Boon Oude Geuze Vat 44

On the 19th of April, 2013, Frank Boon and Brouwerij Boon celebrated their grand re-opening with a special party and a special beer.  Herman Van Rompuy, the EU President and a friend of Frank’s, was .  in attendance to cut the ribbon and officially open Boon’s new brewery.  To celebrate the next stage in the brewery’s evolution, Frank created a new beer for the occasion.

Vat 44 is a single barrel (foeder) “mono blend.”  In December of 2008, he brewed a heavier than normal batch of beer and placed it in Foeder No. 44.  The beer was then bottled in August of 2010 where it bottle conditioned for nearly 3 years before the big party.  Only 20,500 375ml bottles were produced (approximately 1,700 12-bottle cases).

Appearance: Hazy gold/blonde. Off-white head, ok retention.

Aroma: Lemon, citrus zest, grapefruit, strong brett funk, notes of straw, fruity undertones.

Taste: Funky and tart with a long finish. Creamy mouthfeel.  A bit of white pepper on the finish.  Balanced.

Overall Impression: Like all Boon beers, this beer is elegant and very well balanced.  All the parts come together harmoniously.  This particular version of his geuze appears to be a bit heavier on the brettanomyces side of things and should continue to develop nicely for a long time.  I’m glad I have a few bottles to lay down.  While this particular beer was a one-off, I really hope this concept becomes a regular limited-release at Boon.  This would add a 3rd, ultimate layer to Boon’s Geuze line (Oude Geuze and Mariage Parfait).

Availability: High limited and dwindling (Limited western European distribution)

8.5% ABV

You can read more about Brouwerij Boon and my visit last year here.