Members of the High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers (HORAL) have won gold at the Brussels Beer Challenge for its Megablend 2024.
“This Oude Geuze was not made by an individual brewer or blender, but is the result of close collaboration between 13 producers from the Pajottenland and the Senne Valley,” said Gert Christiaens, chairman of HORAL.
“Sixteen years ago, the then HORAL members decided to make an Oude Geuze together on the popular open brewery event Toer de Geuze. It was such a great success that it has become a tradition, repeated every two years,” he explained.
The Megablend shares the highest podium with the Oude Gueuze Cuvée René, from the Lindemans brewery. The Oude Gueuze from Gueuzerie Tilquin won a silver medal. The bronze went to the Oude Geuze Devillé, from the Den Herberg brewery in Buizingen, and the Parrain Oude Geuze, from Geuzestekerij Parrain in Beersel. Lindemans, Tilquin, and Den Herberg are all members of the High Council.
Gert added: “HORAL had never sent a Megablend to a competition before. To immediately win one of the highest prizes is, therefore, the greatest possible honour for a beer, which results from the excellence of the collaboration between different companies.
“Although we are competitors, it shows we have enough ‘common grounds’ within HORAL to work on great projects together. The Toer de Geuze weekend and the Megablend perfectly illustrate that positive vibe between colleagues.”
