Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin a L'Ancienne 750ML

Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin à L'Ancienne 750ML is a Belgian spontaneous fermentation beer blending aged lambic with organic Pinot Noir grapes, bottled at 8.2% ABV. Produced by Gueuzerie Tilquin — the only lambic blendery in Wallonia — this expression originated as a special release for the 10th anniversary of Moeder Lambic and has since earned a devoted following among lambic enthusiasts, holding a 4.2 rating on Untappd across thousands of reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.2%  |  Origin: Bierghes, Wallonia, Belgium  |  Style: Oude Lambic with Fruit  |  Blendery: Gueuzerie Tilquin

Production & Heritage

Gueuzerie Tilquin was founded in 2009 by Pierre Tilquin in Bierghes, a small village in the Rebecq municipality of Wallonia, making it the only lambic blendery operating outside of Brussels and Flemish Brabant. The blendery acquires wort and young lambic from four esteemed producers — Boon, Lindemans, Girardin, and Cantillon — then ages and blends one-, two-, and three-year-old lambics in-house. For this expression, 260 grams of organic Pinot Noir grapes per liter of lambic are added, with the grapes sourced from the Valentin Zusslin Estate in Steinseltz, Alsace, where they are cultivated using biodynamic viticulture. The final beer is unfiltered, unpasteurized, and refermented in the bottle.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Pronounced grape must dominates the nose, followed by layers of tart red fruit and a subtle oak backbone. A mild barnyard funkiness rounds out the aromatics, characteristic of well-aged spontaneous fermentation.

Taste: The entry is sharply tart with light grape juice character that immediately signals its fruit lambic identity. Mid-palate brings red grape skin, cranberry, and currant flavors woven through earthy, farmhouse funk. A mild woody bitterness emerges toward the finish, adding structure without overpowering the fruit.

Finish: Bone-dry and remarkably light in body, the finish lingers with tart cranberry and a faint tannic grip from the Pinot Noir grape skins. Carbonation stays lively throughout, keeping the mouthfeel clean and refreshing despite the complexity.

How to Drink Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin

Serve chilled at 45–50°F in a tulip glass or wine goblet to allow the aromatics full expression. This beer is best enjoyed on its own, treated more like a natural wine than a conventional beer. For those inclined to experiment: it works in a Lambic Spritz, replacing prosecco with this tart, effervescent lambic over ice with a splash of elderflower; a Belgian Kir, adding a small measure of cassis to amplify the dark fruit notes; or a Fruit Lambic Shandy, blending it with a light lemonade for a sessionable warm-weather drink.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer or natural wine enthusiast seeking something genuinely rare
• Pairing with a charcuterie and cheese board at an intimate dinner
• Cellaring for special occasions — bottle-conditioned lambics develop with age
• Introducing wine drinkers to the world of Belgian spontaneous fermentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin taste like? It delivers a sharply tart, bone-dry profile dominated by red grape, cranberry, and currant flavors, layered with barnyard funk and a mild woody bitterness from oak aging.

How does Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin compare to Cantillon St. Lamvinus? Both are grape-macerated lambics, but St. Lamvinus — made entirely in-house at Cantillon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc — tends to show deeper fruit intensity and more tannic structure. Tilquin's Pinot Noir expression is lighter-bodied and drier, with a brighter acidity and more delicate grape character, and blends lambics sourced from multiple producers.

Is Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — this is a contemplative sipper meant to be savored slowly from a tulip or wine glass, much like a fine natural wine or aged gueuze.

Where is Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin made? It is produced at Gueuzerie Tilquin in Bierghes, a village in the Rebecq municipality of Wallonia, Belgium. The Pinot Noir grapes are sourced from the biodynamic Valentin Zusslin Estate in Steinseltz, Alsace, France.

What foods pair well with Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin? Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese, whose nutty richness complements the beer's acidity; duck rillettes, where the fat is cut by tart fruit notes; smoked salmon, which mirrors the earthy funk; fresh goat cheese with honey, balancing tartness with sweetness; and dark chocolate with dried cherries, echoing the cranberry and currant flavors.

What sizes does Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin come in? The standard release is a 750ML bottle, which is the format most widely available for Tilquin's fruit lambic range.

Is Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin worth the price? This positions as a premium specialty beer within the already rarefied lambic category. Given the biodynamic grape sourcing, multi-producer lambic blending, and bottle refermentation, it represents strong value for anyone serious about spontaneous fermentation beers.

Why Oude Pinot Noir Tilquin?

Gueuzerie Tilquin occupies a singular position in the lambic world: it is the only blendery in Wallonia and one of very few operations anywhere that blends lambics acquired from multiple legendary producers, including Cantillon and Girardin. The use of biodynamically cultivated Pinot Noir grapes from Alsace — added at a generous 260 grams per liter — gives this beer a vinous complexity that bridges the gap between wild ale and natural wine. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and bottle-conditioned, each release reflects a specific vintage's character and rewards patient cellaring. For drinkers who appreciate the intersection of Belgian brewing tradition and winemaking sensibility, few bottles deliver this level of craft and terroir expression.