Bellegems Bruin - Brouwerij Bockor N.V.

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark candy brown, with a lovely creamy white head that sits at a finger’s width above the beer. In the light and in the glass, though, the beer is beautifully dark ruby in color, with some slight muddling in the color to suggest brown maple syrup. Lacing is thin and tendril like along the walls of the glass. The body appears to be clean and free of particles, but is really quite opaque to the eye. On the nose, the beer smells strongly of cherry leather and funk, with big fruity waftings and a light barnyard funk lying beneath everything that just barely touches upon less appealing smells. The smell actually begins with a nice malty base, but that is swiftly washed away by the funk and fruit. On the tongue, the beer tastes tart with wonderfully fruity notes that move mostly in the tart cherry range, but do hint slightly at other fruits. The funk detected in the nose is lighter in the taste, but still present in the background of flavor. The beer begins with light funk before quickly opening into sweet fruity cherry notes with some mild leather to suggest the funkier side of the beer. The finish mingles light funk and fruit beautifully, and the aftertaste rings with a surprisingly salty sour funk, while still hinting at the cool fruity cherry. In the mouth, the beer feels light to medium in body, with some fierce prickling from the carbonation, though it remains smooth other than that. The mouth is left neutral, with only the slightest watering at the sides of the tongue. Overall, this is a lovely light wild beer. It tends more towards the fruity side of the road, but suggests some nice funk notes while still holding onto the fruit. The beer is a terrific introduction beer for wild ales, and a nice fruity beverage overall. I like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 00:49:23 | More by Maxwell

avalon07

South Carolina

4.29/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from a bottle to a tulip glass. Had a brown color with ruby tints and a thick consistency. There was a small amount of tan-colored, foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Below average lacing.

S: A good aroma of dark fruit, sugar, and malt.

T: Tasted of malt, dark fruit (raisins), apples, and a sugary components. A very well-rounded, complex and likeable flavor. Maltier than I would have expected, but it's not a bad thing.

M: A decent amount of carbonation with a super creamy-smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A superior example of a Bruin. Very much a drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 00:05:15 | More by avalon07

Lantern

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-15-2013 19:33:45 | More by Lantern

phooky

New York

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-14-2013 18:19:29 | More by phooky

MRsojourner

Massachusetts

3.96/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

aroma: nice caramel malt & vinegar

Appearance: wonderfully clear brown and red hues with a tan head that persist but no lacing

Taste: sweet malts with a tang/lactic sourness with little vinegar. raspberry fruits with a hint of cherries and plum.

mouthfeel is medium bodied and silky and carbonated quit well.

very enjoyable and a great sipper

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 23:35:29 | More by MRsojourner

cradke

Texas

4.31/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Dark Ruby. Plume hues. An extremely fluffy, fine head with lacing. Pours a finger thick then dissolves to a thin covering over the beer.

Smell: Tart cherry's. A little bit of black currant and fig. Notes of acidity and bitter vinegar but not pungent or overpowering. A little bit of wood at the end

Taste: Acidic tart up front. Tart pre ripe cherry. Oak through the middle. The taste is pretty big up front but fades quickly with a very clean aftertaste. Refreshing.

Mouthfeel: Wonderful carbonation. Tossing the beer across the palate really brings out the complex wood and cherry tart.

Overall: I dig. Very refreshing with good fruit flavors. Their is good tartness to it that doesn't yell at you at ever sip but move it across the palate and it shows up. Very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 03:36:52 | More by cradke

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.31/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

No date on the bottle but I'm assuming it's pretty old since I've seen it at the store for a long time before deciding to check it out. Was stored on the shelf at room temperature.

Appearance: Very dark red and almost black when not held near light. Fizzy light tan head that is being constantly replenished by the rush of effervescence from the bottom of the glass. Good clarity as well considering it's bottle-conditioned.

Aroma: Quite a balanced mix of sour cherry and sweet raisin. Mellow yet aromatic.

Taste: Starts with a nice jab from the sour yeast strain. Tart cherry sticks out to me as the main fruit flavor. The sour aspect of the beer is mostly in the first half and right when it is about to alarm the palate with its tart flavor, the mood shifts and the brown lambic aspects take over. Sweet raisin and hearty fruits take over, immediately balancing out the sour flavor and giving a rich finish. The only giveaway that this beer is only 5.5% ABV is that there is no heat or any warming sensation. It is surprisingly full of flavor. The oak-aging has definitely done it's job and made this one mellow brew.

Mouthfeel: About medium in body with lots of carbonation that keeps it feeling light and airy. Great drinkability and possibly sessionable if you like this style. Definitely easy enough to finish a large format bottle with a friend or on your own.

Final Thoughts: I've only had a handful of sour ales but Bellegems Bruin will definitely stick out in my mind as one of the most drinker-friendly. While it's not quite as tart as I had hoped for, its smooth and mellow nature makes up for that. Would I drink it again? Yes, especially if sharing with someone who is curious to try the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 22:32:21 | More by JamesMN

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%

05-10-2013 16:07:24 | More by twenty5

shigg85

Japan

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-06-2013 19:48:32 | More by shigg85

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -0.5%

05-01-2013 18:40:02 | More by TheManiacalOne

notchucknorris

California

4.29/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a deep brown color with a huge fizzing and foamy tan head. Pretty good retention.

S: Toasted oak, vanilla, juicy red delicious apple, and a touch of funk. Not a funk bomb, but it's there. Smells pretty nice.

T: Really well made. The sweetness and tartness are very well balanced, leaving a beer that sour and non-sour fans alike should really like. A nice mix of red grapes, slightly tart cherries, velvety smooth malt, red and green apple and some raisin. Tart but not overly sour. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 04:19:10 | More by notchucknorris

MacStinson

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

05-01-2013 03:59:22 | More by MacStinson

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Amber with white foam and great lacing in a goblet.

Smell: Wild yeast and strawberries. Balsamic vinegar.

Taste/Mouthfeel: More wild yeast, strawberries, and balsamic. Cheese-like. Definitely some funky fermentation involved in this. Clean mouthfeel that is a bit too thin.

Overall: Like a wild ale, I would love to try more of this style.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2013 00:57:18 | More by tjsdomer2

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.5%

04-26-2013 22:57:41 | More by randylangford

GraduatedCashew

California

4/5  rDev -0.5%

04-25-2013 16:58:29 | More by GraduatedCashew

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

04-21-2013 05:54:31 | More by LambicPentameter

JeffTheJuice

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.5%

04-19-2013 02:32:40 | More by JeffTheJuice

Nutwood

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

04-15-2013 17:36:30 | More by Nutwood

wdarcy77

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.5%

04-08-2013 23:50:46 | More by wdarcy77

GennyCreamAle

New York

4/5  rDev -0.5%

04-07-2013 02:41:34 | More by GennyCreamAle

wrath98

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

04-02-2013 15:05:37 | More by wrath98

tbeer40

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

03-31-2013 00:02:37 | More by tbeer40

bacasnax

Florida

3.25/5  rDev -19.2%

03-30-2013 20:36:59 | More by bacasnax

MNBeer1017

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

03-30-2013 01:20:38 | More by MNBeer1017

electrified

California

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%

03-30-2013 01:18:58 | More by electrified