Oerbier means original, from the source. This beer has been brewed in small scale (5 gallons) at home in a copper wash kettle, by two brothers who were students at the time. They took over an old brewery which was out of business and said: “If we don’t bring the brewery back to life, nobody will!” It was also a unique opportunity to create some interesting brews, so why not try it? Therefore we went ahead. We did the main work ourselves and kept the scale of the brewery as it was. Since then, the brewery and its beers have been an inspiration for a lot of brewers. Oerbier is brewed from all different malts, Poperinge Golding hops in flowers and a special yeast which makes it a little tart, especially with aging. At the brewery we have excellent cellars which have a constant temperature of 8°C allowing Oerbier to age at its best.
After a couple of years Oerbier tastes like it has been blended with wine… Oerbier has been refermented in the bottle and contains a layer of yeast, having vitamins B. NAT en STRAF on the glasses means WET and STRONG, a warning for the 9 vol. alcohol content. The little person on the glasses is the Oerbier man, a simple creature who holds a brewers fork in his right hand, symbolizing the work and science, but looking to the other side, the result of all this, the glass of (Oer)beer. The artwork on the poster is a wall painting found in Spain (Altamira) and is considered by art lovers as being the best prehistoric art work (30.000 years BC). On the other hand we have Oerbier started in 1980, continuing the tradition.
Since 2000 as the yeast supply ceased, we installed a new yeast propagator. The tart aftertaste is obtained by lacto bacterial fermentation (since 2005).
John Sanders –
This beer pours tawny brown with a lovely deep head which offers great lacing. The smell is ever so slightly tart and yet there is a sweetness reminiscent of fruits that have perhaps over-ripened. The taste is slightly tart, but wait awhile and allow the beer to come up to room temperature – the fruit comes along together with a deep, warming richness which you get when drinking sherry or port. I cannot praise this beer too highly – it is astounding.
Jason –
Excellent beer from De Dolle. Caramel flavours hit before the sourness from the lactobacillus kicking in.
Matthew W –
Pours a reddish-brown with a moderate sized off white to beige head with lots of staying power.
Aroma has a deep malt and yeast character which includes a nice fruitiness that compliments.
Taste has a great depth and complexity to it being malty, spice, toffee, red wine, dark fruits, cherry, liquorice, bitter and boozy finish.
Medium to full bodied, smooth, slightly syrupy, fine carbonation.
Stunning, one of the best beers I have ever had.
Geoff Jackman –
Gorgeous. A truly lovely strong Belgian ale. Not up in the same strength as St Bernardus abt 12 but almost as good. Highly recommended and one that I hope never to run out of.