Flanders Brown Ale

Flanders Brown Ale/Oud Bruin is an old ale style from East Flanders.

History

An "old ale" tradition from the Flanders region of Belgium. This style is typified by the products of the Liefman brewery. Many techniques used date back to the 1600s.

Description

Medium body. Malty, fruity flavor with complex character. Dark fruit flavor such as raisins, plums figs, dates, cherries, prunes. Low to no hop flavor and aroma. Slight sourness OK. Red to brown color. Moderate carbonation. Malty, sweet, fruity brown beer with Belgian complexity. Well aged for a smooth character, but not as sour as Lambic ales. May be used as base for fruit flavored beers.

Characteristics

• Color Range: 15.0-20.0 SRM
• Original Gravity Range: 1.043-1.077 SG
• Final Gravity Range: 1.012-1.016 SG
• Bitterness Range: 15.0-25.0 IBU
• Alcohol by Volume Range: 4.0-8.0 %
• Carbonation Range: 2.2-2.8 vols
• BJCP Style Number: 17 C

Ingredients

• Pilsner base
• Vienna and Munich and sometimes small amounts of crystal.
• Continental/British hops for bitterness only
• Saccharomyces and Lactobacillus (and acetobacters) for sourness
• Long boil. High sodium/bicarb water. Well aged.

Examples

• Leifmans Oud Bruin, Ichtegem Old Brown, Leifman's Odnar

See Also

• Styles