The Bruery Terreux Oude Tart 750ML

The Bruery Terreux Oude Tart 750ML is a Flemish-style red ale aged 18 months in red wine barrels, bottled at 7.5% ABV. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 98 points and ranked it #5 on their Top 25 Beers of 2013 — a distinction that cemented its reputation as one of the finest American-made sour ales.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.5%  |  Origin: Placentia, Orange County, California  |  Flemish-Style Red Ale  |  Brewery: The Bruery Terreux

Production & Heritage

The Bruery was founded in 2008 by Patrick Rue in Placentia, California, with The Bruery Terreux operating as its dedicated wild and sour ale program. Oude Tart follows the Flanders red tradition but pivots from the classic European approach by aging for a full 18 months in red wine barrels rather than conventional oak foeders. That extended barrel time in wine-seasoned wood introduces layered tannin structure, grape-skin complexity, and a vinous depth that distinguishes it from its Belgian inspirations.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark cherry and grape skin lead, followed by toasted oak, leather, and a faint balsamic edge. There is a subtle roast malt quality underneath that keeps it grounded.

Taste: The first sip arrives tart and sweeping, then unfolds in waves — dark fruit and cherry give way to red wine vinegar brightness at mid-palate. Bittersweet bakers chocolate and hazelnut emerge alongside soft tannins drawn from the red wine barrels, while a restrained sweetness balances the acidity throughout.

Finish: Long and persistent, with cherry candy sweetness lingering well after each sip. Oak tannins provide dry structure, and a faint grape-seed bitterness keeps the finish clean rather than cloying.

How to Drink Oude Tart

Oude Tart is best served in a tulip glass at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to let its layered barrel character fully express. Sipping it straight allows the interplay of sour, sweet, and tannic elements to develop on the palate. For cocktail-curious drinkers: try it in a Berliner Mule, where its acidity replaces lime juice alongside ginger beer; a Sour Ale Spritz, blended with a dry sparkling wine and a dash of elderflower liqueur for a refreshing aperitif; or a Dark Fruit Shandy, cut with tart cherry juice and a squeeze of lemon for a lower-intensity summer drink.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates barrel-aged sours
• Pairing with a cheese and charcuterie board at a dinner party
• Cellaring for special occasions — Oude Tart's acidity and barrel character evolve well with age
• Introducing wine drinkers to the world of sour ales

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Oude Tart taste like? Oude Tart delivers a pronounced tartness balanced by dark cherry sweetness, toasted oak, leather, and soft tannins from 18 months in red wine barrels. Flavors of balsamic, hazelnut, and bakers chocolate add complexity beneath the sour backbone.

How does Oude Tart compare to Duchesse de Bourgogne? Both are Flemish-style red ales, but Oude Tart leans more aggressively sour with prominent acidity and wine-barrel tannins, while Duchesse de Bourgogne is generally regarded as sweeter and more fruit-forward. Oude Tart's red wine barrel aging also introduces a vinous character that Duchesse's traditional oak aging does not emphasize.

Is Oude Tart good for sipping neat? Oude Tart is specifically designed as a sipping beer — its complexity, moderate 7.5% ABV, and layered barrel character reward slow, thoughtful drinking from a tulip or stemmed glass. It is not a sessionable ale but rather one to savor.

Where is Oude Tart made? Oude Tart is brewed and barrel-aged at The Bruery Terreux facility in Placentia, California, located in Orange County. The Bruery Terreux is the sour and wild ale arm of The Bruery, which was founded in 2008.

What foods pair well with Oude Tart? Aged Gouda or Gruyère, whose nutty sweetness contrasts the beer's acidity; duck confit, where the richness is cut by the tartness; dark chocolate truffles, which echo the bakers chocolate notes in the ale; charcuterie with cured salami, which matches the tannic, vinous profile; and roasted beet salad with goat cheese, which mirrors the beer's earthy dark fruit character.

What sizes does Oude Tart come in? Oude Tart is commonly available in 750ml bottles, a format suited to sharing and presentation that is standard for barrel-aged sour ales.

Is Oude Tart worth the price? Oude Tart positions as a premium craft sour ale, and its 18-month red wine barrel aging, 98-point Wine Enthusiast rating, and limited-production nature justify its place above everyday sour offerings. For drinkers who value complexity and cellar-worthiness, it represents strong value within the barrel-aged sour category.

Why Oude Tart?

A 98-point score from Wine Enthusiast and a place among their Top 25 Beers of 2013 are not accolades handed out lightly, and Oude Tart earned them through a production approach that most American breweries do not attempt — a full 18 months of aging in red wine barrels for a Flemish-style red. That barrel regimen produces a tannin profile and vinous depth that sets it apart from both its Belgian antecedents and domestic peers. The result is a sour ale with genuine cellar potential and enough layered complexity to hold the attention of seasoned sour beer drinkers. In a category increasingly crowded with quick-turn kettle sours, Oude Tart remains a benchmark for patience and barrel craft.