Flanders Oud Bruin (Old Brown)
De Brabandere Brewery, Bavikhove, Belgium
Founded 1894
Brewery History
This 120 year old brewery was founded by Adolphe Brabandere and has been a family operation for five generations. De Brabandere produces a wonderful range of beers under the Petrus name and you wouldn’t go wrong to try any of them. Named after St. Peter who was said to be the gatekeeper of heaven—Petrus is said to be the key (I’ll drink to that). De Brabandere staffs innovative master brewers who aren’t mired in the past and are always looking for ways to improve flavor. You can taste years of brewing artistry in every sip of Petrus beer.
Today’s treat is the Flanders Oud Bruin, a style born in the Flemish area of Belgium. This Old Brown is a highly-acclaimed, award-winning, wood-aged ale made with excellent ingredients and the purest source of water. It is considered a sour beer, with a mix of tart, sweet, and citrus flavors.
Sour Notes
Petrus Oud Bruin poured a rich dark burgundy with an effervescent one-inch head that quickly dropped to light coating. I could smell the vinegar and maple rising from the glass. The tangy aromas served to awaken the senses.
Upon tasting I was met with a blast of sour fruit at first and then some lingering grape. As I continued to enjoy the Petrus Old Brown, I found it fizzy and fun to drink with an unexpected cherry essence. Although there is zero hop bitterness, you do get a nice taste of grapefruit on the palate. It is medium sour with a perfect sweet balance.
As the beer warms, the scents intensify. Old Brown should be served at about 50 degrees to bring out the full flavor.
Handled with Care
The hand-craftsmanship of Oud Bruin is apparent in the complex array of flavors. After aging in oak barrels for 18 months it is then mixed with fresh sweet beer at a 30% to 70% ratio. The new beer takes the edge off the acidity and refreshes the yeast to help fermentation continue in the bottle.
Although very enjoyable to drink, I find I can only have one sour, and then need to switch back to a nice bitter or malty ale. The sour flavor does take a bit of getting used to, but once you acquire the taste you’ll be drawn back to the sours on a regular basis.
More pricey than most, you pay for the attention to detail and storage time De Brabandere allows for their beers to mature. Overall Petrus Oud Bruin is refreshingly eclectic and a nice change of pace from the modern ale.
The World beer awards voted Petrus Oud Bruin as Europe’s best dark beer in 2012 calling it “Elegant, refined and sophisticated. Very quaffable.” I agree!
5.5% ABV
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