Flemish Sour Brown
Hermit Thrush Brewery

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Hermit Thrush Brewery
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Flanders Oud Bruin
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 11.22%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
18
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 17, 2018
Added:
Jan 18, 2015
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  3
The Flemish Sour Brown is an exquisitely tart brown ale in the traditional Flemish style of Belgium. Bold and complex malts help to balance and support the sourness and keep you wanting more once the initial puckering subsides. This is not a beer for the faint of tongue.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by OnryAndMean:
Photo of OnryAndMean
Rated by OnryAndMean from New York

3.69/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Jan 18, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.5 by AlvinLin from New York

Feb 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.96 by drummerdwzp from Connecticut

Sep 02, 2017
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Hermit Thrush Brewery "Flemish Sour Brown"
$7 for 9 oz. @ Capone's Restaurant, Bar, and Bottle Shop, Norristown, PA on 9 June 2017

Notes: Dark mahogany brown body beneath a fizzy dark beige head that settles rather quickly leaving only spotty lacing behind. Aromas of "tartness", vinous character, red grapes, plum, and raisin over a soft dark maltiness along with some soft oak. The flavor follows with a gently puckering acidity, red wine, cherry, raspberry, vinegar, some dark caramel, and even a suggestion of cocoa in the finish. Light-medium in body with a moderate carbonation that I think could be a little higher. It could also be a little sweeter, or perhaps just a touch less acidic, but it's basically right-on for the style.
Jul 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by JLK7299 from North Carolina

Jun 23, 2017
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.67/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
The appearance was a black color but shows more of a dark brown in the pour. No head. No lacing. The smell starts off with a rugged sour green apples with tart cherries. Light sweet malts underneath. The taste combines the previously mentioned flavors nicely. Not as rugged in the aftertaste. Tart semi-sweet to sour finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sipping to sessionable quality about it. Carbonation runs fairly light. Tartness hits on the edges of the tongue. Overall, pretty nice Flander sour. I'd have again.
Jun 17, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

Jul 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.8 by BubbleBobble from New York

Jun 14, 2016
Photo of VelvetExtract
Reviewed by VelvetExtract from Massachusetts

3.27/5  rDev -16.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Can. Poured a muddy brown. Aroma was very acetic and nail-polished. Sour and vinegary. Flavor was much of the same. A malty sweetness appears but doesn't necessarily help the situation in my mouth all that much. Lingering flavor that doesn't appeal to me.
Apr 27, 2016
Photo of MadScientist
Reviewed by MadScientist from New York

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: A very deep brown ale with a thin head of fine brown bubbles.

From a can

S: Mellow earthy aromas with a hint of funk and leather. Some notes of dark fruit. and slight spice.

T: Malt richness offset by a medium strong tartness dominating with a great sweet tart balance. The overall balance is slightly tart tart. There are some dark fruit flavors, spice and leathery notes with a touch of chocolate. No discernible hops. A medium finish with an aftertaste of juicy, dark fruit and a dry dark grain sort of quality.

F: A medium bodied beer with a medium-light level of carbonation.

Overall this a really lively beer that brings out some of the best qualities of a flemish brown.
Feb 28, 2016
 
Rated: 4.14 by Dirt286 from New Jersey

Sep 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.56 by mdaschaf from Indiana

Sep 13, 2015
Photo of Jwale73
Reviewed by Jwale73 from Rhode Island

3.53/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a murky brown with garnet-colored highlights when backlit. Head quickly dissipates into a soapy skim. Nose is slightly acetic with vinous notes and a slight yeasty presence. Taste consistent with nose but lacking the leathery and tobacco notes I've come to associate with the style. Mouthfeel is light-medium in body with an acidity that mildly stimulates the salivary glands. Carbonation is mild and even. Overall impressions - decent, but young and lacking the funk. A fair effort.
Jul 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by jbeervt from Vermont

Apr 11, 2015
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Growler from the brewery

Dark brown, little head. Aroma is a little earthy, funky. And sweet.. taste starts with a sharp acidic bite. Long lingering aftertaste is slightly fruity. Thin to medium body, but coats the mouth.
Apr 05, 2015
Photo of founddrama
Reviewed by founddrama from Vermont

3/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Cognitive dissonance!

LOOK: The color makes me think of a smooth ale.

SMELL: Oddly, almost no aroma.

TASTE: Hella mouth-puckering sour.

FEEL: Smooth? Almost no carbonation.
Mar 19, 2015
Photo of BoldRulerVT
Reviewed by BoldRulerVT from Vermont

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Served on tap at Farmhouse in Burlington.
Pours a deep dark auburn brown with very little head.
Aromas are nice, not a ton of aroma but good yeastiness.
Taste is wonderful, incredible sour, not overly dry decent body.
While plenty sour it finished dry but not too dry, really well done.
I could drink this beer all day long. Another great effort by Hermit Thrush.
Mar 16, 2015
Photo of VTSoxfan
Reviewed by VTSoxfan from Vermont

4.26/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Looks: Deep, dark; color closer to stout than brown
Smell: Sour first impression mostly reminiscent of a lambic but muskier
Taste: As advertised, it's sour, but not tart.
Feel: low carbination, but enough to form a small ring around the top edge. Very easy drinkability, mouth feel was almost like a wine.

Brattleborobo should be proud, this is right up there with the (slightly aged, never had fresh) bottles of authentic Belgians we get here.
Mar 15, 2015
Flemish Sour Brown from Hermit Thrush Brewery
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 18 ratings