PLACENTIA, CA – Tuesday, September 13th marks the second release of Oude Tart, a Flemish-style sour red ale brewed by Orange County’s The Bruery. First released in late 2009, Oude Tart is the most award winning ale from The Bruery, having won a gold medal at the 2010 World Beer Cup in the “Belgian-Style Flanders/Oud Bruin or Oud Red Ale” category as well as a gold medal at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival in the “Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale” category.
As is the case with many offering from The Bruery, Oude Tart is not your typical beer. Based on a classic style with roots in Belgium, the Flemish or Flanders style red ale is aged in oak barrels for anywhere from 6 to 16 months where it has been spiked with both standard brewer’s yeast, the wild brettanomyces yeast strain as well as pro-biotic bacteria such as lactobacillus which imparts a tart and lightly acetic character.
At The Bruery, several batches of the beer, which have been aged for different lengths of time, are blended together by taste until considered ideal. The dark malts used in the brewing provide a sweet and roasty balance for the sour character, giving the final version of the ale a flavor of leather, dark fruit and toasty oak.
Often described as the most ‘wine-like’ beer style, Oude Tart is a shining example of the style and is an outstanding beer to prove to the casual beer drinking just how complex a beer can actually be. The first sip may be shocking to your senses, but the final sip always comes too soon.
Oude Tart is available only at The Bruery’s tasting room and The Bruery Provisions shop in Old Towne Orange.
7.5% ABV
15 IBU
16 SRM