Pints And Steins

Editor’s note: This is the seventh in the Beer Advent Calendar 2015 series. Likewise, I’m going to be posting a beer review each day. Some will be Christmas or Winter ales and other selections will be beers I’ve been wanting to review for some time.

I was recently in San Francisco for a business trip and at local pub, the wait staff announced Petrus was having a tap takeover. I’m always up for trying something new so I asked for Petrus Aged Red.

This beer, crafted in Belguim, is made by De Brabandere. 

Petrus Aged Red pours a deep red hue with no lacing or head at all. The brew iss 8.5% ABV so it’s a stronger, sour ale.

How does it taste?

The aroma of Petrus Aged Red is overwhelmingly tart with strong notes of cherry, masking the sour flavor that should hit you first. This brew smells exactly like a cherry wine.

Then, when you sip the beer, the cherry dissipates fast and the sour notes kick in.

This beer is very hard to pinpoint: it slaps you in the face at first with cherry sweetness, then finishes dry and a little lackluster.

I was unimpressed by Petrus Aged Red and actually asked to send it back. I had a full pint glass and just found it repulsive.

Then, to my surprise, the Petrus distributor came over to our table and asked me about my experience. She explained that the Petrus brewers are a huge fan of blending, meaning combining their beers. She brought over a Petrus Aged Pale. I blended the two 50/50 and found that I liked the pairing! It was the perfect combination of two beers that by themselves left me disappointed.

Should I buy it?

Sure, if you are willing to buy two pints and can blend them. Or otherwise, order pale and aged red with a buddy and blend them 50/50.

I think on its own, Petrus Sour Red is unimpressive and repulsively sweet.