Grande Dame Oud Bruin
Brasserie Trois Dames

Grande Dame Oud BruinGrande Dame Oud Bruin
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From:
Brasserie Trois Dames
 
Switzerland
Style:
Flanders Oud Bruin
ABV:
7.2%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 9.32%
Reviews:
45
Ratings:
169
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 19, 2023
Added:
Dec 14, 2009
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  21
A sour brown ale, brewed in the Flemish tradition, that rivals even the best Oud Bruins coming out of Belgium. Elegant and rustic, and full of complex flavors, berries, spice, and a hint of nuttiness, this is a great beer to share with friends on a special occasion.

Born of the fortuitous encounter between a strong stout and fermented apricots from the Valais, which never reached the distillers. Our Oud Bruin (Flemish for “Old Brown”) is a rather unorthodox take on the style. It nevertheless boasts the typical sweet and sour balance between a solid malty, toffee-like, chocolaty, roasted and fruity backbone. Into this the fermented apricots merge seamlessly, with their lactic sourness, leathery and horse blanket notes from wild yeasts and a discrete touch of apricot deep down. It finally evolves harmoniously into a slightly bitter finish. Altogether a pretty unique yet very drinkable beer.
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Ratings by DeerNick:
Photo of DeerNick
Rated by DeerNick

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

Apr 12, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by dd53grif from Michigan

Nov 19, 2023
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.43/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours dark brown on Christmas 2018. Doesn't hold much of a head, just a lighter brown in color head that finally retains around the 1/25" line. The aroma is mostly vinegar, but there is some brown pale, crystal and chocolate malt notes that provide the referenced nuttiness. No sign of apricots here.

Taste, also not really much sign if any of apricots. There is a sourness and bitterness in the mouth feel that is larger than average for style, slightly surprising, my experience has been the opposite of Old World Oud Bruins. Toffee, caramel, vinegar. Frankly, too many vinegar/acetic notes for my wheelhouse, but still serviceable. Didn't think there was anything sweet to this despite claims to the contrary. Carbonation was low. Decent dry finish.

Its different, I'll give 'em that. But these were normally around $20 a bottle before they were cleared out, and that is just too much to make a repeat purchase out of this that was just ok.
Feb 18, 2021
Photo of BucBasil
Reviewed by BucBasil from Rwanda

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from the "1pt, 9.4 oz" bottle - 75 cl.

A: The beer is a clear brown color, almost red when held to the light. Head was tan and foamy and grew to almost 3 fingers. Fizzled out after 2 minutes.

S: Acid fruity character on the nose up front. A sour cherry aroma with a backbone of caramel and bread. Apricots are a fleeting note, not super noticeable. Slight mustiness running through the whole thing.

T: Sour dark fruit up front, turning to some malt in the middle. Finishes with a lot of funk and a familiar savory note that I can't quite place my finger on. Apricots are an afterthought, but contribute a little to the sweetness. Oak and a touch of vanilla throughout.

Overall: This was a nice version of a sour. Not too overpowering, flavors clearly distinguishable, balanced. I enjoyed it. A bit overpriced, but nice.
Jan 21, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Velivolus1 from Vermont

Jul 22, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by npolachek from New York

Feb 27, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Velivolus from Vermont

Jan 14, 2020
 
Rated: 3.84 by mothmanscott from Georgia

Jan 09, 2020
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

4.17/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Dark mahoghany brown, three fingers of billowing tea-stained foam, a halo of delicate lacing as the foam settles. Long lasting surface coverage.

Acidic vinous aroma, grapes, dark malt, musty wet wood.
Moderately tart, puckering fruity notes of grape and apricot, a tiny hint of Brett funk. Medium bodied with ample carb and a dry finish.

Overall this is pretty nice, the apricot is an interesting twist, though i’m not sure if it actually sat in a barrel. A little pricey but worth trying.

Flanders Oud Bruin #85
Nov 24, 2019
 
Rated: 4.01 by Pro_Magnon from Texas

Feb 13, 2019
 
Rated: 4.81 by silverhorn from Texas

Sep 15, 2018
 
Rated: 3.96 by shelby415 from Oregon

Apr 16, 2018
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from 750ml brown bottle into glass. Label includes years and months for dating but no marks for this on the label.
Dark cola colored body, with slight reddish highlights when presented to glass. First pour into glass was all foam, which rapidly receded very dramatically. Subsequent glass pours were less fizzy, but very active and noisy 1/2 finger head stays around. Foam is tan colored.
Aroma is tart cherries, pale malt, funky and woodsy.
Taste is tart cherries and tart apricot, earthy oak, vinous like white wine, grassy and leather. Some light chocolate, toffee, and vanilla toward the end. It's got some funk, but more tart than sour.
Thin to medium mouth feel. High level of carbonation. Kind of dry, however. Fizzy like a cola soda.
A solid brown ale that has been tarted up, with expressions of funk. Interesting beer.
Feb 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.44 by Zach136 from Georgia

Aug 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.87 by groleau from Canada (QC)

Aug 13, 2017
Photo of Bluecrow
Reviewed by Bluecrow from New York

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
-dark red-brown tap pour with a 1.5 cm foam cap. The aroma is exactly that of a Flanders-style red, oak, some fruit and very astringent. The flavor is tart with some cherry, a bit of pepper and some oak. It is typical for the style, somewhat complex, not overly fruity. The finish is a tad thin, but I look forward to finding other offerings from the brewer.
Mar 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.58 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Oct 04, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by kjkinsey from Texas

Oct 01, 2016
Photo of KimoWino
Rated by KimoWino from Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
Looks like a porter, mid palate acidic, fuzzy finish. As it warms up it starts to taste like day old espresso or Columbia drip coffee.
Jul 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.11 by evergreen_machine from Washington

May 01, 2016
Grande Dame Oud Bruin from Brasserie Trois Dames
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 169 ratings