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Drie Fonteinen J&J Roze #

★★★★½
Jun 4th 2008 , , ,

Much touted, highly elusive, here’s a beer from a favorite brewer that just couldn’t disappoint. The frosty orange hue shows pretty nuances of pink, topped of a simple white cream. The nose displays a flabbergasting array of fruits and flowers. The house character is reflected through notes of peach, apricot, oaky vanilla and the unique sweetness of brown sugar. Lavender and rose add an unusual but remarkably pleasant touch, as the aroma slowly unfolds. Mango, apple, tangerine and pineapple proceed one after the other as the brew warms up expressively. The background is a true lambic foundation of cheesy, dusty, cobwebby scents that marry beautifully with honey and cotton candy. The flavor perfectly balances sweet, sour and dry. Raspberry and cherry are prominent at first as the palate shifts to an enjoyable dry Gruyère flavor and finishes on a smoky cedar note. The sourness remains smooth, almost yogurt-like, never impeding on the equilibrium of fruits and spices. Cinnamon, clove, white pepper and potpourri appear subtly with time. Like many high-quality lambics, this one becomes incredibly complex and delicious near room temperature. Another outstanding gueuze from Drie Fonteinen.

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