Oud Bruin style (Old Brown)
Brouwerij Van Steenberge, Ertvelde, Belgium
Founded 1784
Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale, brewed by the Van Steenberge brewery, goes by the name Bios Flemish Burgundy in Belgium and is private labeled for Monk’s Cafe Belgian Beer Emporium in Philadelphia.
This Oud Bruin style is a mix of old sour beer and fresh sweet beer. The old beer ages in oak barrels and turns sour as lactic acid is released and then is combined in a delicate balance with new beer to achieve a delightful sweet and sour mix.
Flemish Sour Ale pours a burgundy red with a thin frothy head. My nostrils were instantly hit with sweet and sour aromas inviting me to take the plunge. The first sip was completely refreshing as fruitiness blended with oaky notes.
Subtle aromas of vinegar, port wine, and tart cherries arose as this addictive brew continued to coax me back for sip after sip. The 11.2 ounce bottle left me wanting for more, especially since I had to leave a bit of sediment in the bottom.
Flemish Sour Ale is a living beer that continues to ferment in the bottle as it ages, so flavors will evolve. Fun, fizzy, mildly sour, and easy to drink, this 5.5% ABV nectar is a tart treat that I look forward to again, soon.
I give this beer a five tulip rating.
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