Brouwerij Liefmans Goudenband (2012) – Flanders Brown Ale / Oud Bruin at 8% ABV | 9 IBU (C$11.00 at Beer Club Offering #5, 750 ml, best before 9-Oct-2023, acquired 9-Oct-2013, reviewed 21-Jul-2020)
Appearance: clear cola brown with one finger of loose beige head diminishing gradually to a thin ring, spotty spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: complex, cherries, balsamic vinegar, sweet malt, raisins. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter, light tart. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish mildly tart finish. (5/5)
We’re closing the circle now, with only a few tasting nights left in the cellar before I move house. I don’t think I’ll transport many, if any, so it seems only fitting that I go back to one of the very first “weird beers” I ever tried. At the time, I didn’t even give it a rating, both because I knew that it was completely outside my experience, but also that there was something special about it even if I didn’t fully understand it. I like to think I do now understand it well enough to truly appreciate it – and appreciate it I do. The aroma is a complex blend of fruits, vinegar, and woody notes on a mild sweet malt base. The taste is milder than I remember, and certainly milder than many other examples of the style, with the acidic tartness suggested by the aroma only gently present on the tongue. Super smooth, wonderfully nuanced, and well-balanced, with no hint of the fairly beefy ABV, it certainly hasn’t been harmed by its years in the cellar. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the best Oud Bruin there is, but dammit, it’s up there. (18/20)
9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
