Cuvée René

Cuvée René
Gueuze

75 cl bottle poured into Lindeman's flute. Purchased at Surdyk's for 8.99 (a couple dollars below the usual)

    Bright hay colored and very effervescent, Cuvée René pours with a fluffy white head that departs rather soon and leaves no lacing. Certainly young but not as young as it claims on the bottle (bottled 18 August 2012!) --- I can detect the malty sweetness so there is a lot of room for development. Of course there is some funk but it's dominated by a lot of spicy, phenolic notes. The funk is musty, and storage like as opposed to Sarah Jessica Parker-ish.

    I like the taste much better: slightly tart, hints of malt in sweetness and in the body, with a bitter and slightly tannic finish akin to fruit peel. Phenolic. Funky notes here and there but very subtle. Prickly carbonation and dry finish. Very bubbly and refreshing. I will buy it again when I am feeling sour, but I wish it were more intense.

3, 3, 4, 4, 4