We're starting a lambic tour around Belgium and beyond. The first stop is Oud Beersel Framboise.
Background
Information on Oud Beersel Framboise is difficult to find. The beer was originally produced in Beersel, Belgium, but the brewery went out of business. In 2002 and 2003 health inspectors caught up with the lambic industry in Belgium. If you’ve ever seen a lambic brewery, you’d know why this is bad. Lambics are brewed with wild yeast and bacteria. The breweries typically were dusty dirty cellars with large casks of lambic covered in insect-filled spiderwebs. Cleaning these breweries meant more than just fixing a few health violations.
Oud Beersel was reopened in 2005 by the Boon brewery, but it isn’t clear how much the new owners changed. I will be reviewing the Boon lambic later, so it will be interesting to see how the two beers differ.
Oud Beersel didn't have the lacing you'd expect from a Belgian beer
Oud Beersel Framboise is a lambic that is blended from old and young lambics. This blending is common to produce a consistent beer. These lambics can sit in the cellars for years. Eventually the lambic is mixed with whole raspberries. This wonderful mix of fresh fruit and lambic produces a beverage something between beer and wine.
Looks
The unfiltered beer is a very dark brownish-red color, and has some raspberry particulates still in the lambic. Oud Beersel is a classic example of lambics from Belgium. The beer was carbonated, but I didn’t get the thick head that I was expecting. It was very thin and dissipated quickly. I didn’t get the classic Belgian lacing from the beer.
Aroma
Raspberries have a strong, almost overpowering aroma. This beer is no exception. The lambic has strong aromas of raspberries. You are hard-pressed to notice any other aromas.
Taste
The first thing I noticed from the beer was the carbonation. The mouthfeel was very spritzy. The lambic seemed almost like raspberry champagne. The beer had a good sour flavor. Oud Beersel wasn’t too sweet, but was full of raspberry flavor. The beer had a good balance between sour and fruit.
Results
I thought this beer might be something different to serve for brunch. Oud Beersel also makes a great spring beer. I don’t think this beer was the best lambic I’ve had, but it was a good representative for the style. I'd give the beer higher marks, but the head had almost no lacing or head. It poured like a soda pop. I give the beer 7 dusty raspberries out of 10.
Brewery: Boon Brouwerij Country of Origin: Lembeek, Belgium Style: Raspberry Lambic ABV: 6% ABV
