Thumbprint Oud Bruin | New Glarus Brewing Company
Brewed by:
New Glarus Brewing Company
Wisconsin, United States
newglarusbrewing.com
Style: Flanders Oud Bruin
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.60%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Our Brewmaster Dan launched his Wild Fruit Cave this winter brewing Oud Bruin, a Flander's style ale that is immensely complex both tart and sweet. Soft toffee notes lead with a blend of Wisconsin, British and German malts that first rested in the Coolship before spontaneously fermenting on oak in the cave. Hallertau hops, matured in the horse barn, elegantly support sparkling fruit notes that frolic before a punctuated oak finish. 100% naturally fermented in oak vessels this is beer that can be enjoyed now or the patient few can lay in their personal cellar to age.
Added by BeerFMAndy on 07-01-2014
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Ratings: 763 | Reviews: 100
3.56/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Hey check it out, I'm reviewing a beer from one of the best breweries in the world.
Pours a chesnut brown color, not thick or ruddy, this one has the most clarity you can have prolly for something of this color. Gleaming the cube. Nice lighter brown head in the 3/8" range. Aroma hits of brown malt, oak, mild tartness.
Taste has more brown malt, oak, toffee, dark cherry note to it. Carbonation is right where it should be. Tannins for days from the oak? Sourness is in that mild and to style range. When I have these oud bruins, it feels like you're getting whisked into a time machine to drink some 19th century beer. That's cool.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Hey check it out, I'm reviewing a beer from one of the best breweries in the world.
Pours a chesnut brown color, not thick or ruddy, this one has the most clarity you can have prolly for something of this color. Gleaming the cube. Nice lighter brown head in the 3/8" range. Aroma hits of brown malt, oak, mild tartness.
Taste has more brown malt, oak, toffee, dark cherry note to it. Carbonation is right where it should be. Tannins for days from the oak? Sourness is in that mild and to style range. When I have these oud bruins, it feels like you're getting whisked into a time machine to drink some 19th century beer. That's cool.
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4.5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 vintage 12 oz bottle.
Pours a slightly hazy dark ruby. Has a 1.5 finger tan head. Great lacing.
Aroma emerges as soon as the beer is open. Tart cherries and apples with an oaky smokey undertone. Lots of funk.
Taste packs a sour punch. Loads of apples and oak. Honestly the oak is insane on this one.
Feel Is medium to light body. Good carbonation. Drier finish.
Overall another fantastic beer from New Glarus. Age treated this one kindly. Hope I can find a few more... I would strongly recommend Enigma by NG if you enjoy this beer.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2016 vintage 12 oz bottle.
Pours a slightly hazy dark ruby. Has a 1.5 finger tan head. Great lacing.
Aroma emerges as soon as the beer is open. Tart cherries and apples with an oaky smokey undertone. Lots of funk.
Taste packs a sour punch. Loads of apples and oak. Honestly the oak is insane on this one.
Feel Is medium to light body. Good carbonation. Drier finish.
Overall another fantastic beer from New Glarus. Age treated this one kindly. Hope I can find a few more... I would strongly recommend Enigma by NG if you enjoy this beer.
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3.75/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.25/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Got in a trade with The-Adjunct-Hippie. 12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 1/22/2016. Pours slightly hazy deep ruby red/light copper/brown color with a 2 finger dense light khaki head with great retention that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of big tart cherry, cranberry, raisin, plum, currant, lemon, green apple, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, toasted oak, brown bread, hay, and straw; with lighter notes of vanilla, leathery funk, red wine vinegar, pepper, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, oak barrel, and dark/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart cherry, cranberry, raisin, plum, currant, lemon, green apple, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, toasted oak, brown bread, hay, and straw; with lighter notes of vanilla, leathery funk, red wine vinegar, pepper, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness and light yeast/tannic oak spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of tart cherry, cranberry, raisin, plum, currant, lemon, green apple, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, toasted oak, brown bread, light vanilla/nuttiness, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, oak barrel, and dark/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/tartness balance, with zero puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light dryness from tartness/acidity, lightly increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy/acidic, and lightly tannic balanced mouthfeel that is awesome. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.6%. Overall this is a fantastic Flanders brown ale! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, oak barrel, and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and refreshing to drink, thanks to the mellow tartness/acidity. Amazing yeast/malt complexity and balance; with nice oak presence. A highly enjoyable offering.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Got in a trade with The-Adjunct-Hippie. 12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 1/22/2016. Pours slightly hazy deep ruby red/light copper/brown color with a 2 finger dense light khaki head with great retention that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of big tart cherry, cranberry, raisin, plum, currant, lemon, green apple, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, toasted oak, brown bread, hay, and straw; with lighter notes of vanilla, leathery funk, red wine vinegar, pepper, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, oak barrel, and dark/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tart cherry, cranberry, raisin, plum, currant, lemon, green apple, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, toasted oak, brown bread, hay, and straw; with lighter notes of vanilla, leathery funk, red wine vinegar, pepper, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate fruity/lactic tartness and light yeast/tannic oak spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of tart cherry, cranberry, raisin, plum, currant, lemon, green apple, red grape, caramel, brown sugar, toasted oak, brown bread, light vanilla/nuttiness, and yeast/oak/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, oak barrel, and dark/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/tartness balance, with zero puckering/astringent flavors after the finish. Light dryness from tartness/acidity, lightly increasing through the glass. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy/acidic, and lightly tannic balanced mouthfeel that is awesome. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.6%. Overall this is a fantastic Flanders brown ale! All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/funky/acidic yeast, oak barrel, and dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and refreshing to drink, thanks to the mellow tartness/acidity. Amazing yeast/malt complexity and balance; with nice oak presence. A highly enjoyable offering.
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3.5/5 rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.75/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.37/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2016 vintage poured into a snifter at cellar temperature.
The appearance is a beautiful dark reddish brown with a murky haze making it pretty much opaque.
The aroma is tart cherry, slight acetic notes, oak woodiness, green apple, and red wine.
The tastes follow the nose with tart cherry, green apple, some acidity, red wine and some oak. Also a nice nutty and bready malt presence.
The palate is nice and light with a good zing of carbonation. Dry and tannin like as well which is reminiscent of red wine.
Overall this is another great beer from New Glarus that is good bang for your buck in terms of oak aged sours. Definitely tart but not too overpowering.
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look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
2016 vintage poured into a snifter at cellar temperature.
The appearance is a beautiful dark reddish brown with a murky haze making it pretty much opaque.
The aroma is tart cherry, slight acetic notes, oak woodiness, green apple, and red wine.
The tastes follow the nose with tart cherry, green apple, some acidity, red wine and some oak. Also a nice nutty and bready malt presence.
The palate is nice and light with a good zing of carbonation. Dry and tannin like as well which is reminiscent of red wine.
Overall this is another great beer from New Glarus that is good bang for your buck in terms of oak aged sours. Definitely tart but not too overpowering.
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3.64/5 rDev -8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to dmbforever for sending this as part of our trade! Reviewed from (long-standing) notes. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into an unmarked snifter glass.
A: Dark hazy gold, with a good amount of visible carbonation and a finger of off-white head with average retention.
S: Acetic acid tang, tart cherries, and some bready malt in the background.
T: This is acetic up front, but less sour and in-your-face than the smell suggested. More vinous and vinegar, some tart cherries and the lightly toasted bready malts. A citric lemony bite, and it finishes with a lingering acetic acidity.
M: Light-bodied, but it comes across as a bit watery. Carbonation sensation on the low side, and has very low alcohol.
O: I feel like this missed the mark a bit, especially in the acetic/tang character. Perhaps appropriate for someone’s first foray into oud bruin territory? Not great, but certainly drinkable.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to dmbforever for sending this as part of our trade! Reviewed from (long-standing) notes. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into an unmarked snifter glass.
A: Dark hazy gold, with a good amount of visible carbonation and a finger of off-white head with average retention.
S: Acetic acid tang, tart cherries, and some bready malt in the background.
T: This is acetic up front, but less sour and in-your-face than the smell suggested. More vinous and vinegar, some tart cherries and the lightly toasted bready malts. A citric lemony bite, and it finishes with a lingering acetic acidity.
M: Light-bodied, but it comes across as a bit watery. Carbonation sensation on the low side, and has very low alcohol.
O: I feel like this missed the mark a bit, especially in the acetic/tang character. Perhaps appropriate for someone’s first foray into oud bruin territory? Not great, but certainly drinkable.
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3.48/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.75/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.26/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Cloudy burgundy nearing dark purple at times, with a frothy, soft, light tan head leaving some clingy lace.
Smell is spiced and slightly acetic balsamic vinegar, yet lactic too, with nutty, woody, oaky fig, cherry, raspberry gummies, and a little roasted malt, turning to dry Merlot after a bit of sniffing.
Taste is green and red apple, slightly tart cherry, not the acidic sour I was thinking it might be. Nicely balanced between tart, sour and smooth, soft and frothy with some grape and a hint of red wine.
Wow this beer is way better than the average rating listed here. I guess it's not rare enough.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Cloudy burgundy nearing dark purple at times, with a frothy, soft, light tan head leaving some clingy lace.
Smell is spiced and slightly acetic balsamic vinegar, yet lactic too, with nutty, woody, oaky fig, cherry, raspberry gummies, and a little roasted malt, turning to dry Merlot after a bit of sniffing.
Taste is green and red apple, slightly tart cherry, not the acidic sour I was thinking it might be. Nicely balanced between tart, sour and smooth, soft and frothy with some grape and a hint of red wine.
Wow this beer is way better than the average rating listed here. I guess it's not rare enough.
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4.18/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.5/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.18/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2016 Oud Bruin.
Pours a murky, muddy color with some tints of burgundy and mahogany. 100% opaque with light beaming up the sides. Leaves a nice shelf of stable head about the height of a quarter's spine.
Aromas of oak barrel, barn wood...underneath with some searching and sniffing you pick up cherries, currant, fig, with late hits of expired milk.
Limes and cherries start off the flavor, bringing a limeade-like sour punch to the table; and then some richer cabernet-like flavors rush in, bringing globe grapes, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar to the mix. It ends with some light vinegar, and a dash of milk. The flavor isn't "wow", but it is enjoyable.
Feel is spot on. Very quenching, very carbonated. A musky, dry, vinous feel just dries on the tongue like you sipped some serious Sauvignon. Very impressive.
Overall, their Flanders does not disappoint. Could it be better? Sure. But it still brings that classic Thumbprint quality to the table, and that's nothing to scoff at.
Edit : after a couple more months sitting on this gem, the flavors really begin to pop - cherry, currant, cranberry, and oak chips....just wow. Adjusting score now. Most beers I have in this caliber are roughly $10.99 a bottle. This is $10.99 a four pack. Incredible value.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2016 Oud Bruin.
Pours a murky, muddy color with some tints of burgundy and mahogany. 100% opaque with light beaming up the sides. Leaves a nice shelf of stable head about the height of a quarter's spine.
Aromas of oak barrel, barn wood...underneath with some searching and sniffing you pick up cherries, currant, fig, with late hits of expired milk.
Limes and cherries start off the flavor, bringing a limeade-like sour punch to the table; and then some richer cabernet-like flavors rush in, bringing globe grapes, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar to the mix. It ends with some light vinegar, and a dash of milk. The flavor isn't "wow", but it is enjoyable.
Feel is spot on. Very quenching, very carbonated. A musky, dry, vinous feel just dries on the tongue like you sipped some serious Sauvignon. Very impressive.
Overall, their Flanders does not disappoint. Could it be better? Sure. But it still brings that classic Thumbprint quality to the table, and that's nothing to scoff at.
Edit : after a couple more months sitting on this gem, the flavors really begin to pop - cherry, currant, cranberry, and oak chips....just wow. Adjusting score now. Most beers I have in this caliber are roughly $10.99 a bottle. This is $10.99 a four pack. Incredible value.
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Thumbprint Oud Bruin from New Glarus Brewing Company
3.96
out of 5
based on 763 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Appearance: brown with ruby (claret) hues and some haze. A light tan 1/8-finger spritzes up and fades quickly.
Aroma: cherries and light oak with some mild must.
Flavor: sweet cherries with medium tartness. There is a distinct mineraliness. Sweet, a bit too much to drink more than one.
Mouthfeel: heavy-medium. I perceive this as perhaps heavier than it actually is due to NG’s typically sweet syrupy bodied beers. (Raspberry Tart, Cranbic).
Overall: a fine effort. A bit sweet, especially for the style, but is consistent with NG’s other offerings. Worthwhile, but NG’s Belgian Red still reigns supreme in the portfolio.
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