The name Rousse de Brabant – ‘Brabant Russet’ – inevitably evokes John I, the most distinguished of the Dukes of Brabant, poet and knight, and a man whose reputation as a military and political strategist extended far and wide. No rival could get the better of him at tournaments, and his jousting was invariably accompanied by fabled festivities with plenty of liquid refreshment. But there’s a chink in every suit of armor, and in John’s case it was his constant need for money to fund his pursuit of the ladies. Among these was one whose flamboyant red hair particularly inflamed his passion, but who – alas! – resisted his advances. To win her over, he hit upon the idea of asking his master brewer to create a sweet, light ale with red highlights.