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Bourgogne de Flanders is a unique Belgian beer aged in oak barrels. The drink was named after the Burgundy wine, which is made in Flanders. The brand is owned by John Martin NV. Two breweries are involved in production – in Brussels and Bruges, each of which produces its own component for the drink.
Historical information
The first mention of the Den Os brewery is found in documents from 1765. The company was located on the estate of Loppem in the suburbs of Bruges and belonged to Pierre-Jacques Van Hotrive. Beer was produced privately, official permission from the authorities was obtained only sixty years later. The Bourgogne des Flandres brand was registered in 1911.
The company was inherited for a long time in the Van Hotreve family, but could not stand the competition with the German lager producers and was liquidated in 1957. The last owner managed to organize the production of Bourgogne des Flandres at other enterprises, retaining the original recipe.
Since 1985, the beer has been produced by Timmermans Brewery, which is located in Etterbeek, the Belgian capital region. The company is part of the John Martin NV group, the largest distributor of Belgian ales. In 2015, a new brewery was built in the center of Bruges.
Production features
Bourgogne des Flandres is a blend of top-fermented ale and lambic, an original Belgian drink, which is prepared in a special way. Beer is brewed with 30% wheat and overripe hops. The still warm wort is pumped into a vat, where it slowly cools. Wild yeasts and special types of microorganisms that are found only in a zone of fifteen kilometers around Brussels get into open containers.
The naturally fermented must is placed in oak barrels of wine. Lambic ripening time for Flanders Burgundy is over a year. It is mixed with Den Bruinen Os beer in certain proportions. The blend is again placed in barrels, where it matures for several more months. The full production cycle takes from two to three years. The result is an ale that is as rich in flavor as a fine wine.
Awards:
- International Institute of Taste and Quality 2009, Brussels – 3 stars and an award for excellent taste;
- Brussels Beer Challenge 2012, Brussels – bronze medal in the Red Ale category.
Interesting fact
The new brewery in Bruges conducts tours for visitors and residents of the city. Tourists visit workshops equipped with copper equipment and can even look into open vats where natural fermentation takes place. The tour ends with a tasting of six beers. The restaurant is located right on the bank of the canal and serves as a favorite place for the townspeople to relax.
Types of beer Bourgogne de Flanders
Bourgogne des Flandres Dark Beer, 5%
The drink is brown with ruby reflections and forms a lush foam in the glass. The aromatic bouquet contains pronounced wine and fruit tones with the addition of caramel and wood. At the start, malt and chocolate are felt, then berry sourness and wine astringency are added. The long aftertaste distinguishes between oak and a slight bitterness of hops.
Blond Flanders Burgundy, 6%
The variety strongly resembles blanche, a traditional Belgian white beer brewed from wheat. An opaque drink of dark golden color with aromas of flowers, malt and yeast. The taste is harmonious, with an equal ratio of vanilla sweetness and hop bitterness.
