Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale | Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Brewed by:
Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
Belgium
vansteenberge.com
Style: Flanders Oud Bruin
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Brewed for Monk's Café in Philadelphia, but also available for retail purchase elsewhere. Oud Bruin in style; a traditional blend of young and old beers.
Added by nomad on 06-19-2003
Ratings: 2,954 | Reviews: 1,145
4/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance is a dark brown colored body with a thick two fingered white foamy head that dies at a moderate pace and leaves a big foamy thick lacing gracing the sides of the glass. The smell is sour and tart and somewhat sweet cherries, maybe some apples that seem slightly spiced. The taste is sweet, sour and tart that seems to be all at the same time; sweet sour sticky apple cherry aftertaste, the finish is somewhat quick and sticky. The palate sits about a medium and really doesn’t show much sessionability to it as well as it shows some decent sipping aspects to it. Carbonation is very subdued - I like it. Overall, to me, the first time I had this I thought it was just a decent beer but the more I drank through that four pack the more I realized that is a stellar beer. It's a style that one has to warm up to.
827 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The appearance is a dark brown colored body with a thick two fingered white foamy head that dies at a moderate pace and leaves a big foamy thick lacing gracing the sides of the glass. The smell is sour and tart and somewhat sweet cherries, maybe some apples that seem slightly spiced. The taste is sweet, sour and tart that seems to be all at the same time; sweet sour sticky apple cherry aftertaste, the finish is somewhat quick and sticky. The palate sits about a medium and really doesn’t show much sessionability to it as well as it shows some decent sipping aspects to it. Carbonation is very subdued - I like it. Overall, to me, the first time I had this I thought it was just a decent beer but the more I drank through that four pack the more I realized that is a stellar beer. It's a style that one has to warm up to.
827 characters
4.16/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.32/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.45/5 rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Vinegary and a little sweet. No bitterness. Easy to drink.
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Vinegary and a little sweet. No bitterness. Easy to drink.
58 characters
4.17/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Deep red/brown color with massive head retention. Tart, vinegar sweet smell. Mildly sour taste, vinegar tang, apple. Effervescent, fizzy mouthfeel. Sweet refreshing finish. Very satisfying.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Deep red/brown color with massive head retention. Tart, vinegar sweet smell. Mildly sour taste, vinegar tang, apple. Effervescent, fizzy mouthfeel. Sweet refreshing finish. Very satisfying.
190 characters
3.63/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
An ale I appreciate and am glad I tried but not one that compliments my pallet. The overall look and feel was quite lovely though.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
An ale I appreciate and am glad I tried but not one that compliments my pallet. The overall look and feel was quite lovely though.
130 characters
4.75/5 rDev +23.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Delicious... definitely worth trying at leas once. Not overly sour, it has a definite grape & fruit taste, reminds me of red wine in a way. Really unique beer and great sour.
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Delicious... definitely worth trying at leas once. Not overly sour, it has a definite grape & fruit taste, reminds me of red wine in a way. Really unique beer and great sour.
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3.64/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.89/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Got a can from Calvert Woodley in DC.
A very refreshing oud bruin. Brownish red, with a good amount of head. Strange smell at the beginning, somewhat like a dishwashing soap. Sour at the beginning, but strong malty backbone. Excellent tartness for a hot day.
258 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Got a can from Calvert Woodley in DC.
A very refreshing oud bruin. Brownish red, with a good amount of head. Strange smell at the beginning, somewhat like a dishwashing soap. Sour at the beginning, but strong malty backbone. Excellent tartness for a hot day.
258 characters
4.25/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish tulip
L: Opaque dark ruby brown pour. Massive foamy white head. The glass was coated with lacing.
S: Apple cider vinegar... sweet, tart, and a bit of funk. Dark fruits.
T/F: Good tartness... some vinegary notes... not overly sweet. Vanilla/oak and dark cherries. Apple cider... some dark bread malts make it through. Some funk. Medium carbonation... light enough in body. Finishes with some tartness.
O: A delicious Oud Bruin from Monk's by way of Belgium. Easy drinking... complex and super tasty. If you enjoy the style then you'll enjoy this beer.
610 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish tulip
L: Opaque dark ruby brown pour. Massive foamy white head. The glass was coated with lacing.
S: Apple cider vinegar... sweet, tart, and a bit of funk. Dark fruits.
T/F: Good tartness... some vinegary notes... not overly sweet. Vanilla/oak and dark cherries. Apple cider... some dark bread malts make it through. Some funk. Medium carbonation... light enough in body. Finishes with some tartness.
O: A delicious Oud Bruin from Monk's by way of Belgium. Easy drinking... complex and super tasty. If you enjoy the style then you'll enjoy this beer.
610 characters
3.94/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +10.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.75/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap.
Brownish ruby color with a creamy 1/2 finger head.
Lots of nice sour brown ale aromas, with bread crust, cherry, molasses, and vanilla almond.
Not as sweet as the nose would suggest. Basic brown bread crusts, some cherry, lemon rind, lots of lactobacillus, caramel, prune. Some bitterness on the finish. Odd?
Feel is creamy all the way to the bank. Nice mild to moderate carb.
Overall, a good effort. I'd have it again.
436 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
On tap.
Brownish ruby color with a creamy 1/2 finger head.
Lots of nice sour brown ale aromas, with bread crust, cherry, molasses, and vanilla almond.
Not as sweet as the nose would suggest. Basic brown bread crusts, some cherry, lemon rind, lots of lactobacillus, caramel, prune. Some bitterness on the finish. Odd?
Feel is creamy all the way to the bank. Nice mild to moderate carb.
Overall, a good effort. I'd have it again.
436 characters
4.37/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
3.89/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a reddish-brown with garnet highlights at the edges and a finger of light tan head, good retention. Aroma has dark fruits, some dark malts, and a sour hint. Taste starts with a sour note then moves to dark cherries, plums, and prunes then I get some caramel and toffee into the finish. The taste is definitely sweeter than the aroma. Medium-light body and moderate carbonation, a bit lighter than I'd expect. Overall a pretty good beer, not my favorite style but this was pretty enjoyable.
496 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a reddish-brown with garnet highlights at the edges and a finger of light tan head, good retention. Aroma has dark fruits, some dark malts, and a sour hint. Taste starts with a sour note then moves to dark cherries, plums, and prunes then I get some caramel and toffee into the finish. The taste is definitely sweeter than the aroma. Medium-light body and moderate carbonation, a bit lighter than I'd expect. Overall a pretty good beer, not my favorite style but this was pretty enjoyable.
496 characters
Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale from Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V.
3.84
out of 5
based on 2,954 ratings.
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25