Oud Bruin - Brouwerij Liefmans

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From: Belgian Beer Shop dot com
Date: best before 2/2012
Glass: New Belgium globe glass

Liefmans' Oud Bruin is a very good version of the style, rich with tart cherry-raspberry flavors (and other, minor fruits) and dark malt sweetness that combine for a very pleasant and desirable effect. The tartness is modest, but noticeable, and the dark malts are always there to rescue anyone who doesn't want to wade too far to the tart side. Overall, very enjoyable any time of the year, complex enough and interesting, as others have mentioned, this would be nice to have more readily availble stateside.

Pours a 1cm tall head of beige to light tan foam, composed mostly of small bubbles, but some larger ones also tossed in for variety. Head retention is average, lasting less than a minute, which seems typical for the style. The head collapses to a moderately thick ring around the glass and a medium-sized island floating atop the beer in the center. Lacing is fairly modest, a few small splotches and lines adorn the innards of the glass. Body color is very dark brown, light bringing out amber highlights and orange and yellow highlights. Since the body is opaque, I'm not able to observe any carbonation streams.

Very pleasant, if not slightly weak, aroma of sour raspberries and cherries, slight apple cider vinegar, faintly tart grapes, and modest iron/mineral character.

Front of palate finds a sweet, dark malt base with some pleasant raspberry and cherry esters that only hint at tartness. Mid-palate finds nice, tart cherries and raspberries with a slightly vinous-influenced sweetness and backing of moderate caramel. Back of palate finds more tart cherries, a modestly sweet caramel base, and traces of plums. Closes out with a flash of tartness, then caramel sweetness, leading to an aftertaste of modestly tart raspberries and cherries with a sweet, dark malt backdrop.

Body is medium to medium-light with carbonation levels of fairly low intensity, resulting in a beer that is very smooth across the palate, allowing for the mild acidity to move this across the palate. Closes fairly dry, with little to no residual stickiness lingering on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 02:07:12 | More by falloutsnow

gory4d

New York

4.24/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a murky brown with very little head. Scant lacing down the glass. The smell is sweet biscuit with some vegetal notes. The taste is very nice: clean minerals, an earthy tang, and some robust sweet malt. It's a little under-carbonated, but very smooth. All in all a very fine example of the style. Too bad it's so hard to find.

Serving type: growler

01-22-2013 17:38:35 | More by gory4d

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Liefmans Oud Bruin, old brown sour ale, Oudenaard, Belgium. 5% ABV.

Appearance: Opaque, crimson to plum in color, lovely, creamy tan head. Looks alluring.

Aroma: Ah, beautiful! Sour fruit, oak, funk, sweet malt. Love it.

Taste: Once in the mouth, the tart fruit bounces on the palate, then slides back down the throat, finishes nicely, departing without a fuss. Sweet, juicy malt makes friends with a touch of funky fruit. Cherries are the ripest association, and raspberry comes to mind, with plum hanging around.

Moderate mouthfeel, medium body, and an utterly pleasant flavor. Not terribly complex in the end, not overly sour (which is why this style is less favored among the beer geek crowd than the Flanders Red is), but ever-so nice. Simply beautiful.

The Goudenband is a more sophisticated, complex expression, but this is a satisfactory, less expensive version.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2012 08:55:35 | More by feloniousmonk

philbe311

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - A finger's worth of lush creamy light khaki colored head with a bunch of big chunky bubbles sitting a top... Respectable retention gives way to a mostly full lacing with a heavy splotch of foam in the center of the glass... The color is a deep dark cherry... Mostly still with only a stray carbonation bubble here and there... A very noble looking brew...

S - Dark cherries... A slight tartness... Sour apples skins... A hint of oak... A touch of vinegar... Concord grapes... A very appealing aroma...

T - Cherries... Some light woody notes... Concord grapes... Perhaps a hint of plums... A bit sugary on the finish... Perhaps a bit cloying the more you drink it, but very nice overall...

M - On the lighter side of medium bodied... Sleek... A bit syrupy... Slightly sticky... Very light carbonation... Very smooth throughout...

D - This beer finds the sweet spot between the overly sweet Belgian offerings (read: Lindemans) that many are familiar with and the more traditional sour Flanders Reds... Not the most complex Flanders, but a very approachable one that could appeal to the masses... A very nice beer all around that I would gladly drink again... (FYI - My wife was a huge fan as well...)

Serving type: growler

07-21-2012 00:52:56 | More by philbe311

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I dont really see a head at all. Its got a body reminiscent of cherry juice, and an aroma to boot. The smell is loaded with cherries. Sweetened sour cherries all the way. The taste follows suit. Sour cherries with a good bit of funk to come in late. This beer wants to beer sour, yet still wants to be a super sweet Kriek.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2012 04:25:24 | More by VncentLIFE

stckhndlr

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the Taphouse in Hampton, VA

A- No head on this one, I blame that one on the bartender. Plus side was there was more for me to drink. I did have a little bit of lacing along the way as I drank it. Beer looked like a coca cola with tea colored highlights.

S- Tart cherries and sour apples.

T- Tart throughout but it picks up the granny smith towards the end.

M- Feels pretty good, easy to drink.

O- Looking for more distinct flavors but overall it was a good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2012 16:59:59 | More by stckhndlr

mrfrancis

Kentucky

2.4/5  rDev -37%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a ruddy brown with a clingy, lingering off-white head. The appearance of this ale is akin to most other oud bruins, though I would have liked to see a rockier head.

S: The smell is much less complex than I was expecting with aromas of roasted malt, sweet 'n' sour, and oak being most prevalent. The rather heavy roasted malt smell reminds me more of a typical English brown ale than a Flemish oud bruin.

T: The taste is simple, unpretentious, and unchallenging with notes of roasted nuts, sweet 'n' sour, minerals, toast, caramel, dark bread, oak, and vinegar. The finish is fleeting with a quick hit of sweet 'n' sour and toasty, bready malt flavors. This is much sweeter than many traditional oud bruins.

M: Light bodied and very dry with unusually spritzy carbonation.

O: This beer is not good, but is also not entirely wretched. It lacks depth and substance, and is obviously not brewed with the fan of traditional Flemish oud bruins in mind. Most oud bruins are lactic and sour with just a hint of sweetness. This beer is sweet and oddly toasty with a subtle hint of vinegar sourness. I imagine mixing a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale with a traditional Flemish oud bruin would produce a very similar effect. If you have to try this beer, use it as an accompaniment to food. Otherwise, stick with Liefmans Goudenband and the sour brown ales brewed by Verhaege.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2011 13:56:53 | More by mrfrancis

metter98

New York

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear brownish amber in color and has no visible carbonation. It poured with a thin ring of bubbles on the surface around the edge of the glass; these eventually completely faded away.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of nutty caramel, cherries and prunes in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is somewhat tart with flavors of cherries and notes of caramel.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate with a low amount of carbonation.
O: The beer is easy to drink because it’s not overly tart or sour.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2011 16:18:35 | More by metter98

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Quarter finger light tan head, garnet body.

Fantastic nose. Tart, sweet cherry in a perfect balance.

Sublimely balanced, truly an Arnold Palmer of beers. Tartness that dries up into a clean finish, some lemon, trace of malt vinegar. The sourness is nice, yet subdued.

Mouthfeel is low in carbonation, nice.

The quintessential oud bruin?

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2011 01:45:04 | More by zaphodchak

emerge077

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a 10 oz. Belgian independence day tulip at Beer Geeks in Merrilville, IN. Review from written notes.

Attractive appearance, color was a high clarity reddish copper in the dim light, topped with creamy tan foam that left lots of lasting lace behind. Head retention was great, the foam never dissipated.

Musty minerally aroma, almost like a wet funky dishrag :S Later as it warmed, there appeared caramelized sugars, berries, and fruity yeast esters when swirled. Partially redeemed the early off notes.

Fruity tart flavor upfront, a caramel middle, then a dry finish. Light bodied, creamy and mildly tart. Feels a little dead, like flat soda in the finish. Tangy, not overly sweetened thankfully. Decent, not great. More of a "training wheels" Oud Bruin, not a lot of depth here, and pretty restrained sourness. It does attempt to be somewhat traditional, but still feels a bit over processed and watered down for the masses.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2011 02:40:33 | More by emerge077

brentk56

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Arrives with an ice tea brown color highlighted by garnet, with a modest head that leaves a few strands behind

Smell: Smells like a cherry Sweet Tart

Taste: The cherry Sweet Tart flavor comes through right away and persists, though there is a touch of oak in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: Rather sweet when compared to other Oud Bruins I have tasted; not sure I would seek out again

Serving type: on-tap

10-18-2011 04:00:07 | More by brentk56

Mora2000

Texas

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

On tap at the Flying Saucer in Fort Worth.

The beer pours a dark brown color with a tan head. The aroma has some tart cherries as well as some sweetness from the toffee malt.

The flavor is a nice mix of tart cherries and other dark fruit, with some brown sugar and toffee mixed in. There is also a little bit of oak in the flavor. The alcohol is well hidden and the beer is fairly acidic.

Medium mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2011 03:02:08 | More by Mora2000

Yojimbo1941

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - dark brown with light cream head

S - acidic, strong, sweet vinegar, candied fruit, sherry, light rum

T - sour apple very slightly occurs then moves to bitter molasses with bitter candied fruit, sour patch kids on the end (!)

M - light, slightly fizzy

D - I've yet to find a sour beer that was sessionable but this is fairly close. Given that I would probably drink this sparingly in order to better appreciate it

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 23:39:33 | More by Yojimbo1941

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sweetness and sourness battle it out in this candied yet characterful ale.

This sour ale pours a hazy purpleish rusty color with finely knit bubbles that form a delicate creme on the beer and provide a lace of foam around the edges that linger throughout the session. A somewhat winey look and lightly carbonated for Belgian Ales.

The medium tartness of black cherry, blueberry, and blackberry all work into the fruity aromatic matrix. A red wine-like vinous scent also round out the nose. Malty sweet scents pick up a grapey ester note along with soft cotton candy sweet scents.

Flavors are sweeter than the nose suggests with a confectioner's sugar light sugary taste. Elements of light toast, ripe black berries, black cherries, red grapes, and blueberries begin to bridge the aromas to taste. Sweetness is accompanied with rich balsamic tartness with light cider, lime, and lightly briney balance against the sweetness. Delicious, but maybe too modest in tartness and too sweet to appease the staunch sour ale fans.

Overall light in body, but the lower level of carbonation leaves the beer feeling richer to the surfaces of the mouth. Extra sweetness also in feel add to the impression of moderate weight. But the mid palate on delivers a sharp astringent feel on the sides of the tongue and deliver an acidic feel and fleeting tanic dryness in finish.

The beer gives me the impression of Sour Patch Kids candies where there's really two different sets of characteristics in the glass: there's a solid Sour Ale and then there's a malty sweet ale that seems a bit like Rochefort 10. But with only moderate intensity, neither are able to command the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2011 16:12:42 | More by BEERchitect

garuda

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Deep amber, slightly hazed, with an off white head that has decent retention, and a fair display of lacing.

S/T - A little more subdued than I had hoped. Sweet, candied cherries up front, than the earthiness comes in with nice oaky notes. The cherry finish is only mildly tart, not too sour at all. Well balanced, but I like something more bold.

M - Medium body, nice carbonation, little sourness lingering on the palate.

O - I was really in the mood for something sour, but this didn't quite cut it. Nicely balanced, however, just nothing spectacular. It would probably make a nice gateway beer for getting into the sour realm.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2011 22:29:52 | More by garuda

oline73

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on-tap at Max's. Served in a goblet.

Appearance: Pours a murky brown with a half finger of off white head that fades to a ring around the glass.

Smell: Mildl vinegar with some dark fruit notes and sweet malt.

Taste: Mild sourness but very smooth. A bit vinegary. Mildly sweet fruit notes, raspberries. Sweet and tart finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with mildly tingly carbonation and a slightly dry finish.

Overall: Smooth with a good amount of sourness. I enjoyed the fruit notes, reminded me of raspberries a little bit.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2011 11:50:00 | More by oline73

clearlydiluted

New York

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a 10oz goblet @ Fulton Grand

Pours a red/brown that tilts towards brown. Thin head with a ring of lacing, touch of haze.

Smell is of balsamic vinegar and dark fruits. Touch more of vinegar in the back.

Taste of tart fruit, lacto, acetic acid, before moving into a pleasant maltiness. There is a bit of sweetness in the beginning but dries out well. It's like their kriek/cuvee brut sans cherries more or less. The lack of cherries makes it come of less sweet also.

Body is light-medium and highly carbonated.

Really drinkable especially at 5%. Balanced between the sweet and sour.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2011 13:41:55 | More by clearlydiluted

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served from tap into a Trappe Door tulip. Poured a vibrant red brown with a two finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount quickly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, tart cherry, wood, sour, tart, and very slight funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, tart, tart cherry, wood, raspberries, and subtle funk. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty good brew. Definitely not my favorite from the style but still pretty good. I like how this brew incorporated tart cherry and raspberry into the flavor as this made it much more palatable than some harsher Oud Bruins I have had in the past. A definitely well done brew that I would definitely drink again given the opportunity.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2011 19:55:35 | More by thagr81us

Squelch

United Kingdom (England)

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Opaque. Tan head. no lacing

Smell: Raisins, wine.

Taste: Not sweet but mostly sour. Lemony. Refreshing. does not taste like it looks or smells

Mouthfeel: puckering. sour, dry.

Overall: Never had this style before. Very nice and refreshing beverage.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 13:16:41 | More by Squelch

drabmuh

Maryland

3.23/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer served in a Dogfish Head signature glass. Beer is brown and clear with a shit ton of sediment, dark brown chucks that come out of hte bottle without any warning. Thin head of tiny bubbles, breaks, no lacing low carbonation.

Aroma is sweet and acetic like balsamic vinegar.

Beer is really thin and kind of flavorless, it is mildly acetic and has his sweetness to it, a little oaky but overall really boring. I won't have it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 13:22:52 | More by drabmuh

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Impressive large, dense head. Recedes leaving a dome. Deep ruby brown color where a bit of light comes through. Light streaky lace.

Caramelized brown sugar aroma. Some malt and even lighter alcohol to the nose.

Surprisingly sour and not very sweet; nothing like the nose. The finish has some sugar showing up and the sourness becomes more muted. The aftertaste is short-lived. The body is typical; the carbonation is on the lighter side.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2010 23:36:42 | More by smcolw

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My 25cl brown bottle has a different label to the picture, but the beer inside should be the same!

Reviewed mid July 2010, on one of my random beer nights. Poured into a 'Forbidden Fruit' chalice.

The body was a deep, ruby red/brown colour. A tan/off white collar sat around the glass, what head did appear left within 10 seconds of the pour.

The smell was a mix of old sour notes and a red berry sweetness.

The taste followed on from the aroma, Cherry and Raspberry flavours to me, with more sourness than the smell. Certainly tart, but not a cheek sucking in special like some Belgian beers I could mention.

I thought it on the fizzy side, which I believe is not normal in this style, but it added a new dimension to the tasting, which I enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2010 14:45:45 | More by BlackHaddock

Floydster

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

25 cl bottle with same label shown in the picture, got this in a trade over a year ago, poured into my Three Philosophers glass tonight, color is medium to dark red, 3/4 inch soapy off white head, some retention, not much lacing, aroma has cherries, red grapes, vanilla, sweet oak, cherries, sweet malts, brown sugar, and toffee, flavor starts off with a nice sweeet and sourness with crisp carbonation, slightly sour in the middle as well with lots of cherries, big fruity finish with a bit of tart but a more rounded sugary sweet taste, vanilla and sweet malts come out more as it warms, sweet, sour, and fruity mouthfeel, medium bodied, moderate level of carbonation, taste lingers decently, could drink a lot of this stuff, went down very easy and was very refreshing, warmed up well and was smooth, one of the only beers I have tasted from Liefmans but quite good and wish I had more to try cellaring, would drink again, worth trying

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 04:10:30 | More by Floydster

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.15/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Max's last night

A: Garnet red with thin, white head. Great clarity

S: It's a tropical fruit paradise with dried mango and fresh apricot. Not really sour, though I get a bit of vinegar. Cherries are apparent too. Great stuff. There's also some sugar and brown sugar like sweetness

T: Opens up sweet with cherries and apricot juice with a mild fruity tartness. Not really acidic or sour, this is mostly fruity. It's incredible that an unfruited beer can taste this way. Finishes dry.

M: Light, well carbonated and mouth-watering finish. Awesome

D: I'd drink a lot more if I wasn't driving as much.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2009 13:53:52 | More by DefenCorps

brdc

Wisconsin

4.47/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very small bottle, poured into a tulip.

It is quite red in color, nice light pink head, good retention, not a lot of lacing.
Aroma is tart and sour, fruity and sugary. Vinegar has a few notes in there.
Light bodied, extremely drinkable, sweet and sour would be the easiest way to describe this one.
It is on the sweeter end of the spectrum, but constantly balanced by a sourness that if it is not puckering, it is enough to keep the sugary fruitiness under check. Leathery funkiness, high acidity, cherry notes round this up.
A very nice summer beer that I wish was more readily available.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2009 15:47:00 | More by brdc