Petrus Aged Pale - Brouwerij Bavik

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

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

Poured from tap into tulip at 1702 in Tucson. Pours a straw color with nice fizzy head that lasts. Lots of funk and tart Belgian aromas. Same for taste...nicely tart fruity Belgian yeast and grape like. Super refreshing and nicely drinkable. Nice brew...good amount of sour/tart.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2013 00:48:57 | More by DrinkSlurm

merc7186

New York

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into snifter.

A: Golden Straw Hue, Passes Most Light, White Head, Some Lacing

S: Crisp Apple, Chardonnay

T: Crisp Apple, Chardonnay, Mildly Bitter Pear

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Bitter

Overall, a pretty nice, crisp sour ale, great fruit and possible wine presence in nose and taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 03:18:03 | More by merc7186

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.16/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured a golden-looking beer, which, unfortunately, had a poor retention in my example here. The aroma is intriguing: apricots and barnyard-like tones associated with brettanomyces, as well as other acid-producing bacteria. The light, crisp body leaves a relatively long aftertaste showcasing, of course, the tartness and the wood-aged taste that this beer conveyed during the whole sampling.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 00:20:20 | More by HabiMendes

JoanS

California

1.85/5  rDev -54.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I ordered this thinking is would be a more like my favorite Allagash Curieaux. I was shockingly disappointed. It was like drinking a tart lemonade. Not at all what I wanted tonight. I see the other reviews and i think maybe i was served the wrong beer at the Original Gravity Pub in San Jose. ??

It was a clear bright yellow, no head, tart beyond my liking. My dinner partner could not even swallow it.

Again, not sure if it was the beer or the pourer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2013 07:28:22 | More by JoanS

Douberd

Netherlands

3.88/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle, the last one in a box of six different Petrus beers. Poured into a snifter. ABV 7,3%. Colour is deep copper, with quite an activity in the glass. On top of the beer sits a big white head, almost three fingers, soapy and thick, with good retention.Aroma is of grapes, sweet-sour, some citrus notes in it. Very high acidity on the taste, this one screams sour! Again, lots of white grapes on the taste. After my initial big gulp, where I almost choke from the acidity, I started drinking it with slow small sips and it’s quite good. Full body and average carbonation. A combination of dryness and tartness on the palate. Still not very experienced on this style, but I liked this one. Reminded me of a homemade wine an uncle of mine was making, so maybe it’s also the memories, but this beer was quite enjoyable and I guess it would be even better with a meal.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 17:52:01 | More by Douberd

laynethiele

Michigan

1.11/5  rDev -72.5%
look: 1.25 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.25

Yikes! Hated this beer. Saw the barrel-aged ale on the label had myself ready for something delicous. I was sadly disappointed.

A: Looks like white grape juice.
S: Apples and grapes overwhelm
T: Sparkling sour white grape juice
M: Thin, sparkling
o: This stuff was so sour it gave me a stomach ache. Threw the last 1/4 of it out. I hated it that much. It tasted like sparkling grape juice that had gone bad. Paid $4 for a bottle would have rather thrown it in the street.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 22:55:45 | More by laynethiele

ckollias

Maryland

4.16/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this bottle out of a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Pours a clear golden yellow hue with a 1-finger white head that rapidly dissipates into no lace and no trail down the side of the glass.

S: Very sour green apple aroma with a woody background.

T: Extremely tart and sour beer – I thought it might be contaminated at first sip. Sour green apples flavor with a big citrus punch to the face. Hints of wood and finishes sour and dry,

M: Medium body and minimal carbonation.

O: This was by far the most sour beer I’ve ever tasted – including lambics. It made my taste buds cry. This is a sipping beer – it took me and hour to drink it. At first I was overwhelmed by the sour tartness – but every sip was more pleasurable and by the end I realize how complex this brew was. Could I drink this every night – no way – but this is a beer to be savored.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 18:42:15 | More by ckollias

Joost

1.18/5  rDev -70.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

By far the most disgusting stuff I have ever tasted. I am a huge beer lover but even Roseanne Barr's urine is more tasty.

Bought this is a pub in Lyon, France. Hoping this new beer was going to be good. But it almost made me puke. I love Krriek beer and Rochefort 10. This, however... was crap

Do not buy this

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 20:04:48 | More by Joost

secondtooth

Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a cloudy golden, with a medium head of fine white bubbles. Thin lace.

Nose is tangy and sour, with indications of fruit, green apple, and a lactic, yeasty character. Nice.

Taste is nicely soured, with green apple tones most prominent. I get no trace of the oak barrels that this was aged in. Instead, it's a wild and tangy tart fruit vibe with a slight warming finish. A delicious treat.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 20:05:51 | More by secondtooth

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330mL bottle, with a code of "41025" but I'm not sure what that means.

crystal clear golden straw color, with off-white head. it leave decent lacing as I drink. aroma is tart, sour, a little funky, but not fruity like some other sour beers. taste is quite sour, lemony, citrus bite. finishes dry though, refreshing. thin body, higher bright bubbly carbonation. works.

overall- nice, different beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 03:23:37 | More by jmdrpi

CloudStrife

New York

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a snifter.

A: pours a clear light golden with a 1 finger white head that is quick to dissipate. Lots of visible carbonation in the body. No real lacing.

S: Great funkiness to this brew. Sour and tartness on a fruity level. Very refreshing aspect to it entices you to take a sip. Almost a grape/wine like characteristic on the smell.

T: Amazing taste going on with this brew. Strong funkiness, sour fruits, tart and dry alcohol. Love how the focus is on the sour and not as much the fruits.

M: Light body with very good carbonation. The sour aspect makes it very dry and extremely drinkable.

Overall a simply amazing sour that tops the scale in my opinion. Very light and easy drinking yet highly flavorful and packs a good wallop. A must try for any sour nut.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 01:41:28 | More by CloudStrife

henrysunset

Washington

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This I'd an excellent beer. It drinks like a sour cider.

appearance is very well filtered, a golden clean color.

smell Is pear, apple, tart and inviting.

taste is great, sweet, then tart, with a smooth lingering tart and oaky flavor.

mouthfeel is smooth and full, drinkabilitybis very high. A truly great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2013 02:46:22 | More by henrysunset

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

3.73/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Presentation: 750 mL poured into my Portsmouth Brewery tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a nice white, light two finger head that recedes into a lacing around the edge of the glass. Deep yellow in color and very clear.

Aroma: Green apple, banana, and a touch of tart lemon. Some barnyard funk is present as well. Not overly sour at all but there is certainly a level of tartness.

Taste: Lemon, some wild yeast and green apple all take the forefront with some white wine sweetness in the background to balance the tartness. Not overly complex but tasty.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied and easy to drink. Plenty of carbonation.

Overall, a really affordable and light sour that offers a lot of flavor. Nothing about it stands out particularly and it is definitely not that complex. Really nice starter sour with some nice flavors. Would drink again, but not really that memorable.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 02:57:06 | More by Gosox8787

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A-Pours a deep honey color. Perfectly clear. Head is big and thick. Creamy consistency. Head likes to stick together and leaves a minimal lacing dowry.

S-Smells tart. Much more tart than the Petrus Flanders. Tart apples, tart pears and just pure tartness. Lighter notes of oak.

T-Tart pale fruits. Actually quite tasty. Like biting into a crab-apple. The sourness is accentuated by fruit. Oak and wood hover over the predominant flavors.

M-Looks softer than it drinks. Tons of bubbles. Dry and puckering. Medium bodied.

O/D-I sat looking at their Petrus Oud Bruin and this beer side by side in the store. I picked the Petrus Oud Bruin before this...bad choice bro! This is a far superior brew. Sour, complex and relatively easy on the wallet. ..wait this is the same style of beer as their Oud Brune? This one is better, guy.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 01:26:13 | More by VelvetExtract

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.88/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle, corked and caged. No freshness or bottling date found.

A- Pours highly carbonated and active with an immediate mid to large head forming. Head retention is good, and it lasts a little while, finishing as a thin layer of lace on top. Pure gold in color. Only slight darker than a macro, but slightly hazy. Continuous stream of bubbles to the top.

S- Tart and strong. My first reaction to this scent was that my mouth immediately watered at the sour taste to come. Pungent fruitiness is prominent with maybe a hint of cherry, but mostly a slightly acidic sour note.

T- Flavors here are dead on what the scent previewed. The sour profile is hard to describe, but of moderate strength. The sour flavor is a cross between tart and slightly funky. Starts with somewhat fruity sour notes, but then right to an acidic sour flavor. Towards the end you can pick up slight hints of the barrel. Barrel flavor is most evident in a drier finish that had a slight spicy note.

M- For the style, this is spot on. I can't think of a better feel and texture for this style of beer. Highly carbonated, light on the palate, yet the body still supports the sourness of the beer. No detectable alcohol, and the level of sour doesn't destroy your palate.

Overall, this is THE champagne of beer. I know High Life claims that, but this looks and feels like a champagne to me, while maintaining a superior beer flavor. This will most likely become a staple of my fridge as an affordable shower. Simply delicious.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 23:44:43 | More by boilermakerbrew

MaximalC

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

*It should be noted that this bottle is being consumed a good 16 months after the best-by date as marked on the bottle (and I only bought it a couple months ago; that's what I get for not checking the label before buying).

Pours a translucent, golden amber color with a modest white head that soon recedes. The aroma is pungently sour, reminiscent of apple cider vinegar. You can almost taste the nose...

The flavor is something of an enigma--a sour ale that is not only sour, but smooth and mellow as well. The acetic essence that was so prominent in the nose is tempered by the barrel aging to great effect. The sourness is far from the bile-like sourness found in many Flanders reds; rather, it is just sour enough tantalize the taste buds without offending. The oaky character is not as bold as one commonly finds in barrel-aged beers, but it's just strong enough to lend some balance and complexity. There's also some of that quintessential Belgian yeast character, which affords the brew some texture and dynamism on the tongue. A hint of apple may be found as well, lurking beneath the more obvious elements.

The balance here is absolutely outstanding, as two rather bold and disparate elements meld almost seamlessly. I had a difficult time dissecting this beer because the flavor is so cohesive. The fact that an oak-aged sour ale can be so eminently drinkable is impressive. This Aged Pale is flavorful, balanced, and has an admirable staying power, all of which have earned this beer a place among my all time favorites. It's also the first great beer I can remember trying, long before I knew anything about what great beer really is.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 04:50:12 | More by MaximalC

Profchaos20

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a tulip.

A - Straw colored with a slight haze. Big fluffy white head that dissipates quickly into a thin cap. Leaves a bit of lacing down the glass.

S - Fruity and yeasty aromas with a little funk. Notes of green apple, not noticing any wood/oak.

T - Sugary upfront like sour candy, a little white wine maybe Pinot Grigio, finishes up very sour/tart, acidic and dry. Warming alcohol feeling on the way down.

M - Light bodied and highly carbonated. Dry, pretty drinkable but not smooth.

O - Decent Flanders Brown, not overly impressed, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 02:57:05 | More by Profchaos20

inlimbo77

Delaware

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

750ml, 2012
White wine glass

A: Pours a crystal clear golden yellow color. Lots of carbonation. Initially two full fingers of bright white head. Leaves lots of sticking lacing.

S: Surprised at how funky and sour it smells. It's a little muted. There is some lightness underneath the barnyard and sour.

T: On the tip of the tongue, interesting tartness. I pulled a good amount of fruity character: both cherry and a grape like flavor. I guess that is that sherry character they talk about. I get some softness and rounding from the wood aging. Dry finish.

M: Medium bodied. Lots of carbonation. Lightness from wood aging.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 14:31:56 | More by inlimbo77

brewsadedotcom

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is my first time trying a beer of this style. It was recommended as a good gateway to Flemish sours.

A: Poured into a snifter. Faint head. Bright golden color.

S: Very acidic wine-like smell. The aroma is unlike any beer I've ever drank. This will be interesting...

T: This tastes like a very sour candy like a Warhead or biting directly into a lemon. Very very tart.

M: Moderate carbonation. The sourness hangs around a while. It's overwhelming at first but then becomes tolerable.

O: This tastes like how the style is described but it just isn't for me. I'll give another one a try at some point but I won't be seeking one of these out again soon.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 19:03:09 | More by brewsadedotcom

Radome

Spain

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

Sampled from a 750 ml bottle bought in Brussels.

A - Beer is a clear copper color. Head is initially thick, creamy and white, then fades to almost nothing. Very good lacing.

S - Aroma is dominated by zesty lemon with a slight barnyard funk in the background. It is very gueuze-like. There was a metallic note upon initial pour that faded away after breathing/warming. No malt or alcohol in the nose.

T - The lemon zest hits initially with an acidic sharpness. Then in mid-palate the barnyard funk takes over. This fades out to a very dry, clean finish. Again, no malt or alcohol is evident.

M - Very light body. Carbonation very low (almost no sound when the bottle was uncorked either). There seems to be some hops bitterness, although it is difficult to break out from the acidic bite. No alcohol burn.

O - A nice beer, but not what I was expecting. From the description, I thought this would be a hoppy pale ale with some "aged beer" characteristics. In reality I got no hint of wood aging, and no malt to balance the wild yeast fermentation flavors. It is much more sour than I was expecting, but now that I know, I can appreciate its oud gueuze-like character.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 23:35:58 | More by Radome

gtermi

Texas

4.11/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer pours a clear light golden body with a thin white head that quickly fades to nothing.

S: I am getting a decent amount of sour tartness and a little bit of sweet malt mixed in there as well.

T: I am picking up a little bit of sourness that instantly hits my palate, but then chances to a sweet pale malt flavor.

M: There is a lot of carbonation that goes really well with the sour feel. The body is pretty thin even though it's highly carbonated.

O: This is a pretty good sour, but its for sure not overwhelming like I was hoping. I prefer my sours to be pretty intense, but this is nice for just sitting around and not getting that intenseness.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 04:27:21 | More by gtermi

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brouwerij Bavik Petrus Aged Pale

Appearance: This gateway beer (as it was described by another BA) pours a pale golden color not unlike the macros of the US. Unlike the macros it was crowned with a perfectly white, three-finger, soapsuds-esque head that dissipated rather quickly, but did leave some lacing on the glass. The carbonation is moderately active, and sediment is visible in the glass. The paleness is a bit of a turnoff due to its adjunct lager connotations in the American mindset, but it is true to style so it cannot be knocked too much for that. There are some alcohol legs as well, somewhat of a surprise at only 7.3% ABV.

Aroma: The drinker can smell this one immediately after opening the bottle. Vinegar is huge, followed by tart fruits and just a hint of the wood from the barrels that this was aged in. There is also a bit of cherry in the finish, along with some grapey qualities that remind one of white wine. There is some pretty good stuff here.

Taste: Tart as Hell up front, this beer wastes no time. It is like forgoing sucking on a Warhead and just biting right in to the center. There are lemon notes, cherry notes, and white wine notes that dominate and punish the tongue, but a very slight sweetness comes in at the tail end of the taste along with a hint of tropical fruits (banana or mango?). This beer could use a bit of malt backbone, as it is sort of one-dimensional minus the sweet relief and the vinegar. This is definitely living up to its name as a gateway from pale ales, however.

Mouthfeel: Wine comparisons continue here with a medium-thick viscosity meshed with a very champagne like carbonation that has some real staying power, lasting nearly the entire duration of the glass (depending on personal drink time). The sourness puckers the mouth and destroys the tongue, but in a good way, leaving in its wake copious amounts of saliva. The carbonation may be a bit overwhelming, but it keeps you drinking and keeps the flavor lively.

Overall: As an introductory sour beer, this is one of the best, and I should know, I am a beginner to the style. It is not so sour as to render it undrinkable or to shock the taster, but it is sour enough to recall what is so appealing about sourness in the first place. As the beer warms, the oak comes out a lot more and adds some much needed complexity that I noted as lacking. I would not say I am hooked on sours yet, but this definitely intrigued me further. A word of warning (probably regarding all sours): though the ABV is relatively low and the drinkability is high, this is probably still a sipper, as the sour flavors can be overpowering both to the palate and the stomach if ingested too quickly. 15.5/20

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 00:29:00 | More by THANAT0PSIS

sapper1252

4.68/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Champagne mouthfeel everyone keeps mentioning is VERY evident. Lacked a real malt character though. Quite sour, but in a pleasant way. Lots of sour fruit: apples, cherries, bananas. Some clove also evident. Great Brett/pedio nose. Can't beat the price either. If you're just starting out with sour beers, this is a great one to check out.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 01:10:44 | More by sapper1252

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottle code 40266. Pours lightly hazy golden amber color with a nice 1-2 finger fluffy white head with nice retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice foamy lacing clings to the glass; good amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of huge sour cherry, apple, lemon zest, hay, grass, earth, pepper, clove, light vinegar, leather, funk, and yeast spiciness. Damn nice aromas with good complexity and balance. Taste of tart green apple, lemon zest, cherry, earth, hay, grass, funk, pepper, oak, light vinegar, and yeast spiciness. Good amount of tartness present on the finish; with lingering notes of tart light fruits, hay, grass, earth, pepper, funk, vinegar, oak, and yeast spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Excellent balance and complexity of flavors; nice tartness/sweetness balance; zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a crisp and lightly acidic mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with almost zero warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent sour ale! Great balance and complexity of flavors; very smooth and crisp to drink. Highly enjoyable offering I will definitely have again.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 04:57:53 | More by superspak

PacNWDad

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from an 11.2oz glass into a goblet. The pour is lively, with plenty of carbonation, almost champagne-like. Aroma is of unripe fruits, cherry, apple, some grape. Not much in the aroma in terms of the oak casks, although I did get some vanilla in there. Taste is quite sour, particularly on the front end. Some more balanced sweetness comes out in the finish. Light mouthfeel, really like a sparkling wine almost. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 23:30:48 | More by PacNWDad