Bellegems Bruin - Brouwerij Bockor N.V.

draheim

Washington

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

11.2oz (batch 01) into a tulip. Pours a murky mahogany w/ a thin khaki head that settles to a film.

Aroma is faint sour cherries and sweet malt. Not really getting much on the nose, just a mild red wine vinegar.

Taste is pleasantly tar and equally sweet. Sugars in the malt provide a nice counterpoint to the acidity.

Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Carbonation is just right.

Overall a pretty solid Flanders oud bruin. Sourness isn't overdone.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 05:01:42 | More by draheim

RuudJH

Netherlands

3.8/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought as 'VanderGhinste', a Flanders red ale, as stated on the bottle. 'Oud bruin', similar. Aged in oak barrels.

Fresh red berries smell. Tart but sweet with black berries too. Dry finish.
This beautifull beer, dark chestnut brown colour, with fluffy head, great lacing in the glass.
Pleasing beer, traditionally meant as thirst quencher. Fresh and drinkable. Decent example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 17:20:12 | More by RuudJH

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle pours a ruddy brown color with a modest cap of tan head. Not much lacing, fair retention.

Nose is sweet and sour caramel malty goodness. Overripe strawberry jam and light red wine vinegar notes are just about perfect for the style.

Flavor is a little lighter and less sweet than a Duchesse. Jammy, tart fruit with plenty of caramel maltiness. Id like to see a bit more sourness, but overall it is pretty good. I am always down for a good Flanders and while this one is not great, it'll scratch that itch.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 20:13:27 | More by twiggamortis420

acevenom

Louisiana

3.78/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a chalice. Pours dark brown with a finger length off-white head that dissipates quickly. Plenty of tiny bubbles can be seen rising from the bottom of the glass. The aroma is of sour apples, sweet cherries, and yeast. The taste is tart with flavors of apple, cherry, and mildly sweet roasted malts. The flavors are well balanced. The body is light to medium with lots of carbonation. The beer is smooth and the drinkability is high. Overall, this is a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 20:43:47 | More by acevenom

viverlee

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
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

horshack7

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Poured into a Tulip is a very dark brown beer with a head around an inch thick.

Aroma: Sour cherries, light fig, pumpernickel, faint almond and a wisp of dryness in the nose.

Taste: Lots of sour cherry notes in the front, breadiness, a good crispness on the palate. Citrus notes here and there. Touches of roasted malts and hops.

Notes: This an interesting style the sourness is not too overpowering. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 01:42:49 | More by horshack7

TenHornsProud

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy brown with a big, fine off-white head that lingers and laces.

Smells of sour, tart apples (oxidation) with some wood and general sweetness, maybe cherry.

Taste is up front tart cherry that goes into a sweet and tart middle before ending on slightly sweet finish that has notes of the underlying brown ale. Really well balanced but still tart and complex.

Light to medium body with high carbonation is right on.

Really nice and well balanced sour brown, maybe a bit more complexity would rate it higher for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 20:11:39 | More by TenHornsProud

Immortale25

Florida

3.84/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Samuel Smith commemorative glass. No readable freshness date.

A- Pours a dark ruby color with a 1/2 inch tan head that retains quite well before gradually reducing to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a mostly full sheet of surface foam. Not much lacing.

S- Light cherry scent with a shade of tartness in the back. Some yeasty funk is present.

T- Sweet and fruity with some lactic acid that's pretty subdued overall. Notes of cherry and granny smith apple. The tartness isn't as heavy as expected. Slight metallic taste.

M- A bit dry with lots of action from the high carbonation. Medium body.

O- Very good but I was expecting just a tad more flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 23:18:39 | More by Immortale25

flagmantho

Washington

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 330mL bottle into a tulip.

Appearance: red-brown hue which shows quite red when held up to the light. Body is haze-free with a light effervescence. Head pours two fingers of frothy tan foam with decent retention.

Smell: lightly sweet malt aroma with quite a bit of tartness. Within the tartness is a light fruity complexity which I rather enjoy.

Taste: fruity tartness up front with a nice malt character, followed by a much drier, sour finish. I like it.

Mouthfeel: light-bodied but with a nice effervescence. Not precisely creamy, but lively and appropriate to the style.

Overall: a very nice oud bruin. On the tart side but relatively balanced with sweetness. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 03:02:01 | More by flagmantho

lstokes

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Dark reddish brown with scarlet edges and a beige head. Smells tart but also like roasted sugar. The taste is fabulous... all of the sour complexity--cherry, apple, and funk--but with this amazing balance of roasted malts, dark raisins, brown sugar. It's highly drinkable, crisper than most sours I've had (I think this is my first Oud Bruin, though!) and I would seek it out again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2012 03:24:53 | More by lstokes

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark cherry hued brown body with a light tan head, fine bubled lacing with speckled patterns left on my chalice. Aroma has tart cherries hints of tart sliced apples. Earthy note with lactic yogurt, hints of dark roasted malts. Flavor will satisfy your sour ale side with tart cherries, sliced green apples, hints of yogurt and dark roasted malts. Excellent version of a classic style, I've never heard of the brewer the label is a bit generic but the beer is high quality Bellegems bruin West Flanders Ale. Mouthfeel has a dry finish with fruity balance to make everybody happy, even sturdy flowing carbonation a bit effervescent and bubbly like. Overall high drinkable and enjoyable version of a hard to find style, glad I picked it up definitely worth it at around 4 bucks a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 17:10:42 | More by WVbeergeek

kojevergas

California

3.55/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 fl oz brown glass bottle (batch code 02) with standard pressure cap served into an EKU 28 snifter in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Bottle acquired at Wally's Wine in Westwood, California yesterday. Reviewed live. Expectations are high as I really enjoyed the Jacobins Rouge from this brewery.

Served slightly warmer than refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a one finger head of okay thickness, very light cream, and bad retention. Colour is a nontransparent very dark amber. No yeast particles are visible.

Sm: Sour cherries, wild yeast, and bacteria. Lively and appealing. A moderately strong aroma.

T: Sour cherry, wild yeast, and bacteria. The sourness is pretty tame, with some fruity tartness on the back end. Clean malted barley comprises the foundation. All around it's a bit simple for the style, but features notable subtlety. Enjoyable and pleasant to drink. Some layering. Well balanced and built.

Mf: Smooth and wet, suiting the flavours generally. Adequate carbonation. Moderately light on the palate. It has presence. No real cream. The thickness is adequate but not ideal. Thins towards the finish.

Dr: A drinkable Oud Bruin that will please fans of the style but won't impress. I'd definitely have it again and it's quite enjoyable, but I wouldn't recommend it to friends. There are better beers in the style for around the same price and availability.

Low B

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 04:51:47 | More by kojevergas

mikeyv35

New York

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Date: 04/17/2012
Type: 11.2oz. Bottle
Vintage: ?
Batch: 02
Glass: Ommegang Gold Rimmed Tulip

*Recently made a trip to see my family in Pittsburgh, PA and was excited to see bottles of this brew, which I had been ISO for some time, on the shelf in the Beer Cave @ D's Six-Packs and Dogz. This brewery does happen to make my all-time favorite Flanders Red and the highest rated on BA (Cuvee Des Jacobins). I love that little monk on the bottle! Time to see if the bottle w/ the 2 cartoon gentleman shaking hands holds serve.

Pours a brown mahogany in color w/ red hues and a 1 finger off-white head that produced light lacing. Aromas of dark fruits, acidic cherries, vinegar, and a touch of wet socks. The taste was of dark fruit sweetness up front, leading into mild acidic cherry w/ a touch of vinegar, and a breath of wet socks on the finish. Medium bodied w/ spot on carbonation. With the low ABV and good flavor, I could drink a lot of this beer in a session.

Overall, a nice but mild Oude Bruin w/ good flavor. This is a perfect starter sour for anyone trying to ease into the sour categories. This beer is no Cuvee Des Jacobins, but I would drink this again in a heartbeat. Another nice job from Bockor!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 04:20:28 | More by mikeyv35

sweemzander

Illinois

3.13/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

11.2oz. bottle poured into a snifter.

(A)- Pours a very dark brown color. Some tan bubbles.

(S)- A nice vinegared and dry oak profile up front. Lots of fruits too.

(T)- Thin, but a nice and dry oak profile and fruits.

(M)- A good carbonation level. A decent balance, but rather thin and not much body to it for the style; almost feels watered down.

(D)- Decent, but a bit of a letdown especially when their Cuvee de Jacobins is top notch.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2012 22:03:35 | More by sweemzander

AndrewR

Texas

1.65/5  rDev -59%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a clear ruby gemstone color with a head that dissapates like a small fart held in and forgotten.

An assertive nose of fermented ketchup bananas that is offensive. I really dont want any part of this as it elicits a visceral reaction, making me physically want to walk away from this beer.

Nonetheless, I gave in and had a few sips: watery, slippery, vinegar cherry, one dimensional, and poof, vanishes.

Dont know if this is a freshness/storage issue but for what its worth, my wife (who could care less about beer) took a sip, and another, then chugged half the glass. She is now polishing it off as i type this.

AJR

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 00:59:05 | More by AndrewR

shand

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 11.2oz bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint.

This beer pours out a deep red color with a finger of head. The aroma is tart and sour, with cherries and vinegar being the dominant aromas. The taste is pretty strong on the cherries at the start and the finish, with some of the sour and vinegar notes coming in in the midpoint to linger just a little into the finish. The mouthfeel is highly carbonated, and the drinkability is good. This is my first Flanders Oud Bruin, and I can't help but feel it's a good, but not outstanding representation of the style. I'm more than willing to find out if my hunch is accurate.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 02:22:22 | More by shand

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours with a short cream-to-tan head (as expected) over a deep, ruby colored body.

Aromas are pretty standard for the style. Decent amount of oak, with dark fruit, cherry licorice, and a hint of vinegar.

Hits the palate with a tart pull, fades a bit in the flavor, and then finishes nicely with a rush of flavor. Flavors include tart red grape skins, oak, cherry juice, and a light mustyness. A bit thin overall, with good carbonation. Easy to drink (maybe too much so, if that makes sense).

Fun looking bottle, but can't quite hang out with the upper class of this style.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 22:17:26 | More by BeerImmediately

Murrhey

Montana

3.6/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 11.2 oz bottle into a flute glass. Reviewed live.

A- Solid finger width head. Off-white and low density with a corresponding low retention rate. Beautiful auburn-copper color with heavy carbonation and moderate clarity.

S- Sour and winey. Vinegar smell as well along with bubblegum and sugar smells. Sweet and sour beer, very interesting.

T- Old ale flavors, wine and vinegar with distinct sugariness. Sour but tasty and drinkable.

M- Winey and light bodied. Heavily carbonated.

O- This is a good beer. I've never had a beer in this style before and it was a great first example.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 00:02:44 | More by Murrhey

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly murky dark crimson brown with a 1 inch foamy tan head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of tart and sour cherries, slight vinegar, and slight funk. There is a slight grape aroma that comes out as the beer warms. Taste is of the cherries up front with some slight vinegar flavors, but the taste is only mildly tart and funky. There is a grape-like aftertaste on this one. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a nice fruity presence in the aroma and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 04:26:04 | More by UCLABrewN84

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was told by this bar that all bottles were $4.50 with a dollar off so $3.50. Seeing this I was surprised by the price and even more since it was Belgium.

A - Pours a cloudy brown hue with a 1/4 inch of some opaque colored head and some fantastic lacing.

S - Smells sour but not overly so I could get the cherry aspect that I was told was part of the beer. Also some apple cider comes to play and some brown malt.

T - Very sour at first agreeing with others it does have a level of vinegar like sourness but quickly rounds to a sort of brown malts sweetness then cherries again. Taste is strong with every sip sour then sweet. A real palate treat.

M - Light to medium but acidic I really couldn't have more than a couple a sitting.

Overall if it's still around at that bar I will have to pick up another a great Flanders ale brewed with cherries. Also a very affordable one at $4.50 a pop. Try it if you find it!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 02:18:02 | More by DrDemento456

NardiByNature

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big reddish brown, ice-tea-esque. Nice to see a lively tan froth build over the glass. Wait a minute or two and it settles into a healthy cap.

I could smell those cherries once I popped the cap. Musty, musty apple. Really nice. When it gets down to the bottom of the glass there’s a fruit-pastry aroma.

Tart apples and cherry first off. It’s sour but after the carbonation kick it’s soft and just sweet enough. Analogous to a war head or other sour candy – sour at first (but not too sour, it’s actually pretty mellow) then sweet but keeping the same initial flavor, i.e., apple, cherry, etc.

Really smooth. The function of the carbonation in this beer is noteworthy; its bite marks both the point at which it is both sourest and sweetest. The balance is obvious - first sharp, then soft. Finishes dry.

O: A nice change of pace for me. What I appreciate most about this is its (delicious) contrast to what I enjoy most often: hoppy and citric American ales. Worth picking up a loose bottle or having a glass.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 22:41:20 | More by NardiByNature

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nearly clear mahogany with a small fizzy head that dissipates immediately. Almost no lacing. Fruity aroma and taste; berries and cherries; lightly tart and acidic. Subtle vinegar. Just a bit puckering in the finish. Medium light bodied with solid carbonation. Clean and crisp, easy drinking, tasty but not exactly outstanding or particularly memorable for the style. Sourness and funk are very restrained; unintimidating.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 04:43:54 | More by tobelerone

ChugginOil

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bellegems.

Pours reddish brown. Finger of light tan head. Spotty lace.

Cherries, light vinager and tartness compose the nose.

Cherries, sour, vinager, caramel malt and more sour.

The mouthfeel is acidic and sharp, crisp and dry. Lots of carbonation.

Decent, needs better balance.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 06:24:15 | More by ChugginOil

brystmar

New York

3.33/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Murky brown pour, decent head, tons of sticky lace. Aroma reminds me of a brown ale with tart fruit in the background.

Taste is sweet and malty. Mild acidity yields minimal sourness. This is either a different take on the Oud Bruin style or a miss. Regardless, I prefer the more fruity, more funky, more sour versions.

Was hoping this would be as impressive as the Jacobins Rouge, but this one left me disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 06:28:31 | More by brystmar

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a reddish brown beer. After a fizzy head, the beer lacks foam, although it's very carbonated. The aroma is great...funky, fresh apple peal, sweet amber malt, apricot and sour cherry. The taste is initially tart, followed by a little sweetness on the front of the tongue. It's fruity, flavorful, and lightly spritzy. Not as sour as expected, it's a relatively balanced beer. Medium to light in body. Very carbonated. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 03:56:21 | More by Suds