Champagne Beer Has Landed!
Brut La Grande and Barrel-Aged Brut
In 2002, a completely new Belgian beer style was introduced to the market. Bières Brut, sometimes referred to as “Champagne beer,” met with much critical acclaim as an extraordinary new beer style. Bières Brut are very pale beers with delicate aromas and flavors (fresh apples, pears, ginger, mint, thyme, lemon and allspice), alcohol in the 11 to 12-percent range, a silky texture and a spectacular creamy, moussey white head with lots of “Belgian lace. While it resembles Champagne in many respects, many aficionados find it considerably more interesting than the French bubbly. Bières Brut brewers did not set out to make a Champagne substitute; they set out to make a great beer with unique character.
Bruz Beers Brut La Grande
Ever since 2017, Bruz has produced limited quantities of our own Bières Brut--Brut La Grande. We were one of only a few breweries making it back then and it has become an annual tradition for us. We brew it in February and release it just before Thanksgiving - in time to kick off the holiday season. And now (at last) the 2025 Brut La Grande has arrived! In addition, we are also releasing our Barrel-Aged Brut La Grande. All the goodness of Brut La Grande, but a little stronger and a little darker thanks to aging in a Talnua whiskey barrel. A real taste treat! Try them side-by-side to get the full experience.
Brut La Grande is a clear, golden beer with a moussey white head. Yeasty aromas of apples and pears lead you into rich flavors of crisp fall fruits with a touch of citrus and vanilla. Its hop rate is low and its 12 % alcohol is smooth and well-hidden. As a bottle-conditioned beer, it is well carbonated and finishes quite dry. Brut La Grande is an excellent interpretation of the style and has gotten very favorable reviews in comparative tastings with other Champagne beers.
It All Started With Two Rival Belgian Breweries
Bières Brut was first made by two rival breweries in the same Flemish town of Buggenhout. Brouwerij Bosteels makes DeuS Brut des Flandres Cuvée Prestige (Deus is Latin for God).
Brouwerij De Lantdtsheer makes Malheur Extra Brut, Malheur Brut Reserve (which is similar to DeuS) and Malheur Dark Brut, a mind-blowing dark version. “Malheur” is French for misfortune.
Based on the success of this new beer style, a growing number of Belgian and American craft breweries are now producing their own Bieres Brut.
Complex Production Process
Brewing Champagne beers is a complex process. Ingredients are simple—pale malted barley, clear brewing sugar and a light dose of noble hops. Primary fermentation is with a flavorful yeast followed by more sugar additions. The beer is finished with a Champagne yeast, which gives it a very dry finish and carbonates it in the bottle, giving it its dense, moussy head. The aging period is long, but essential to give this special brew its delicate character. We think it’s worth the extra effort!
Make Any Occasion Special
Champagne beers are naturals at Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentines Day, but honestly, you can drink them any time you want to treat yourself to something special. They go with pretty much any kind of food. Friends and family will love it when you show up with a bottle of our Brut La Grande for a party or special meal. But really, the bubbly brew is a party in a glass and a celebration of all things good!
