Belgian Beer
- Details
- Written by: Trappist
- Category: Belgian Beer
- Hits: 105
Hi,
Time for a special beer!
Monk's Café Grand Cru - 5.5vol%.
Brewed at brewery Van Steenberge.
This is an "Oud Bruin" beer with sweet and sour aromas.
Monk's Café Grand Cru is a Flemish Oud Bruin brewed according to the traditional rules of the art for today's beer lover.
This "storage" beer consists exclusively of triple beer.
They sour this beer in the tank by adding lactic acid bacteria.
Before bottling this beer, it is cut with a lightly brewed pilsner to correct the alcohol content into 5.5 vol%.
During the cutting process some caramel is added, which will ensure a perfect sweet and sour balance for this beer.
Well, that is what's written on their website.
https://shop.vansteenberge.com/products/monks-cafe-grand-cru-33cl
It is strange that there is no single mentioning of barrel ageing.
Normally, this blend was aged for 6 months in Oak Casks 
Well, I sure didn't taste any oak flavors here. Maybe they changed things at the brewery?
Anyway, it is still a very enjoyable Flemish Oud Bruin.
Lactic sourness in perfect balance with the sweetness from the caramel.
A wonderful session beer with alot of history.
Note that this beer initially was made exclusively for Monk's Café, located in the heart of Philadelphia - US.
https://www.monkscafe.com/
Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale is also available from tap there, and also from can! Not from bottle though.
Quote: "Our own private label brewed for us by the family owned Van Steenberge brewery, just outside of Ghent, Belgium. Medium body, red color, somewhat fruity nose, malt flavor with a slight lactic sourness. A real thirst quencher and palate cleanser. 5.5%abv"
I'm so glad that it's also widely available in bottles over here in Belgium! 
Cheers,
Filip
