Bellegems Bruin - Brouwerij Bockor N.V.

viverlee

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Curious craving. Years ago when I was introduced to good beers I had my first sour and quickly thought the beer had gone bad, that somehow the cap or bottle had been breached, that I was drinking someone’s cruel joke. Not so, young neophyte. I found my mouth yesterday absolutely clamoring for some vinegary gloss, and this here satisfies.

STYLE: Flanders Oud Bruin

ABV: 5.5%

LOOK: Not really the main course. Plain brown with a touch of mahogany and a light, fizzy head.

NOSE: Characteristically sour, it smells like Fall. Dried apple stack cake, salad dressing, punchy.

MOUTH: Apple cider, red grapes, cherry molasses. Mellow vinegary tartness but clean, not chewy. There’s a nice, cakelike toastiness as it warms. Sessionable it is not. That craving, though … gone.

BA Rating: 89

Hayward Abbey Rating: 91

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 19:10:10 | More by viverlee

pkalix

California

4.21/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

nice dark, copper-red color with a thin layer of foam on top.
smells like vinegar, of course. i wonder what that 10% double ipa at the pub is going to taste like after this....?
tastes.... like vinegar.... of course. i love this stuff. yes, like vinegar, but i love vinegar.
what can i say? if you like the sours, then there are some good brews out there done well.
since i cannot mix my beers well with a sour in the mix, then i give it a lower score. if i'm doing all sours, then i may be inclined to give it a higher score. unfair, maybe? actually, it's not all that sour, but it does still have the sour properties which makes it difficult to enjoy other 'normal' brews. i have to give the an 85 on that criteria.
and i love the laurel and hardy characters on the front label...

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 22:56:27 | More by pkalix

SLeffler27

New York

4.34/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark copper (SRM23) with a short-lived, one-inch, fine, beige, creamy foam that drops to a thin film, leaving a creamy lace over a clear beer in a Bellegems Flute glass.

Strong up-front sour cherry, followed by cranberry juice, while warming brings out plum.

Quite fresh, with a pronounced, sour pucker. Raspberry and cranberry are in the forefront, while sweetness is discovered after the tongue adjusts to the sour flavors. Light spices come out in the middle, lasting long into a subtle finish. Overall, there is some acidity.

A medium body with satin texture and high, fine carbonation.

This is a sophisticated beer, suitable for conversation with friends. Despite strong sourness and flavor in the aroma, the various interrelationships within this beer are quite delicate. Warmth brings out a contemplative character.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 19:35:08 | More by SLeffler27

dcguitar

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

06-11-2013 19:29:35 | More by dcguitar

jroberts8811

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

06-06-2013 20:18:33 | More by jroberts8811

peabody

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -0.7%

06-01-2013 04:02:17 | More by peabody

macher0

Kentucky

4.16/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a snifter.

A: Dark brown/amber. Huge head that retreats to a frothy amber rim. Frothy and stable lacing.

S: Sour fruit. Malts. Mildly fragrant, but works well.

T: Mildly sour. Malts. Raw oak. Dry fruits. Rustic.

M: Moderate bodied. Smooth. Not jaw-clinching. Moderate carbonation.

O: A very good, mild sour. Not near as tart as others, and for that reason, this ale could be recommended to folks who do not like extremely tart sours. This was a gift, so I'm not sure of the price, but I would likely buy this in replace of other Belgian Flanders.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 16:02:34 | More by macher0

craftbeerasian

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

05-30-2013 17:21:36 | More by craftbeerasian

anteater

Oregon

4/5  rDev -0.7%

05-28-2013 02:08:20 | More by anteater

KVNBGRY

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%

05-27-2013 22:16:57 | More by KVNBGRY

silverking

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A- Bright, clear red with a light tan head. Lots of active carbonation. Head retention isn't great, but the lacing is nice and a thin ring of foam remains throughout the life of the glass.

S- Balsamic vinegar, lemon. Some darker fruits in there as well, cherry, blackberry. vinous.

T- Balsamic vinegar...it's thoroughly sour. The finish rounds out a bit and shows some tart cherry and under-ripe raspberry.

M- medium bodied with moderate carbonation. As a whole it comes across refreshing, probably because of teh acidity.

O- My first flanders ale, I have mixed feelings on this one. On one side, it's better than I expected. On the other, it's like drinking sour wine.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 21:44:48 | More by silverking

Blindpigbiz

California

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Smell: balsamic vinegar with hints of lemon zest

Taste: balsamic vinegar, very very tart balsamic vinegar, with hints of lemon and effervescence; incredibly tart and refreshing

This is another outstanding Flanders red to try. Although, as most of them are within this style tend to be very sour, this beer leaves a refreshing taste in your mouth; this beer is great

Pair this beer with BBQ or, some Mexican street tacos with extra grease, cilantro, onion, and jalapeño. And if your feeling especially adventurous, pair this beer with vanilla bean ice cream and boysenberry pie

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 10:14:34 | More by Blindpigbiz

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz beer was poured into a wine glass.

Appearance: This beer poured a one finger pink head that reduced to nothing. It is a crimson color with some clarity when held up to the light and bubbles coming up through the glass too.

Smell: Sour, tart, lactic acid, bready, malty, cherries, and raspberries.

Taste: Same as above. Tart, sweet fruits, and a bit of sour lactic.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, a little pucker, low to medium bodied, medium carbonation, and very drinkable.

Overall: A nice Flanders Oud Bruin that stands up with the best of them.

A nice beer my 500th review too.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 04:02:45 | More by Flounder57

desint

Belgium

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

05-24-2013 11:10:56 | More by desint

avalon07

South Carolina

4.29/5  rDev +6.5%
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 +5.5%

05-15-2013 19:33:45 | More by Lantern

phooky

New York

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

05-14-2013 18:19:29 | More by phooky

MRsojourner

Massachusetts

3.96/5  rDev -1.7%
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 +6.9%
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 +6.9%
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 -13.2%

05-10-2013 16:07:24 | More by twenty5

shigg85

Japan

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

05-06-2013 19:48:32 | More by shigg85

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap 4/26/2013 at Track 84 in Warwick, RI, served in a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark reddish brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains Belgian yeast, esters, tart fruit and light caramelized malts.

T: The taste starts with tart dark fruits. Then some light Belgian yeast breadiness comes in along with a touch of hops to create a good balance for the style. The after-taste is slightly tart.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is dry.

O: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, this is a solid beer to drink for a while if you’re in the mood for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

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

notchucknorris

California

4.29/5  rDev +6.5%
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 +5.5%

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