Petrus Aged Pale
Petrus Aged Pale© BeerTourism.com
The Brewery
Beer Style
Foeder Beer Matured on Oak
The Beer
Petrus Aged Pale is the odd one out amongst foeder beers, which traditionally tend to take on a reddish or dark-brown colour in the glass. This beer, brewed using only pale malt, is generally considered one of the best wood-matured pale ales.
Petrus Aged Pale had a markedly sharp, bone-dry, freshly sour taste. It spends 18 to 24 months maturing in giant oak foeders (casks) before coming to market.
It is thanks to the efforts of the late British beer guru Michael Jackson that the beer that flows into your glass is still entirely pure and uncut. Jackson also named it, and was so keen on it that he sold it himself to American beer clubs.
The Petrus Aged Pale has become a reference beer for the sour ale style. It also serves as a mother beer for fresh, freshly sour and sweet and sour blended beers.
Since the 1970s the De Brabandere brewery has been specialising in foeder beers, and has gradually built its range.
As well as this beer, the Petrus family of foeder beers includes Petrus Blond, Petrus Dubbel Bruin, Petrus Gouden Tripel, Petrus Spéciale (amber), Petrus Oud Bruin and the Petrus Aged Red.
Alcohol
7.3% ABV
Fermentation
A top-fermented beer matured in oak foeders.
Ingredients
Petrus Aged Pale is brewed with water, a house yeast, malt and Saaz aroma hops.
Colour & Transparency
Petrus Aged Pale takes on a clear, pale colour in the glass under a head of white froth.
Serving Temperature
12 °C / 54 °F
Serving Glass
The Petrus beers are served in an elegant, tulip-shaped, branded glass on a tall stem, which allows the aromas to develop beautifully.
Character, Tastes & Aromas
Petrus Aged Pale is very astringent and vinous. It is dry with the freshness of sour apples, a real brut de brut.
There are also sherry and fruit flavours. The classic sourness of the beer style comes through in the finish.
Culinary
Petrus Aged Pale is a great pairing with shellfish and crustaceans, including the grey North Sea prawn, used in a tomaat-garnaal (tomatoes filled with prawns) or in prawn croquettes.
This bone-dry beer stands up well to a mousse of smoked trout with peppery anchovies. It is also recommended with a Belgian soft goat's or sheep’s milk cheese.
Keeping and Storage
The brewery recommends keeping this beer for up to 24 months in the bottle and for up to 8 months on tap (in kegs).
The beer has already been (barrel) aged to perfection so there is no need or benefit to storing it any longer than the brewer advises.
Availability
Bottle ✔ On Tap ✔
Available in 33cl and 75cl bottles and on tap (30l). Brouwerij De Brabandere is a household name when it comes to Belgian beer so you can discover and taste the Petrus range of beers without too much effort when in Belgium.
De Brabandere export their beers all over the world so you should have no trouble finding Petrus Aged Pale or indeed any of the Petrus beer range.
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