Petrus Oud Bruin

Brewed by Bavik-De Brabandere
Style: Sour Ale
Harelbeke, Belgium

330ml bottle. A careful pour yields a mostly clear dark chestnut brown body with purple hues underneath a small tan head that settles quickly but is easily stirred up with a small swirl. Nose of apple cider vinegar, faint but dry oak, some sweet tobacco, some plums, chestnuts, etc. Quite a nice aroma, to be honest. Flavor is a bit pale and pallid, with a cream toffee note at first, followed by a dullness of yeast, a hint of red apples and only a faint touch of vinegar acidity. Talk about a quiet beer... but overall it’s pretty tasty, and the light, doughy, fluffy texture makes up for the subdued flavors, but the sourness on this one is turned down very low.

Deep mahogany color with a good sized bubbly head. Malty sour aroma, that is pleasantly subdued. Flavor is a nice balance of sweet malts, some subdued cherry sourness and a touch of piney hops. Some light hints of oaky vanilla as it warms. Not as complex as I would have expected, but very well rounded; smooth and drinkable.

Bottle poured a clear dark copper brown with a lasting creamy amber head. Aromas of cherry, oak, carmel and a hint of tobacco. Palate was light bodied and crisp. Flavors of carmel, oak and light fruittiness with a crisp slightly tart finish.

(Bouteille de la LCBO) Couleur brune noire aux reflets cuivrés. Donne un col de mousse beige court et éphémère. Peu d’effervescence. Au premier abord, le parfum est inhabituel, il s’approche du foin sur, sent un peu la moufette. Le goût est frais et simple, levures et framboises avec une bonne dose sure et d’acidité. Cela rappel une gueuze ou une lambic à la limite (bon, je vois que c’Est une Sour Ale...). La bouche est fraîche, pétillante, mais de texture mince. Un peu étrange, mais propose quelque chose de différent à ce faible taux d’alcool.

(3/1/08) Draught sample at Zythos Bier Festival 2008 in Sint Niklaas. Deep red with a medium beige head. Aroma has some oak, some sweetish malt and a bit of berries. A rather sweet flavor with some malt and caramel a bit of bretty sourness. Medium body. Quite enjoyable but nothing more - too sweet and mild.

Interesting. Dark brown pour with a foamy head. Aroma of soured fruit. Taste is tart with cherry in the background.

Bottled at Monks Café, Stockholm. Pours out in a clear nut brown colour with with a rich lasting off-white foam. Sweetish aroma of wild raspberries, black cherries, caramelized almonds with a woody vinegary undertone. Fruity flavour leaning on the sweeter side of black cherries and black-currant with mild but still lasting acidic undertones. Long fruity and mild acidic finish of wood, brown sugar, over-riped cherries, almonds and immature raspberries. Not a great beer and a bit sweet but I dig this Sour Ale style.

It poured like a cola. Aroma was interesting but any interest faded after tasting. Doesnt even taste like a beer. Tastes like an alcoholic cola. Im completely serious and had high hopes but I just cant believe something like this would come out of Belgium. I will chalk it up to a bad bottle and may try it again to re-rate.