Flanders Oud Bruin
A Belgian version of the Old Ale beer style, Flanders Oud Bruin (“Old Brown”) generally shows a darker hue than the Flanders Red style. Oud Bruin emerged from East Flanders and differs largely with the use of darker specialty malts and even a dash of roasted malt. The result is a maltier character than Flanders Red, with toffee, caramel or chocolate notes on the nose and palate. Dark, malty fruit character such as fig, raisin, date and prune, along with a more mild sourness distinguish Oud Bruin from the Red style and combine to deliver a sweet-and-sour profile.
Less acetic in character than Flanders Red, some refer to Oud Bruin as the “sherry of beer.” It is aged warm in stainless steel vessels (versus oak for Flanders Red), and the longer-aged examples generally show a more prominent sourness and complexity and are considered superior to younger, milder versions.
| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Taste/Smell | Complex, Malty, Dark Fruits, Sour, Medium-bodied |
| Alcohol-by-Volume (ABV) Range | 5 – 8.5% |
| Bitterness (IBU) | 20-25 |
| Popular Examples | Liefmans Goudenband, Petrus Oud Bruin, Petrus Aged Pale, Monk’s Café Flemish Sour |
| Serving Temperature | Cellar, 55-57° |
| Glassware | Beer snifter, stemmed tulip, large wine glass |
| Cheese Pairing Ideas | Blue Cheese, Camembert, Cheddar, Fontina, Mimolette |
| Food Pairing Ideas | Tomato salad with vinaigrette dressing and grilled beef |
