Oude Geuze Boon Remy Le Mercier

Remy Le Mercier, a 16th-century tax collector from Halle, has been cited repeatedly by historians, past and present, for an ordinance he issued in 1559. The document prescribes the precise proportions of grains to be used in the local beer types “keut” and “houppe.” Brewers who deviated from these proportions were to be fined.

Today, the Halle ordinance is regarded as the oldest known reference to the origin of the lambic beer style — thanks to its specific grain ratios and geographical context.

Unusual by today’s lambic standards, however, is the mention of oats among the ingredients — a grain no longer found in modern lambic breweries. Yet, a composition of 10 % oats alongside at least 60 % barley malt and 30 % unmalted wheat would still meet current legal requirements for lambic.

Thanks to the meticulous record-keeping of Remy Le Mercier, we know that the origins of the lambic beer style date back at least to the 16th century. More than that — we have taken his description as inspiration for an exclusive Oude Geuze, bottled in a limited run of 5,400 bottles (75 cl) on 22 February 2024. We decided to put history to the test!

Because oats contain more fibre than barley, our lambic took a little longer to clarify, but time did its work beautifully.

With this Oude Geuze Remy Le Mercier, brewed with 10 % oats, we demonstrate that oats can indeed play a meaningful role in the production of Oude Geuze. They lend softness and fullness to the body and help strengthen the foam. The nutty character of the oats is clearly perceptible.

Santé! Proost!