Jong Bruin Druiven
Bullfrog Brewery

Draft at Monks Cafe in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a very cloudy, dark chocolate brown color with mahogany edges when held to a light source.  Almost completely still with a minuscule beige head that immediately disappears.  No lacing to speak of.

Slightly funky aroma but it's more malt forward than expected.  Slightly vinous with subtle oak and acetic character.  Musty barnyard notes with acetic vinegar and dark chocolate covered sour cherries.  Really surprised about the nose on this beer.  Chocolate malt sweetness is prominent, especially as it warms.  Was expecting more acetone, funk and vinous berries.

Medium body with tight carbonation and a nice funky yeast character that's integrated into the acetic acid and vinous fruit notes.  Slightly tart but not overly sour with the vinous merlot and dark fruit notes canceling out much of the unpleasant acetic character.  Pleasantly surprised at the balance.   Subtle roast with some nice caramel and chocolate malt sweetness followed by sour cherry, vinous grape and other dark berries.  Complex and surprisingly easy to drink.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Jong Bruin tank aged with wild yeast and steeped with Merlot grapes. 2-liter growler purchased at the Bullfrog and poured into a snifter. The brew appears a hazed brown with a finger of lightly off-white cap that fades leaving some suds and spots of lace. When held to the light, some orange to burnt copper/clarity is seen around the edges.

The aroma is classic bruin with a lactic fruity aspect blending to acedic and plenty of fruity vinous notes. The malt shines through with almost a cocoa quality that is pleasant yet not expected. Overall a pretty atypical bruin character but very much enjoyable.

The flavor is a bit all over the place. It is tart with plenty of vinous character that blends to some cocoa and roasted grain almost like coffee elements that are earthen and slightly musty. A touch of mineral and more tartness through the finish with a light alcohol kiss that almost hints towards cherry more than the added grape.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. It is leaps and bounds ahead of the base brew that I wasnt crazy about. Nicely done and worth checking out. I cant wait to see what other wilds roll out of the frog in the future.