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
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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% | 
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| 01/18/2013 | 750ml | Green Label – 6% | 
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| 01/18/2013 | 750ml | Yellow Label – 6% | 
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| 01/28/2013 | 750ml | Green Label - 6%, Japanese | 
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| 01/28/2013 | 750ml | Green Label - 6%, European | 
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| 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% | 
|
| 10/17/2013 | 375ml | Green Label - 6%, Quebec import | 
|
| 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% | 
|
| 02/06/2014 | 375ml | Green Label- 6% | 
|
| 03/26/2014 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
|
| 10/15/2014 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
|
| 10/16/2014 | 750ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 10/30/2014 | 750ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 10/31/2014 | 750ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 11/04/2014 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
|
| 11/06/2014 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 12/08/2014 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 01/13/2015 | 750ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 01/23/2015 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 01/23/2015 | 750ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 01/27/2015 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 02/09/2015 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
|
| 02/11/2015 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 02/18/2015 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 03/06/2015 | 375ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 03/11/2015 | 750ml | Green Label - 6% | 
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| 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% | 
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| 02/03/2016 | 750ml | Green Label - 6% | - |
| 02/04/2016 | 375ml | 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 | - |
| 11/23/2017 | 750ml | Screen printed bottle 59th blend of the 2016-2017 season. This particualr geuze is blended with lambics from 10 different barrels originating from 10 different brews. | - |
| 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 | - |
| 03/19/2018 | 750ml | Screen printed bottle, 38th blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular Oude Geuze is blended with lambics from 6 different barrels and originating from 6 different brews. The oldest portion in this blend is 3.5-year old lambic brewed in November 2014. An Oude Geuze with great ageing potential! This label is also available in NL/FR. | - |
| 03/21/2018 | 375ml | Screen printed bottle, 39th blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular Oude Geuze has been blended with lambics from 7 different barrels and originating from 9 different brews. The oldest portion in this blend is 3.5-year old lambic brewed on November 15, 2014. This label is also available in NL/FR. | - |
| 03/22/2018 | 375ml | Screen printed bottle, 41st blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular Oude Geuze has been blended with lambics from 5 different barrels and originating from 5 different brews. The oldest portion in this blend is 3 Fonteinen lambic brewed in March 2015. This label is also available in NL/FR. | - |
| 03/28/2018 | 375ml | Screen printed bottle, 42nd blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular Oude Geuze has been blended with lambics from 6 different barrels and originating from 6 different brews. This label is also available in NL/FR and Swedish. | - |
| 03/30/2018 | 375ml | Screen printed bottle, 43rd blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular Oude Geeuze has been blended with lambics from 6 different barrels and originating from 6 different brews. The oldest portion in this blend is a 4-year old lambic brewed in March 2014. This label is also available in NL/FR. | - |
| 04/04/2018 | 750ml | Screen printed bottle, 44th blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular Oude Geuze has been blended with lambics from 8 different barrels and originating from 9 different brews. The oldest portion in this blend is 4-year old lambic brewed on 24 March, 2014. This label is also available in NL/FR. | - |
| 04/06/2018 | 1500ml | Screen printed bottled, 45th blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular Oude Geuze has been blended with lambics from 7 different barrels and originating from 10 different brews. The oldest portion of this blend is 3 Fonteinen lambic brewed on the 18th of March 2015. There are 8 different rear labels for this blend, each with a different quote from Armand. | |
| 04/16/2018 | 375ml | Screen printed bottle, 51st blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular Oude Geuze has been blended with lambics from 8 different barrels and originating from 11 different brews. The oldest portion in this blend is a 3.5-year old 3 Fonteinen lambic brewed on the 22nd of October 2014. This label is also available in NL/FR. | - |
| 04/18/2018 | 750ml | Screen printed bottle, 52nd blend of the 2017-2018 season. This particular Oude Geuze has been blended with lambics from 7 different barrels and originating from 8 different brews. The oldest portion in this blend is a 3.5-year old 3 Fonteinen lambic brewed on 22 October 2014. This label is also available in NL/FR | - |
References
- ↑ Tim Webb, Chris Pollard, Siobhan McGinn, LambicLand: A Journey Round the Most Unusual Beers in the World, 2010
