Petrus Aged Red: Tasting Notes and Pairings Recommended by a Beer Sommelier

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Petrus Aged Red is brewed from a Double Brown Ale base to which 15% Petrus Aged Pale is added, giving the beer a dry character and a light bitter edge.

The addition of cherries and its vinous, sweet and sour, slightly liqueur-like character build a complex profile in which notes of sour cherry, wood and caramel find balance in a moderately dry and refreshing finish.

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The De Brabandere brewery currently sells it as Red by Petrus, with the same recipe and the same blend, so in shops and bars you may find it under either name.

General Information

Name: Petrus Aged Red (current name, Red by Petrus)
Brewery: Brouwerij De Brabandere
Origin: Bavikhove, Harelbeke, Belgium
Style: Flanders Oud Bruin with cherries (blend of 15% Petrus Aged Pale matured in oak foeders and 85% Dubbel Bruin)
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 18
Calories: 255 kcal
Glassware: Tulip

Tasting Notes and Impressions

Petrus Aged Red combines the sour, woody character of foeder-aged beer with the sweetness of a dark beer and the fruit of the added cherries, in a sweet and sour blend that is remarkably drinkable despite its 8.5% alcohol.

1. Appearance

Copper with ruby highlights and moderate opacity, barely translucent, it does not show its carbonation to the naked eye and develops a medium-high, ivory head with reddish highlights, even and very compact, with good retention and lacing.

2. Aroma

It opens with a vinous character that immediately brings in a sweet, pungent aroma of sweet and sour cherries, sour cherry and maraschino, over a background of oak and an acetic touch typical of the foeder-aged portion; it then moves to a second, balancing layer, showing a light grainy maltiness with dark caramel and toffee in the background, only to zigzag back again toward a defined aroma of cherries steeped in liqueur.

3. Flavor

It comes across as a combination of vinous, earthy, cherry, caramel and soft grain flavors that burst at mid-palate into pronounced maraschino and sweet and sour cherry flavors, almost like cherry syrup, which then land on a fleeting wood and ash character that immediately gives way to a soft but restrained bitterness, barely passing in a moderately dry finish that keeps some residual sweetness, displaced by a fruity and earthy aftertaste, soft and restrained, that deepens into a pleasant liqueur-like sensation.

4. Mouthfeel

Medium body, smooth and easygoing, with a slightly oily texture that spreads quickly and effectively with medium carbonation, just a minimal roughness on the palate and an alcoholic warmth that builds slowly.

5. Overall Impression

Petrus Aged Red is by now a signature blend matured on cherries that brings together a diverse set of characteristics, becoming a delicious and perfect companion for many drinking occasions. Its development follows a zigzagging path that combines a vinous, softly woody, malty, fruity and sweet and sour character, but little by little it settles into a liqueur-like character that does not give away its alcoholic strength, while adding a gentle warmth as it rises in temperature. The cherry leads from start to finish, and some will find it too sweet or somewhat artificial, a reservation often repeated by those who compare it with the classic Oud Bruins of Flanders. Some cellaring may round out its character even more, refine its profile and give it greater organoleptic continuity; each drinker will decide. With Petrus Aged Red, this is an added bonus for beer lovers who like to experiment.

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Suggested Pairings

Petrus Aged Red, with its vinous, fruity and sweet and sour character, lends itself to many food pairings, especially those that highlight its notes of macerated cherry, wood and slight acidity, or that benefit from its soft, liqueur-like aftertaste.

1. Main Courses

A duck magret with red berry sauce or pork glazed with black cherries will enhance its sweet-sour profile, while dishes such as roast lamb with sour cherry compote invite you to enjoy its slightly dry and spicy finish.

2. Cheese

A Stilton or a Bleu d’Auvergne will bring out the liqueur-like and softly earthy note of the aftertaste. You can also explore aged goat cheeses or even a truffled Brie, balancing the acidity with the creamy richness of the dairy.

3. Vegetarian Dishes

Try a warm salad of roasted beets, walnuts and goat cheese or a caramelized fennel risotto with cherry reduction. The controlled acidity of Petrus Aged Red cuts through and refreshes the palate, letting the earthier flavors shine.

4. Desserts

A dark chocolate cake with cherries, a sour cherry tart or a vanilla panna cotta with red berry coulis make perfect partners, as the creamy texture of the desserts is lifted by the lively carbonation and the fruity persistence on the palate finds a natural echo in every sip.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What type of beer is Petrus Aged Red?

Petrus Aged Red is a Belgian Flanders Oud Bruin with cherries, known for its sweet and sour, fruity and vinous profile, with 8.5% alcohol. De Brabandere currently sells it as Red by Petrus, with the same recipe.

2. What do the cherries bring to Petrus Aged Red?

The cherries add a fruity, sweet and sour character expressed in notes of sour cherry, maraschino and macerated fruit. These traits blend with the malty, caramelized and slightly vinous nuances of the beer.

3. What does it mean that Petrus Aged Red is a blend?

It means the beer is made by combining different beers with complementary characteristics. In Petrus Aged Red, 85% Dubbel Bruin is blended with 15% Petrus Aged Pale matured in oak foeders, which provides the acidity, the wood and the dryness.

4. Can Petrus Aged Red be cellared or aged?

Its alcohol content and complexity make cellaring an option for experimenting with how it evolves. Over time, its components can integrate and change the perception of acidity, fruit, wood and alcohol.

5. What foods pair well with Petrus Aged Red?

Its sweet and sour, fruity character makes it a match for meats such as duck, pork and lamb, as well as blue cheeses and dishes with red berries. It can also accompany desserts made with chocolate, cherries or sour cherries.