Oude Groseille a Maquerau Verte Tilquin a L'Ancienne 750ML

Oude Groseille à Maquereau Verte Tilquin à l'Ancienne 750ML is a Belgian fruit lambic made with green gooseberries and spontaneously fermented lambic at 5.5% ABV. As the sole independent blendery permitted to source wort from Boon, Lindemans, Girardin, and Cantillon, Gueuzerie Tilquin occupies a singular position in the lambic world — and this gooseberry expression demonstrates why, carrying a 4.1 rating on Untappd across over 1,200 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Bierghes, Wallonia, Belgium  |  Style: Fruit Lambic (Green Gooseberry)  |  Blendery: Gueuzerie Tilquin

Production & Heritage

Gueuzerie Tilquin, founded by Pierre Tilquin in Bierghes in the Wallonia region of Belgium, is a lambic blendery rather than a brewery — meaning it acquires young lambic wort from established producers and ages, blends, and bottles it on site. For this expression, Tilquin blends one-, two-, and three-year-old lambics and macerates them with a remarkably generous 260 grams of green gooseberries per liter. The resulting beer is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and refermented in the bottle, preserving the full spectrum of wild yeast character and fruit complexity that defines the traditional lambic method.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with a wave of barnyard funk and leather, quickly followed by crisp green apple and herbaceous green pepper. Deeper in, leafy green gooseberry notes emerge alongside a gentle underlying tartness that signals what's to come on the palate.

Taste: The entry is slightly sweet, a fleeting impression that is immediately countered by bright, pleasant acidity. Mid-palate brings green gooseberry, green vine, and unripe apple flavors threaded through with leather and light oak from the aged lambic base. The sourness ranges from light to moderate, never overwhelming, and the funkiness gives the fruit a savory backbone.

Finish: Dry and refreshingly tart, with lingering green fruit and a whisper of oak tannin. Medium carbonation lifts the finish, keeping it clean rather than cloying.

How to Drink Tilquin Groseille Verte

This lambic is best served chilled to around 45–50°F in a tulip glass or lambic tumbler, which concentrates the complex aromatics. Pour gently to manage the bottle-conditioned sediment — some drinkers prefer to leave the final half-inch in the bottle, while others enjoy the added texture. Given the careful blending and fruit integration, mixing this into cocktails would obscure its nuance; it stands on its own as a complete drinking experience, much like a fine farmhouse cider or natural wine.

Best For

• Gifting a serious craft beer or lambic enthusiast seeking rare Belgian styles
• Pairing with a curated cheese board at a dinner gathering
• Introducing wine drinkers to the world of sour and wild ales
• Cellaring alongside other Tilquin vintages for vertical tasting comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Tilquin Groseille Verte taste like? It delivers a tart, moderately sour profile dominated by green gooseberry, green apple, and leafy herbal notes, all supported by funky leather and light oak from the lambic base. The acidity is bright but balanced, with a dry, refreshing finish.

How does Tilquin Groseille Verte compare to Tilquin Oude Quetsche? Both are fruit lambics from the same blendery using the same base of one-, two-, and three-year-old lambics, but the Quetsche uses purple plums, yielding a richer, more stone-fruit-forward and slightly sweeter character. The Groseille Verte is leaner and more herbaceous, with sharper acidity and a distinctly green, vegetal fruit profile.

Is Tilquin Groseille Verte good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — this is a contemplative beer designed for slow, attentive drinking, much like a natural wine. Its complexity rewards patience, and the bottle-conditioned carbonation and dry finish make it satisfying without any additions.

Where is Tilquin Groseille Verte made? It is produced at Gueuzerie Tilquin in Bierghes, a town in the Wallonia region of Belgium within the Pajottenland-adjacent area historically associated with lambic production. Tilquin sources its base lambic wort from renowned producers including Boon, Lindemans, Girardin, and Cantillon.

What foods pair well with Tilquin Groseille Verte? Young, creamy cheeses like chèvre or Brillat-Savarin complement the tartness without competing. Briny shellfish such as oysters or mussels echo the beer's mineral, saline undertones. Charcuterie — especially pâté or rillettes — plays well against the funky, leathery notes. Light salads with vinaigrette mirror the acidity, and fruit tarts or gooseberry fool create a harmonious dessert pairing.

What sizes does Tilquin Groseille Verte come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle, which is the traditional format for Belgian lambics intended for sharing or cellaring.

Is Tilquin Groseille Verte worth the price? This positions as a premium fruit lambic, reflecting the labor-intensive process of sourcing lambics from multiple acclaimed breweries, extended aging, and generous fruit maceration at 260g per liter. Within the broader landscape of Belgian fruit lambics, it represents strong value for the complexity and craftsmanship involved.

Why Tilquin Groseille Verte?

Gueuzerie Tilquin's unique access to lambic wort from four of Belgium's most respected producers — Boon, Lindemans, Girardin, and Cantillon — gives this blendery a palette no single brewery can replicate. The green gooseberry expression pushes the fruit lambic category into unusual territory; where most producers work with cherries or raspberries, the tart, herbaceous character of green gooseberries creates something genuinely uncommon. The 260 grams of fruit per liter ensures the gooseberry presence is unmistakable rather than decorative. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and bottle-refermented, this is traditional lambic blending at its most ambitious — a beer that rewards both immediate drinking and patient cellaring.