Alternatief Hik Bier Bruin
Back in early December of last year, my father-in-law gave me several bottles of beer (including this bottle of Hik Bier Bruin) that he had inherited from a friend.
And a few more. These were found under some stairs. One date reads Nov 2010. pic.twitter.com/4Cqc5D0Swx
— The Barley Blog (@barleyblog) December 8, 2013
The story, as he was told, suggests that the bottles had been forgotten after purchase and eventually found tucked under a set of stairs this past Fall. Most of the bottles that I received dated back to 2010 and as you can see by the below photo, saw a good bit of outside influence as there’s a good deal of rust on the cap.
Some of the beers should have been able to handle a couple of years in the bottle, but only this Hik Bier Bruin managed to come out drinkable. All of the bottles had aged rather poorly with spoilage or just so much degradation that there just wasn’t any redeeming value to them. I can’t really complain, though, since they were, you know, free.
This bottle of Hik Bier Bruin was pretty drinkable despite its outward appearance. Now, I’m not 100% sure what sort of style this beer was meant to be brewed as — I’ve seen Belgian strong dark among other Belgian styles listed online — but it drinks more like a Flanders Oud Bruin. There’s a mellow sour tartness that doesn’t taste like spoilage and offers an interesting dynamic the overall character.
Appearance
The beer poured a murky, reddish brown in color with a slowly dropping cap of beige foam.
Aroma
Dark fruits (plum, cherry), caramel, yeast, light cardboard and a soft tartness combine for a smell that is decidedly “old,” but still inviting.
Taste
The beer delivers an aged flavor profile with hints of cardboard and must along with that sour tartness, light alcohol, yeast, tart cherries and a touch of caramel. The tartness is lightly assertive and fades slowly to the semi-dry finish. For the age and outward condition of the bottle (and compared to other beers in the collection), this one drinks surprisingly well.
Overall
I’d be curious to see how this beer is fresh. As it stands, given the circumstances, this bottle of Hik Bier Bruin is still a tasty little brew that despite it’s age has held up well enough. I don’t think that it could have gone much longer in the bottle and I’m sure that, perhaps under better cellaring conditions, it may have tasted even better than it did.
Rating: 3.25/5
