Jean in 1974. On January 1st, 1998, Hanssens Artisan BVBA was founded by Sidy Hanssens. In addition to brewing a Gueuze and Kriek, the Hanssens introduced the "Old Beitje," or strawberry lambic, to the lineup in 1999. For more info, you can check out the blurb on the brewery here.

Hanssens Oudbeitje

As noted, the Oudbeitje is a Fruit Lambic brewed with the addition of strawberries. The cork on this one came out without so much as a "pop." Nothing. The beer also poured flat, giving way to a copper-orange body in low light that really rides the line between juice and beer. It's clear this is unfiltered and bottle conditioned. I was ready to accept the lack of carbonation, especially since the aroma here is amazing, but as the beer sits in the glass streams of carbonation are appearing, and sure enough, a small ring of white head appeared for several seconds. I can still see carbonation bubbling away as I hold this murky libation to a bright light...hopefully signs of good times in my mouth(feels).

The aroma here is blissful...it reminds me a bit of the Goose Island Gillian, with jammy strawberries, wet rain lactic funk, biscuits topped with honey, far-reaching sourness, and gentle oak/barrel character hanging out in the back. The aroma is clearly strawberries, though. Make no mistake about it. When you smell this beer, you will think to yourself: "strawberries." I could call this one from a million miles away in a blind tasting. The strawberry note goes from jammy berries, to the actual fruit (thanks to the lactic funk), to more sugary-sweet with some syrupy notes.

This is under-carbed in the bottle, but who really cares with the range of blissful flavors provided here. I'm getting big oak character, tons of Brett funk, cola, lactic funk that still sits largely in that wet rain area, and lots of jammy strawberry and fruits. The strawberry that was overt and even sweet in the aroma takes a back seat to all the funk, hints of oak, and gripping sourness. This really has some nice Brett funk and lactic funk, and when the sour notes do show up your'e left with some jammy berries, peach, and softer notes (white grape, maybe?). Really intriguing...

...because I'm not getting much red cider vinegar in here, or picked notes. This manages to dial up a ton of funk and sour character, along with good oak and barrel, without getting into the Flanders Red levels of aggressive sourness. And that's a good thing. I'm getting no alcohol here. The mouthfeel here is somewhat oily and low-carbed, but probably medium-light overall thanks to the tartness and sour notes cutting through the thick of it. Palate depth is just okay, but I think this is wildly complex and intriguing. Like...the aroma itself still suggests these overt strawberry notes. Up front it's all about the jammy berries, oak, barrel, wet rain lactic funk; the mids do roll into some more strawberry notes, with some peach; the back end drops a massive lactic-sour bomb, with gripping sourness on the back end tugging at your throat and jawline. There's Brett funk, oak, sourness, and jammy berries for days.

Rating: Above-Average (4.0/5.0 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Strong Above-Average on this. This is a really intriguing and unique beer...I can't say I've had anything quite like this. This still kind of reminds me of Goose Island's Gillian, but it's hard to say. I'm amazed at just how sour this beer is...and all the nuances. The oak, the Brett funk, the wet rain lactic character, the jammy berries...it's a lot going on. Food pairings here might include fruit salads, scallops, fish, or anything that benefits from big tartness. Me personally, I would just sip on this one.

Random Thought: Strawberries are my favorite thing ever, I wish more people would utilize them.