De Dolle Brouwers (The Crazy Brewers) were one of the first ‘new wave’ of Belgian brewers that started popping up in the 80’s. They started in 1980 and while most brewers would release a tripel to introduce themselves, De Dolle do things a little differently so Oerbier (‘Original Beer) was their first offering.
This beer has was brewer Kris describes as a complex malt base, with 6 different pale and caramel malts. When first made, this beer was lower in ABV at 7.5% and was fermented with yeast from Rodenbach. That’s what gave the beer its deep flavour and slight sour note, along with an earthy hop note from Goldings hops.
But when Rodenbach was sold in 2000, Kris had to find a different yeast to use. He ended up blending some of the existing Rodenbach yeast with other yeasts, and this process has continually evolved over the years. Kris saw the need for more malt and more hops and the beer is now 9.0% ABV with a deeper body and a little less of the acidity.
Caramel malt, lots of fruit flavours – dried plums, dates, cherries and apricot, a definite woody note with hints of vanilla, a good dose of earthy spice and the little hint of sourness that really only presents late in the beer.
It is something of an enigma, and beer writers have described it thus: ‘It could be an aperitif or a night cap. It is not a Belgian Amber or Strong Dark Ale, it is not a Flemish Red or an Oud Bruin. Oerbier is Oerbier’.
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