Oerbier Verjaardagsbier
Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers

Oerbier VerjaardagsbierOerbier Verjaardagsbier
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From:
Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
11.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 21.52%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
11
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 15, 2016
Added:
Nov 06, 2003
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Fux
Reviewed by Fux from France

4.77/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Bottle opened at the Tasting to Sink all Sea Shepherds, in Moeder Lambic Cellar. I got this one as a last minute trade from Mathieu. Thanks a lot for the opportunity.
We had this side by side with the Speciaal Brouwsel 20, Stille Nacht Reserva from 2000 and 2010 and a Stille Nacht from 2006. My understanding is that this beer derivates from the Oerbier (a much stronger version, though), that it's more or less the ancestor of the Stille Nacht and that Speciaal Brouwsel 20 is supposed to be a re-creation of this.
A: Pours darker than the SB 20, with lots of sediments. Brown with some copper glints, minimal head.
S: Smell is amazing. No oxydation whatsoever, which is pretty impressive for a beer this old (the beer was brewed on 12/28/80 (and bottled on 01/14/82, no idea where it layed in between!) and corked this way! Smell is about dark fruits, soaked fruits, plums, prunes, dark grapes, candy sugar and spices, all mixed in a beautiful way.
T: Taste is a little bit sour upfront but with absolutely no sign of oxydation or even maderization. Then come candied fruits, soaked fruits, caramel, bread and vanilla. Great beer, as good as a well preserved old de Dolle could be, even far better than SB 20 in my opinion.
M: Medium bodied with a touch of alcohol. Carbonation is at a good level.
O: It's amazing how this beer has held well. It was a really nice surprise because I had low expectations for this one given the age and most recent reviews. Thanks Mathieu for a crazy trade and the rare opportunity to try this beauty.
Oct 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by imperialking from Illinois

Feb 10, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by jedwards from California

Feb 03, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by claaark13 from Indiana

Jan 30, 2012
Photo of Jwale73
Reviewed by Jwale73 from Rhode Island

2.88/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Big thanks to claaark13 and jedwards for hosting an amazing De Dolle tasting. Swingtop bottle served in Oerbier stemware. Opens with a light pop (apparently some carbonation remains). Pours the color and clarity of murky apple cider - no head to speak of. Nose is earthy/dirty/cellary with some tannic notes; however, my general impression is of a damp basement. Taste is definitely reminiscent of a damp basement - musty/earthy/concrete dust as well as a slightly tart character that comes out behind the cellar funk. Mouthfeel is not too bad; medium-light in body with a slight acidity and a mild, even carbonation. Overall, this beer is well past its prime; however, considering it's 30 years old, its held up surprisingly well and still maintains some complexity, despite the fact that it tastes a bit like a root cellar.
Jan 25, 2012
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

2.93/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Thanks to Derek for this rarity. Among the top five oldest beers I've had. Served in a tasting snifter.

A - While there was a faint pop upon the unstopping of the mildly rotted swing-top, this poured with no foam. Oily transparent brown color.

S - Algae, seawater, minerals, some sour acetic notes, papery oxidation, and some savory notes not unlike the De Dolle '20'.

T - More evocative of a Oud Bruin, with sour notes, some malt sweetness, and the bad sort of oxidation. Gets increasingly sour as it warms, which was actually an improvement.

M - Still, medium slick body. The finish is very dry, but there is no trace of the 11.5% at all.

D - Reminds me of the De Dolle '20', but even more faded and oxidized. Apparently the last six years have not been kind to this beer. It was nice to try such a rarity, but I would decline if asked again.

Amazingly, this nearly 30 year old beer had a similar flavor profile to fresh White Birch Indomitus, but was a bit better in most respects.
Oct 10, 2010
Photo of Sean9689
Reviewed by Sean9689 from Illinois

3.47/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This beer is old...very old.

A - Pours a rusty brownish/red, no head, no lacing, very murky.

S - Wow! Funky...in many different ways. It has a bready characteristic that sticks out to me as well. Not sure what a beer from 1982 is suppose to smell like, but wow, this one sure has a distinct nose.

T - Funk, slight sugary sweetness, metallic rusty notes there too. I guess it could be because it's 20 years old. Oxidation, I'm guessing.

M - Light to medium, no carbonation, dry finish.

D - For a 20 year-old beer, it's not too bad. Not something I'd search out and go crazy for, but hey, it's cool to try a beer that's almost as old as I am.
Oct 09, 2010
Photo of jeepcj85
Reviewed by jeepcj85 from Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
maybe because i was at the best beer bar in the world. maybe because i was in belgium. probably not. I had this beer at the Kuminator in Antwerpen. Served in an old swingtop dusty bottle, was the oerbier of a llifetime. Im a big fan of the current oerbier, had never tried the old yeast, and figured why not 1980 be my cherry popper. Well this was it. This was the beer. Sour Rodenbach like but soooo much better. I went back the next day and had another. Sorry to all of you who have never had one, i brought the beer world two beers closer to having this one extinct...this beer is the perfect 5,,,alongside the 1997 westvleteren yellow i also had, plus many others. I encourage all to visit the kulminator, as it is truly religious.
Nov 16, 2004
Photo of erica
Reviewed by erica from California

5/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Wow. my first 5 review. and this deserves it. I ordered this at Kulminator in Antwerp, mainly because I'd been drinking a case of Oer Bier before my Belgium trip and wanted to try another year of it. Also, I was born in 1980 so I figured it's a good year, must be a good beer too. Oh my god, it was soooo good and perfect! It was bottled in an ancient-looking Rodenbach swingtop bottle, and the owner was nice enough to take off the label and stick it onto the back of a coaster for me. It poured a nice brown colour with a hint of red, kind of cloudy with an off-white head. It smelled a bit sour, cherry-like and malty. It tasted amazing. It had the sourness of Rodenbach, with some cherries, spices, malt, almost a vinous taste in there too. Just wonderful. Mouthfeel was great too, not syrupy or thin, just smooth and creamy, and yes, this special beer from De Dolle is very drinkable, not really tasting or feeling like its strength of 11.5%. A great beer to try if you ever have the opportunity. I hope I have another opportunity someday... :)
Apr 07, 2004
Photo of francisweizen
Reviewed by francisweizen from Washington

5/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
brewed in 1980, bottled (in old Rodenabch resealable flip-tops) in 1982. The original special brousel, that recently celebrated it's 20th anniversery (Special Brousel 20). This is not a Belgian Strong Dark Ale, but a 11.5% Flemish Red or Oud Bruin! This 24 year old sample poured a dark, blood red colour with a small head of tan/off-white foam. The aromas are strong and instantly recognizable as Rodenbach-like (well they were using the Rodenback house yeast at the time!). I smell sour cherries, oaken funk, a bit of alcohol, other sour fruits, sugar, yeast, deep fruity malts, and oh-so-slight medicinally herbal hops. The taste is a fruity, funky, yeasty, oaky explosion. Cherries first, than the oak funk comes in, followed by some clean yeasty flavors, and finishing with a slightly medicinal tart hoppy bite. This is like an imperial Orval/Rodenbach! The mouthfeel is creamy, thick, and almost cake (not cask)-like! The drinkability is insanely good...nearly 12%abv? You have to be kidding me. De Dolle is an amazing brewery, and even their current beers are amazing. These old, vintage brews are just simply phenomenal, and worth travelling for. I'll weep when the lost bottle of this legend is drank, on a cloudy day, years from now in Antwerp!
Mar 30, 2004
Photo of Popsinc
Reviewed by Popsinc from Canada (ON)

4.38/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This was a dusty old bottle from the year 1980. I sampled this bottle 2 weeks ago at the Kulminator in Antwerp.

Appearance: A dark ruby-red pour with a generous head that ultimatley fades down to a mere ring.

Smell: A sweet n sour nose highlighted mostly by ripe cherries and other dark fruit. There are also strong woody notes as if this beer had been aging in an oak cask.

Taste: Unbelievably smooth. A strong fruity sweetness up front followed by some port-like qualities...woody, warm, alcohol, nutty. The sweetness lingers and draws out flavours of prune that extend the pleasure of this beer. A slightly tart finish. The high alcohol content is hidden beneath the wonderful layers of this beer. There is just so much to enjoy in this beer.

Mouthfeel: Exceptionally smooth and light. At one moment sweet and complex, at the next moment dry, tart and woody.

Drinkability: A bottle that all at once embodies the rich complexities of a vintage port and the fine brewing techniques of a world class beer. Excellent. It has obviosuly aged extremely well!
Nov 06, 2003
Oerbier Verjaardagsbier from Brouwerij De Dolle Brouwers
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 11 ratings