One of the most well respected lambic blenders in Belgium, Frank Boon vintage-dates his beers as the great wineries do. The 1994 Boon lambics are quite the best lambics currently available in the United States.
Faro, once one of the most popular styles of beer in Belgium, is now only being produced on a commercial level by one brewer: Frank Boon.
Faro style beers are unique, as they are young Gueuze beers that have been dosed with extra candy sugar. The resulting beer is low alcohol and moderately sweet (though it still has the lambic sourness as a base) and was enjoyed as a session beer... something that you could have three or four of before heading to your next destination. Boon's interpretation does not stray from that mark - ruby red, sweet and malty with a dried fruit nose (prunes?).
A definite favorite, and a good way to pass the time on a warm
summer's evening.
Gueuze beers, a combination of old and young lambics without the addition of any fruit are best classified as "sweaty" beers - a combination of strong yeast smell and a salty taste can turn some novices to Belgian beers off... but to those that can appreciate the true epitome of the Belgian brewing style, the Boon Gueuze is considered one of the best.
As there is no fruit or candy sugar added in the secondary fermentation, every error or flaw is noticeable - so it falls to the lambic blender to make sure that the right balance of fresh and aged lambics are used... and having sampled Gueuze beers from Hannessens, Belle Vue, Cantillon, Lindemans, Liefmans and Boon, I have to say that the Boon is the most complete Gueuze I have sampled.
Though Gueuze beers are difficult to explain (and trying to explain the difference between a good Gueuze and a bad Gueuze is nearly impossible) - the Boon Gueuze is a medium amber (think light maple syrup) beer that is quite bubbly. On all levels you are treated to a variety of sour flavors ranging from sweet/sour to salt/sour and every combination in between.
This is the lobster or sushi of beers... once you get over how different a Gueuze is from everything else you know, you realize that it is the perfect, if unclassifiable, beer.
After my first taste, I put down my glass and exclaimed "Frank is God"... and when it comes to lambic blending, he most certainly is. Framboise beers are Gueuze that have raspberries added in the secondary fermentation. The resulting beers can range from sweet (Lindemans) to extremely sour (Cantillon). Boon's 1995 falls comfortably in the middle, with a strong raspberry nose and a raspberry sweetness when tasted, but the fruit is not so overpowering that you lose the taste of the sweet underlying lambic beers that the beer is built upon.
If you find the 1995 Boon Framboise lying around, grab it immediately,
bring it home, covet it, keep it safe and when you need to taste
perfection, open the bottle and enjoy - preferably someone special
to share such an intimate moment with.
(Avery Glasser)