Liefmans Oud Bruin

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.