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OUD BRUIN

Aardmonnik

De Struise Brouwers • West Flanders Belgium

Mixed Fermentation Bottle Conditioned● 8% ABV

Aardmonnik ("Earthmonk") is De Struise's take on the East Flanders old brown, aged some eighteen months in oak. Bottled with minimal sugar to preserve the original aromas, it is tart and vinous, with sour cherry, oak and a gentle funk over a low, soft carbonation.

PERFECT FOR
✦ The Curious Palate☾ Quiet Reflection✿ Spring Afternoons
Ask the Monk
FLAVOR PROFILE
Sour CherryOakVinousTartFunky

Sweet-sour and malty, with notes of sour cherry, oak, vinous, with a balanced, moreish finish.

SERVING

Serve at 6-8°C in a lambic glass to maintain a generous head and let the aromas bloom.

6-8°C

CHARACTER
DryOff-drySweet
LightFullFull
SoftSoftBitter

Style-based profile from ABV, style & tasting notes.

TASTING NOTES
Appearance
Dark reddish-brown, clear, modest head
Aroma
Funky
Taste
Balanced, medium-bodied, sour cherry, oak, vinous, tart
Finish
Dry.
BEER DETAILS
Style:
Oud Bruin
ABV:
8%
IBU:
10-25
Origin:
West Flanders, Belgium
Glassware:
Lambic Glass
CELLAR5 to 10+ years

Ages for years. Oak-aged and acidic, it deepens and mellows over a decade or more.

PERFECT PAIRING

"Try with roast duck, a mature hard cheese, or rich charcuterie; the acidity cuts the fat."

Aged Cheese

Aged Cheese

Gouda, Trappist, Bruges

Charcuterie

Charcuterie

Saucisson, paté, ham

Poultry

Poultry

Roast chicken, duck

Cook this: a wedge of aged abbey cheese (Chimay, Orval), Ardennes ham, pate gaumais, and saucisson, or vol-au-vent (chicken in puff pastry).

AVAILABILITY

Rare, limited distribution

UntappdBeerAdvocateTotal Wine
PRICE GUIDE
$$$$

Special Occasion

Rare or strong, worth the hunt.

II

Flavor & Aroma

IOn the nose
  • Sour Cherry
IIOn the palate
  • Sour Cherry
  • Oak
  • Vinous
  • Funky
IIIThe finish
  • Tart

Aardmonnik ("Earthmonk") is De Struise's take on the East Flanders old brown, aged some eighteen months in oak. Bottled with minimal sugar to preserve the original aromas, it is tart and vinous, with sour cherry, oak and a gentle funk over a low, soft carbonation.

III

Story & Heritage

ABOUT THIS BEER

Aardmonnik, or 'Earthmonk', is De Struise's homage to the old-brown tradition of East Flanders. Aged around eighteen months in oak and bottled with as little added sugar as possible, it is a patient, wine-like sour ale that shows the brewery's range reaches well beyond its famous strong dark beers.

On the Oud Bruin style, Malty sour ale from East Flanders. Less acidic than Flanders Red, with notes of caramel, dark fruit, and sherry. Aged in stainless steel.

Explore the Oud Bruin guide Source: RateBeer
BREWERY

De Struise Brouwers

COUNTRY

Belgium

REGION

West Flanders

STYLE

Oud Bruin

IV

Glassware & Ritual

The Lambic Glass
THE LAMBIC GLASS

For wild & sour ales

A slender, tapered glass that shows off the bright effervescence and tart, funky bouquet of spontaneously-fermented lambics, gueuze and fruit ales.

01

Serve well-chilled

Cool tempers the sharp acidity

02

Pour gently

Preserve the champagne-like bead

03

Keep a lacy collar

A thin head carries the funk

04

Sip slowly

Let the sourness unfold on the palate

V

Reviews

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THE MONK'S NOTE

Pour it into a lambic glass, served around 6-8°C, and let its aromatics open before the first sip. Patience rewards this one: a few years in the cellar will round it into something deeper.

Brother Anselm, cellarmaster

ADD TO YOUR JOURNEY

    Belgian Beer Wisdom

    Did you know?

    Many Belgian beers refermenent in the bottle, creating natural carbonation and complex flavors.

    Why it tastes different

    The Monk's Dispatch

    One letter a month from our cellar: a beer worth seeking, a brewery worth knowing, a small lesson in the art. What is this?