Liefmans Oud Bruin

Brewed by Liefmans (Moortgat)
Style: Sour Red/Brown
Oudenaarde, Belgium

Serve in Snifter, Tulip, Tumbler

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I´ve only drunk this one once, in Westmalle many years ago. This one was in a champagne-bottle stored in the bar-cellars for 5 years. This was really a fantastic experience. What an explosion of tastes in the nose and palate.

Presentation: It was poured from a tap into a pint glass. Appearance: The body has a brownish or an old tarnished copper color that is nearly opaque. Near the sides of the glass there is a lot of visible carbonation streaming up to the top of the glass. This constant flow of tiny little bubbles helps to maintain a thick and foamy head, which is off white in color. Head retention is excellent and lacing is very good as well. Smell: The aroma has a tart and slightly sour fruity malty character with just a hint of citrus. Taste/Mouth feel: Its flavor is pleasantly tart with a good solid malty base that is in good balance to its fruity tartness. A mildly tart oak flavor also adds another layer of complexity. The texture is refreshing with a lively carbonation and solid medium body that is quite drinkable. Notes: Overall this was very enjoyable.

Draft at Max’s 72 Hours of Belgium. Poured a mahogany color with very little head and carbonation. Nicely acidic aroma with a medium body that tastes of brown sugar and apples. A bit of Belgian funkiness at the end. Rounded flavor. Good sour.

Dark brown with a red tint and a thick lasting tan frothy head. Smells of vinigar, malt, berry, caramel and dry oak. Medium oily frothy body. Sourness lingers. Starts sweet with vinigar, kiwi, very ripe fruit, plum. More sweet than sour, wood and sour cherry. Very good and complex but sour.

Oh yes! The sweet and sour aroma is a treat in itself and then whent the taste kicks in, your in beer heaven. This might be a tad special for the unprepared, but when you delve into it, you’l find berries, red fruit, and dark joy. It’s not a fruit beer, but it is very fruity. Go ahead and buy it.

slight tartness, with the sweetness of the malts. hints of cherries, molasses, and the tartness, makes this extremely drinkable.

UPDATED: FEB 7, 2004 Those Liefmans-dudes rock! I love everything they make. Dark brown, clear. Sour malty nose. Typical Flemish Sour Ale flavour (and i like that). Good. Additional note: Cherry nose. Flavour is more buttery. Not as sour as some other Flemish reds, but certainly good.

Why people still rate Rodenbach better than Liefmans Oud Bruin is beyond me. This is one of the last and true Oud Bruin beers in Belgium. I tried a 25 cl bottle at home and I was immediately reminded of Rodenbach before Palm Breweries messed around with its recipe.

Overall: Really good well balanced old style Flemish brew, easy to fall in love with.
Note: Bottle 250 ml at De Klomp. Reviewed 2012-12-29.

Final Four of ’04 - New Years Eve. 250ml bottle from Beer Temple, Brussels. Dark brown, fluffy white head. Aroma is fruity and malty. Flavour is typical of the aged brown style - sweet and fruity with some pleasent sourness and a little woody character. Love this.