De Proef Flemish Primitive

Brewed by De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Lochristi, Belgium

Bottle thanks to Phil_l at beer exposed. I was like woo this is going to be a signature ale type beaste, but i was wrong. Thereas quite a bit of raw grain and brewing cereal, mixed with barnyard and dung. Theres quite a bit of brett but its like"hello, im here, look at me!" but hasnt quite understood that this party is infact for smack heads only.

Bottle at Brewtopia 2004... Sparkling clear, yellow ale with a creamy, white head. Terrific retention. The nose is fruity/citrusy with some lesser notes of cherry and vanilla. The flavor is very nicely bittered... maybe even a litlle off- kilter, leaning toward the hops. Fairly nondescript. Not a ton of flavor, but bitter. Medium-bodied with a silky mouthfeel and fizzy. Lengthy, bitter, dry finish.

Pours a clear deep, effervescent golden with a thin, but dense white head with nice light lacing. Aroma is tart, funky and barnyardy but with a substantial earthy maltiness and a touch of spruce. Body starts full, thick, malty and lightly sweet, turning slightly cheesy and bready toward a tart and bitter finish. A very unique beer that seems a bit confused at times. It’s like a cross between a triple and a gueuze, but for some reason it has the bitterness of Orval in the lingering finish. Interesting to say the least, and worth trying, but I just wish it had a touch more sweetness to balance the bitterness in the finish.

re-rated august 2008, courtesy of Tony Flükiger - cloudy orange colour with a persistent slightly beige head; aroma of pineapple, coriander and brown sugar; lot of carbonation and medium-bodied, quite tart and fairly bitter; long fruity (apricot and pineapple) and spicy finish - original and very good; ok Tony, I take back what I said once about this beer beeing one of the most overrated in the world

june 2004: cloudy orange colour, fine foam, acidic nose with notes of rhubarb, sweet and full-bodied, slightly overcarbonated, lot of alcohol presence and very dry - what’s this ? yes, it’s primitive (3/4/2/2/5)

Bottle-In the vaults of HI International. Some lambic sourness going on, earthy, farmyardy aroma. Lightly sweet to start, acidic and tart. NOt as sour or balanced as i’d like, but it was still nice and funky.

Flunky opaque peach-yellow beer, fluffy white head. Nice, very fruity nose: unripe peaches or nectarines, and lactic as from buttermilk. Smells actually like some fruited slimming drink... Surprising taste, because bitterness is the first: my taste tells me a high coloured malts content, though my eyes say different; even rubbery. Then the taste turns to tart, the palate remaining burnt-bitter. I suspect hops too, but their aromas are missing. Some acidburn. The 9% ABV is absolutely stunning - no trace of it. Is this "superattenuated" as gueuze? Very surprising beer - I do not know of any similar in Belgium. VERY unlike usual Proefbeers. I agree with Josh that the nose promesses more than taste delivers. An appropriate one thousand thanks to Dr. Bill! New rating - Vlaamse Primitief (Dutch label) with another Brueughel painting with the hooknose; on 75 cl Orange-gold; very creamy near-white head. [4/5] Brett nose, "Orvally", leather, dry hopsacks. [8/10] Dry taste, with hops, chalk, grain, and a sourish edge, which cries Brett to hight heaven. I’m very impressed with its balance. [7/10] Velvety MF, creamy, well-bodied. [4/5] Very nice, especially compared to the original with the Dutch/Flemish name of near a decennium ago; it’s become really adult. Great. [16/20]

Bottled. Label says Vlaamse Primitief. Hazy orange coloured. Fruity aroma and flavour with a primitive touch of sourness and earthiness. Funny and full bodied.

The Lure:
Subtle brett seems to be teamed with a dirty yeast. Fluffy carbonation propulses a pine-y lotion along with diverse fruity esters. Plantanes emerge to take a look around, for the pleasure of the nostrils.

The Festivities:
Brettanomyces here is milder than Mo Betta Bretta, Sanctification and Orval, yet enunciates its herbal wildness with diligence. Tree bark surrounds the round malt body. A haystack is also perceived through the soft, cushion-y effervescence. Obviously not a 100% brett beer, but I could not be complaining, this is very well done.

Transcendence:
You can’t go wrong with a trip to a forest in the country.

As Reineart Flemish Wild: A brett charmer operating in a desert dry barn, luring the lemony acidity with his hard cookie flute...Mint and dandelions adorn the basket where the muscular brett cavorts and prances to the languid melodies of the learned player...All around, the freshness of harvest season is palpable as haystacks seize the air with their pungent liveliness...The intrinsical wilderness of the countryside is so appealing...