Lindemans Cuvee Rene is a proper old-school gueuze, the tart, funky, sparkling blend of aged lambics that is one of the oldest and strangest styles in beer. Where most of Lindemans’ range is sweetened and fruited, Cuvee Rene is the traditional, unsweetened article, spontaneously fermented with wild yeast and blended from young and old lambic. It is not for everyone, but it is a genuine classic. Here is how it tastes and why it belongs in this guide.
Lindemans Cuvee Rene at a glance
| Style | Belgian oude gueuze (lambic) |
| ABV | Around 5.5% |
| Calories | Around 150 per 12 fl oz |
| Carbs | Around 5g per 12 fl oz |
| Origin | Brouwerij Lindemans, Vlezenbeek, Belgium |
| Ingredients | Water, barley malt, unmalted wheat, aged hops, wild yeast and bacteria |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Gluten free | No, it contains barley and wheat |
| Typical price | Around $10 to $16 for a 750ml bottle in the US. Check the button for live pricing |
How it tastes, by the numbers
Gueuze is defined by acidity and dryness, not sweetness or body. The tartness and dryness dials are maxed out, the body is light and the funk is front and centre.
The full review
It pours a hazy golden-amber with a fizzy, quickly fading head and a champagne-like sparkle. The aroma is a shock the first time: sharp lemon and green apple, a barnyard, horse-blanket funk from the wild yeast, damp oak and a little sourdough. It smells alive.
The palate is bracingly tart and bone dry, with lemon and unripe fruit acidity, that earthy lambic funk and a lightly oaky, cellar-like depth. There is almost no sweetness at all, and the carbonation scrubs everything clean. It is puckering and intense.
This is a beer that demands an open mind. If you come to it expecting anything like a normal ale you will hate it; if you take it as its own thing, closer to a dry sparkling wine or a sour cider, it is fascinating and genuinely refreshing.
It is a brilliant food beer, cutting through rich and fatty dishes like a squeeze of lemon, and it is one of the few beers that can genuinely stand in for champagne at the table. A style everyone should try at least once.
Closer to a dry sparkling wine than a beer, and all the better for it.
- A genuine traditional unsweetened gueuze
- Complex, funky and endlessly interesting
- Bone dry and superb with rich food
- A real champagne alternative at the table
- The tartness and funk are polarising
- Nothing like a conventional beer
- Pricier than everyday bottles
Who it is for
Adventurous drinkers, sour and wine fans, and anyone who wants to taste one of beer’s oldest styles. If you like it, seek out Cantillon and other traditional gueuze producers.
Lindemans Cuvee Rene FAQs
What does Lindemans Cuvee Rene taste like?
Sharply tart and bone dry, with lemon and green-apple acidity, an earthy barnyard funk from the wild yeast, oak and sourdough notes and almost no sweetness.
What is a gueuze?
A traditional Belgian style made by blending young and old lambic, which are spontaneously fermented with wild yeast. The refermentation in the bottle gives it a champagne-like sparkle. Oude gueuze is the unsweetened, traditional version.
Is Cuvee Rene sour?
Yes, very. It is a traditional unsweetened gueuze, so it is bracingly tart and dry, unlike Lindemans’ sweetened fruit lambics.
How strong is Lindemans Cuvee Rene?
Around 5.5% ABV, so it is moderate in strength despite its intensity of flavour.
How many calories are in Lindemans Cuvee Rene?
Around 150 per 12 fl oz. It is very dry with little residual sugar, so it is lower in carbs than most Belgian ales.
What food goes with gueuze?
It shines with rich, fatty and salty food: charcuterie, oysters, fried dishes, soft cheeses and creamy sauces. It works much like a dry sparkling wine.
Is Lindemans Cuvee Rene vegan?
Yes. It is brewed from water, barley, wheat, aged hops and wild yeast with no animal products.
Where is Lindemans Cuvee Rene brewed?
In Vlezenbeek, Belgium, in the Pajottenland region where traditional lambic is made, by Brouwerij Lindemans.
Where to buy Lindemans Cuvee Rene
Lindemans Cuvee Rene is sold by good beer shops across the US and Europe, usually as a corked 750ml bottle. Use the button above to check the current price.
The verdict
Lindemans Cuvee Rene is a genuine traditional gueuze and one of the most distinctive beers you can buy. The tartness and wild-yeast funk are polarising, but taken on their own terms they are complex, refreshing and superb with food. It is not an everyday beer, but it is one everyone should try at least once. A characterful four point one out of five. See how it ranks in our best Belgian beer guide.
FAQs
What kind of beer is Lindemans Cuvee Rene?
Lindemans Cuvee Rene is a Belgian oude gueuze (lambic), at Around 5.5% ABV.
How much alcohol is in Lindemans Cuvee Rene?
Lindemans Cuvee Rene has an ABV of Around 5.5%.
How many calories are in Lindemans Cuvee Rene?
Lindemans Cuvee Rene has Around 150 per 12 fl oz, based on the brewery’s published nutrition information.
Is Lindemans Cuvee Rene gluten free?
Lindemans Cuvee Rene: No, it contains barley and wheat.
Does Lindemans Cuvee Rene have carbs?
Yes, Lindemans Cuvee Rene has Around 5g per 12 fl oz. If you’re watching carbs, see our guide to the best low-carb beers.
How can I make Lindemans Cuvee Rene taste better?
Serve it at the right temperature and in the right glass (see below), or use it as the base for a beer cocktail. Our beer cocktails guide has recipes worth trying.
How much does Lindemans Cuvee Rene cost?
Lindemans Cuvee Rene typically runs Around $10 to $16 for a 750ml bottle in the US. Check the button for live pricing. Check current pricing and availability through the buy link above.
How do I open Lindemans Cuvee Rene without a bottle opener?
A lighter, a sturdy key, a spoon, or the edge of a table all work in a pinch. See our full guide on opening a beer without a bottle opener for 8 methods that actually work.
What glass should I use for Lindemans Cuvee Rene?
A standard pint or tulip glass works well for a Belgian oude gueuze (lambic) like Lindemans Cuvee Rene. See our beer glassware guide for style-by-style recommendations.
