Ichtegems Grand Cru

Brewed by Brouwerij Strubbe
Style: Sour Ale
Ichtegem, Belgium

Bottle, 75cl (2005). Reddish brown colour with a large tan head. Strong vinous nose with notes of strawberries, cherries, toffee & wood. Thin vinous taste with slightly sour tones of red berries. Interesting (at small volumes...).

Bottled. Pours out in a clear deep red colour with purple hints with a huge frothy white foam. Lactic and fruity aroma of red berries, wood, vinegar, tart cherries. Sweeter flavour of cherries and raspberries with touches of brown sugar and wood. Cherries, mild oak and dark over-riped fruit in the finish. Promising aroma but it’s a bit too sweet for me flavour wise.

33cl bottle pours dark, murky purple and brown with a 1/2 inch large-bubbled, dark tan colored head. Nose of tinny oak, black cherries, red wine vinegar and red grapes, with the metallic copper and tin notes a bit too strong and overpowering, but otherwise it has a nice, spicy, funky nose. Velvety soft texture up front, lighter on the back, with the flavor in general being quite mild: some soft floral notes, some red wine, grape juice, some faint oak. Mildly sour and prickly, turning more towards a semi-sweet grape juice in the finish. An enjoyable, quiet Flemish sour.

On tap at Max’s Taphouse in Baltimore during their Belgian fest. Pours a deep, translucent dark brown with a white slim head. Sour aroma that’s a bit fruity with plenty of grapes. Flavor is sour but extremely unique with grapes and yeast dominating. A weird, earthy and cheesy flavor also races over the tongue. Slightly creamy texture on the end. One of a kind.

On tap at Max’s. Dark brown-red with a white head. Sour aroma with lots of fruit - grape and citrus. Hints of candy. Slightly sour taste at first. Fruity with citrus. Gives way to bitterness and a weird buttery finish. Not particularly good, but not bad either...a little strange.

Sampled on-tap 5-7-2007. Pours a dark brown that looks like ruby when held to light. Heavily clouded. Nose is strong with wood and a touch of cherry. Flavor is pretty sweet and not really that sour at all. Firm, but not obnoxious wood tones. Feel is standard on the liquid and slightly bubbled on the tongue. Very drinkable. If you don’t like the more sour versions of this style, you might appreciate this tamer version.

Bottle. Pour a clear deep amber with a small off-white head that fades to a ring and leaves good lacing. Aroma of tart cherries, oak, and brett spice. Taste is tart cherries, oak, and some barnyard goodness. Medium thin mouthfeel with a mild amount of bitterness and nice acidic finish. Very good.

Pours a deep ruby brown color with a light brown head. Aroma is funky, some sweetness, oak, vanilla, and tart fruit. Flavor is oak, funk, vanilla, tart fruit with a dry woody finish.