3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze

Description

3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze is an oude geuze blended by 3 Fonteinen containing lambic whose wort originated at 3 Fonteinen as well as from Boon and/or Lindemans. It is released yearly in many batches in both 375ml and 750ml bottles. It has occasionally been available in 1.5L bottles as well. For oude geuze bottlings that contain 100% 3 Fonteinen-brewed lambic starting in 2015, see Cuvée Armand & Gaston

History / Other Notes

Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze is one of the oldest beers in their portfolio. Bottles dating as far back as 1959 have been opened and shared among lambic drinkers. Old bottles with no labels have corks stating "Debelder", indicating the brewer. During the years preceding 1999-2000, 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze had been produced by blending other producers' lambic. After Armand leased a computerized brewing system in 1998 and began producing his own lambic^[1], subsequent blends contained both lambic from Armand as well as from other producers. It is unclear if 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze was ever bottled using Armand's own lambic exclusively. In 2009, a failure of the climate control mechanism resulted in a massive loss of product. This huge financial loss, coupled with the fact that the lease on the brewing system was expiring, meant that no more lambic would be brewed at 3 Fonteinen for the foreseeable future.

To get the brewery back on its feet, Armand released a serious of special geuze blends to raise capital to acquire new brewing equipment. In the time between 2009 and late-2013, 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze was a blend of lambic from Boon,Lindemans, and Girardin, with Girardin only being used through 2010. By 2013, the new brewing equipment was in place and Armand began brew again. The first batch of 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze to contain a portion Armand's lambic after the thermostat incident was bottled on 11/27/2013.

There have been several labels for 3 Fonteinen Oude Geuze over the years. The white label documented below was used in the 1990s and early 2000s for both the US and Europe. It notes that the beer won the O.B.P Trophy (Objective Beer Tasters) in 1993. 3 Fonteinen has also used neck labels on occasion (pictured below) for larger-format bottles.

In 2004, the labels switched over to the standard 3 Fonteinen labels seen in stores today. The U.S. versions are yellow and white, while the rest of the world sees a green and white version. Drie Fonteinen Oude Geuze bottles are generally have a "bottled on" date on the side of the label as well as with a best by date twenty years away from the bottling date, both in mm/dd/yyyy format.

Synthetic Corks

The earliest known use of a synthetic cork by Drie Fonteinen is a regular Oude Geuze 750ml bottled on February 3, 2006. The November 30, 2006 750ml bottling of Oude Geuze Vintage has a synthetic cork as well as most of the February 14, 2007 St. Valentijn Cuvée bottling. Consumers have noted that the Oude Geuze Vintage bottles with the synthetic corks have been inconsistent, with some bottles being flat and oxidized. The synthetic cork was retired from use after the St. Valentijn Cuvée bottling.

Label Log

Early 1990s neck ring, 75cl
Early 1990s neck ring, back, 75cl
1990s/early 2000s era label, 75cl
1990s/early 2000s era label, 150cl
Green label, 37,5cl
U.S. label, approved 2008
Alternate U.S. label, approved 2008

Bottle Log

Bottle Date (mm/dd/yyyy)	Bottle Size	Label / Notes	Image Link
03/30/1993	750ml	Neck ring label
04/05/1993	750ml	Neck ring label	-
1994	750ml	No Label	-
1994	1.5L	Old Label – Magnum – "O.B.P.- Trofee 1993"
03/08/1994	800ml	Neck ring label	-
xx/xx/1995	750ml	Neck ring label, 1995 handwritten	-
03/xx/1995	750ml	No label	-
03/09/1996	1.5L	Old Label – Magnum – "O.B.P.- Trofee 1993"
02/03/1997	375ml	Old Label – 5%	-
03/08/1997	375ml	Old Label – 5% – "O.B.P.- Trofee 1993"
12/06/1997	750ml	No label – 5%	-
02/21/1998	750ml	Old Label – 5%	-
03/05/1998	750ml	Old Label – 5%
01/03/1999	375ml	Old Label – 5%	-
01/23/1999	375ml	Old Label – 5%
02/15/1999	750ml	Old Label – 5%
11/05/1999	375ml	Old Label – 5%
12/31/1999	750ml	Screen Printed Label – 6.5%
02/04/2000	750mL	Old Lable - 5%
02/08/2000	750ml	Old Label – 5%
12/11/2000	750ml	Old Label – 5%
12/16/2000	375ml	Old Label – 5%
03/07/2001	750ml	Old Label – 5%
03/21/2001	750ml	Old Label – 5%	-
04/02/2001	750ml	Old Label – 5%
03/19/2002	750ml		-
04/04/2002	375ml		-
12/21/2002	750ml		-
01/28/2003	375ml
01/30/2003	375ml	Green Label – 6%	-
02/22/2003	750ml		-
03/05/2003	750ml	Cream label	-
04/12/2003	375ml		-
12/02/2003	375ml		-
01/22/2004	375ml	Yellow Label – 6%
02/14/2004	375ml	Green Label – 6%
02/19/2004	750ml	6%
02/28/2004	750ml	6%	-
04/10/2004	375ml	Green Label – 6%
12/01/2004	1.5L	Magnum bottle – Green Label – 6%
12/08/2004	375ml	6%	-
04/08/2005	375ml	Green Label – 6%
11/30/2005	375ml	6%
01/17/2006	750ml	6%	-
01/20/2006	750ml	Green Label – 6%
02/03/2006	750ml	Green Label – Synthetic Cork – 6%
04/12/2006	375ml	Green Label – 6%	-
02/02/2007	750ml	Yellow Label – Synthetic Cork – 6%
02/21/2007	750ml	Green Label – 6%	-
06/01/2007	750ml	Green Label – Synthetic Cork – 6%	-
02/01/2008	375ml	Yellow Label – 6%
03/10/2008	375ml	Green and Yellow Labels – 6%	-
05/05/2008	750ml	Yellow Label – 6%
05/15/2008	750ml	6%	-
12/10/2009	375ml	Yellow Label – 6%
12/12/2009	375ml	Yellow Label – 6%
03/05/2010	750ml	Green Label – 6%
04/26/2010	750ml	Yellow Label – 6%
04/27/2010	750ml	Yellow Label – 6%
04/27/2010	750ml	Green Label – 6%
11/18/2010	375ml	Yellow Label – 6%
12/01/2010	375ml	Green Label – 6%
12/01/2010	375ml	Yellow Label – 6%
11/03/2011	375ml	Green Label – 6%
11/03/2011	375ml	Yellow Label - 6%	-
12/21/2011	750ml	Green Label – 6%
01/05/2012	750ml	Green Label – 6%
01/26/2012	750ml	Yellow Label – 6%	-
02/10/2012	375ml	Green Label – 6%
02/23/2012	375ml	Yellow Label – 6%
03/05/2012	375ml	Yellow Label – 6%	-
03/22/2012	750ml	Yellow Label – 6%
03/23/2012	750ml	Green Label – 6%
04/17/2012	375ml	Green Label – 6%
04/23/2012	375ml	Green Label – 6%
04/27/2012	375ml	Green Label – 6%	-
05/22/2012	375ml	Green Label – 6%
11/15/2012	375ml	Green Label - 6%	-
12/05/2012	375ml	Yellow Label – 6%	-
12/07/2012	750ml	Yellow Label – 6%
12/17/2012	750ml	6%	-
01/17/2013	750ml	Yellow Label - 6%
01/18/2013	750ml	Green Label – 6%
01/18/2013	750ml	Yellow Label – 6%
01/28/2013	750ml	Green Label - 6%, Japanese
01/28/2013	750ml	Green Label - 6%, European
02/06/2013	375ml	Green Label – 6%	-
02/08/2013	375ml	Green Label - 6%
02/27/2013		Green Label - 6%
04/04/2013	375ml	Green Label – 6%
10/23/2013	375ml	Green Label - 6%
10/24/2013	375ml	Green Label - 6%	-
10/30/2013	375ml	Yellow Label - 6%	-
11/27/2013	750ml	Green Label - 6%, first batch with new Armand lambic in the blend, some label dates are hand-written
11/28/2013	750ml	Green Label - 6%
12/04/2013	750ml	Green Label - 6%
01/10/2014	750mL	Yellow Label - 6%
01/30/2014	375ml	Green Label - 6%
02/06/2014	375ml	Yellow Label - 6%
03/26/2014	375ml	Green Label - 6%
10/15/2014	375ml	Green Label - 6%
10/16/2014	750ml	Green Label - 6%
10/30/2014	750ml	Green Label - 6%
10/31/2014	750ml	Green Label - 6%
11/04/2014	375ml	Green Label - 6%	-
12/08/2014	375ml	Green Label - 6%
01/13/2015	750ml	Green Label - 6%
01/23/2015	375ml	Green Label - 6%
01/23/2015	750ml	Green Label - 6%
01/27/2015	375ml	Green Label - 6%
02/09/2015	375ml	Green Label - 6%
02/11/2015	375ml	Green Label - 6%
02/18/2015	375ml	Green Label - 6%
03/06/2015	375ml	Green Label - 6%
03/11/2015	750ml	Green Label - 6%
03/11/2015	750ml	Yellow Label - 6%	-
03/13/2015	750ml	Yellow Label - 6%	-
03/14/2015	750ml	Green Label - 6%
10/21/2015	375ml	Contains 30% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%	-
10/21/2015	750ml	Contains 30% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%
10/29/2015	375ml	Contains 50% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%
10/30/2015	375ml	Contains 50% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%	-
10/31/2015	375ml	Contains 40% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%
12/07/2015	375ml	Contains 30% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%	-
12/08/2015	375ml	Contains 50% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%	-
12/11/2015	375ml	Contains 55% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%	-
12/11/2015	750ml	Contains 55% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%	-
12/12/2015	750ml	Contains 50% 3 Fonteinen brewed lambic - 6%
02/01/2016	750ml	Green Label - 6%
02/03/2016	750ml	Green Label - 6%	-
02/08/2016	375ml	Green Label - 6%	-
02/11/2016	375ml	Green Label - 6%
03/03/2016	375ml	Yellow Label, mislabeled as March 3th,2016 - 6%	-
03/04/2016	375ml	Yellow Label - 6%
04/19/2016	750ml	Green Label - 6%
04/20/2016		Green Label - 6%
04/21/2016		Green Label - 6%
04/27/2016	750ml	Green Label - 6%
11/25/2016	750ml	Screen print bottle, 8th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended from lambics aged on 5 different barrels, originating from wort of 6 different brews. 5.40% ABV	-
12/05/2016	750ml	Screen print bottle, 9th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended from lambics aged and matured on 5 different barrels, originating from wort of 6 different brews. 5.3% ABV
12/27/2016	375ml	Screen print bottle, 12th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended from lambics aged on 6 different barrels, originating from wort of 7 different brews. 5.00% ABV	-
01/11/2017	375ml	Screen print bottle, 13th blend of the 2016-2017 season	-
01/16/2017	375ml	Screen print bottle, 14th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended from lambics aged and matured on 5 different barrels, originating from wort of 5 different brews. 5.3% ABV	-
01/17/2017	375ml	Screen print bottle, 15th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended from lambic aged and matured in 6 different barrels origination from 6 different brews. 5.5% ABV	-
01/19/2017	375ml	Screen print bottle, 16th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 8 different barrels, originating from wort of 14 different brews. 5.7% ABV	-
03/16/2017	750ml	Screen print bottle, 24th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 7 different barrels, originating from wort of 8 different brews. 5.8% ABV
03/17/2017	750ml	Screen print bottle, 25th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 7 different barrels, originating from wort of 8 different brews. 6.00% ABV
03/28/2017	760ml	Screen print bottle, 26th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 5 different barrels, originating from wort of 7 different brews. 5.30% ABV	-
03/29/2017	750ml	Screen print bottle, 27th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 5 different barrels, originating from wort of 7 different brews. 5.00% ABV	-
04/05/2017	375ml	Screen print bottle, 28th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 6 different barrels, originating from wort of 9 different brews. 5.30% ABV	-
04/11/2017	375ml	Screen print bottle, 29th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 8 different barrels, originating from wort of 9 different brews. A great geuze with great ageing potential (we put some aside!) 5.3% ABV
04/18/2017	375ml	Screen print bottle, 30th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended from lambic aged and matured in 6 different barrels origination from 8 different brews. 5.5% ABV	-
10/19/2017	375ml	Screen printed bottle, 53rd blend of the 2016-2017 season. Exported to Sweden only. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 5 different barrels, originating from wort of 6 different brews. 6.0% ABV	-
10/26/2017	375ml	Screen printed bottle, 55th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 10 different barrels, originating from wort of 10 different brews. 5.5% ABV	-
11/28/2017	750ml	Screen printed bottle, 5th blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular geuze is blended with lambics aged on 7 different barrels, originating from wort of 5 different brews. 5.5% ABV	-