Petrus Aged Pale Description
Petrus Aged Pale is a 100% foeder beer produced by Brouwerij De Brabandere, aged for 24 months in French oak foeders at 7.3% ABV. Legendary beer writer Michael Jackson named this beer in the late 1990s and became the first beer sold in his beer clubs, establishing it as the reference for sour beers in the US. The beer has won multiple gold medals in international competitions, including the World Beer Awards World’s Best Sour & Wild Ale in 2023.
Unlike traditional West Flanders sour beers that typically have burgundy or brown colors, Petrus Aged Pale maintains an old gold to bronze hue due to being brewed exclusively with pale malts. Since the brewery’s inception, this “mother beer” has been used as a blending component to impart fresh, slightly sour flavors and aromatic nuances to other beers.
Petrus Aged Pale Tasting Notes
Petrus Aged Pale pours a hazy golden to bronze color, accompanied by persistent white foam and champagne-like carbonation. The aroma presents sharply sour and acidic notes, reminiscent of lemon rind, horse blanket, grassy and herbal characteristics, as well as dry oak and funky, blue cheese-like aged hop qualities.
The first sip reveals herbal and floral notes, followed by juicy tartness and refined sour notes, with a sturdy pale malt backbone providing a platform for hop bitterness and pulpy lemon flavors in the mid-palate. The taste opens with mild sour notes featuring hints of lemon and vinegar, with the 7.3% ABV well-disguised and offering only mild warmth.
The beer exhibits a seamless integration of malty sweetness, hoppy bitterness, farmhouse earthiness, and foeder-driven sourness, finishing bright, dry, and almost mineral, with a refreshing and expansive character.
Petrus Aged Pale Food Pairings
Petrus Aged Pale excels with shellfish and crustaceans, including grey North Sea prawns used in tomaat-garnaal (tomatoes filled with prawns) or prawn croquettes. This bone-dry beer pairs well with mousse of smoked trout, featuring peppery anchovies, and complements buttery fish, such as baked scallops with butter and herbs.
The beer complements Belgian soft goat’s or sheep’s milk cheese, and its champagne-like acidity works excellently with pomme frites and garlic mayonnaise. Food pairing suggestions also include lemon chicken, green salads with vinaigrette, ceviche, and carbonade flamande.
The beer’s dry, tart character makes it ideal for cutting through rich, fatty dishes, while its complexity enhances lighter fare, such as seafood and fresh cheeses.
Final Thoughts on Petrus Aged Pale
Petrus Aged Pale represents a masterpiece of Belgian brewing tradition, described as having “a bite like the best Brut Champagnes” and earning a perfect “5 out of 5 on the Sour Scale.” Reviewers consistently praise it as “expertly crafted” and note that it “pairs amazingly well with food” while being “lovely on its own.”
The beer’s unique position as both a standalone sour ale and a blending component demonstrates its versatility and quality. With the ability to age at least three years in the cellar, this beer offers both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring potential.
For those seeking an introduction to world-class sour beers or experienced sour beer enthusiasts looking for the benchmark, Petrus Aged Pale delivers the complexity and refinement that has made it a reference standard for over two decades.