Lambiek Fabriek Juicy & Wild Muscar-Elle 37.5cl

Lambiek Fabriek are part of the newer wave of Belgian lambic producers proving spontaneous fermentation is still alive and very weird in the best possible way.

Based near Brussels in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, the brewery started in 2016 with the goal of making traditional lambic and gueuze while still bringing a slightly fresher modern perspective into the category. Thankfully they understood immediately that with lambic, the best thing to do is mostly leave the wild yeast alone and try not to ruin it.

The beers lean tart, funky, dry and beautifully complex. Citrus, green apple, hay, oak and earthy farmhouse notes all drifting around together depending on the blend and age. Oude Geuze remains the headline act, blending young and old lambic to create that signature sparkling sharpness with loads of depth underneath.

Fruit versions get especially good too. Kriek and other fruited lambics taste like actual fruit fermented into beer rather than sugary syrup dumped into sour ale afterwards. Proper acidity, proper complexity and enough dryness to keep everything elegant.

Lambic brewing in general feels slightly miraculous when you think about it. Open coolships, wild airborne yeast and brewers basically trusting the environment to help make the beer. Slightly mad process. Amazing results.

Not really the beer for somebody demanding a cold generic lager, but absolutely magical once your palate clicks into it.