Petrus Aged Pale
Last week, I took a look at the Petrus Oud Bruin, which uses the brewery’s Aged Pale as part of its base. It was my first time enjoying that particular beer, and it was pretty darn tasty, but when it comes to Flanders Oud Bruins, it’s this bigger brother that really stands out.
I believe that I first had Aged Pale on draught at Mekong in Richmond, VA a couple of years ago. The details escape me, but I do recall enjoying the Hell out of it and having to purchase another glass. To say that this 7.3% ABV sour ale is world class would be a disservice to the brewery and the beer — at least as far as Flanders ales go, this is the one that others in this particular realm aspire to match. I just wish that I was able to find it more often on store shelves. Then again, perhaps it’s for the best, I only have so much money I can spend on cellaring beer.
Appearance
Golden amber in color, Aged Pale sits with a frothy stack of white foam that dropped slowly, leaving behind intricate lace work on the glass.
Aroma
A wonderfully sour aroma fills the nose with grain, wood and a touch of toasted bread. This is the kind of sour ale that makes my mouth water at first sniff.
Taste
Oh man. That’s good. The sour tartness hits immediately, drawing you through hints of wood, light fruits and grain before arriving at the drying finish. It takes a good while to become accustomed to the bite, but once the palate is there,and earthiness, some oak and yeast shine through a good deal more creating a layered and complex characteristic. A crisp mouthfeel and light body make for a refreshing brew.
Overall
I’ve had some really good examples of this style of beer through the years (New Belgium’s La Folie, Goudenband and Goose Island’s Madame Rose to name some of the more popular), but this one really sings for my particular palate. It’s just an earthy, yet refined character with just the right amount of sourness and wood to make me grin from ear to ear after each sip.
Rating: 4.5/5
