Ichtegems Grand Cru

Brewed by Brouwerij Strubbe
Style: Sour Ale
Ichtegem, Belgium

750mL bottle, marked 09-2012. Pours clear reddish brown, topped with a small tan head. Aroma is fairly restrained, with sour cherry, butter, and wood. Flavor is primarily oaky and a bit acidic, with berries, butter, and citrus. Thin bodied, with a dry finish. Aroma is far more interesting than the flavor.

Bottled, 2006.
Dark red with pale brown creamy head. Vineous, fruity, acidic nose with reminiscense of cheese. Light gluey without being sweet. Pretty smooth body with light, light prickly Co2. Here are little berries, red apples, wood and bit acidity. Refreshing beer with some woody astringency. And it’s dry. Seemingly a very balanced beer that’s just solid.

(Bottle, vintage 2005) Reddish brown colour with frothy, beige head. Fruity, slightly acetic nose with notes of vinegar, cherries, oak wood and leather. Fruity, sourish taste with cherries, cowberries, red apples, vinegar and a touch of oak. Medium body, smooth mouthfeel. Not overly sour and not overly sweet. Very well balanced. Possibly not the most complex of sour ales, but really tasty and balanced. Very enjoyable.

Bottle, BB 08/2010. Poured clean ruddy brown with a spotty dusting of off-white head. The aroma picked up significant doses of sour cherry mash and oak, with what seemed like a crisp bourbon presence around.. smelled dry and nicely balanced. The flavor had a touch of dry caramel and chocolate at the core surrounded by a lot of the same character as the nose (cherries, oak, and vanilla.. and I swear there was some crisp bourbon at the edges).. finished moderately sour with spicy yeast, bourbon, and oak. Medium-bodied and dry on the palate with a decent flow to it.. overall an enjoyable drink.

Dark brown in color with a decent sized off-white head. Aroma is of hay and mint with some sour notes. Flavor is tart with oak and light hop flavors. Very dry.

Brewed in Belgium.......Pours a reddish brown color with a sm-off white head that quickly dissipates. Aroma of sour cherries, wood and malts. Taste is of mild tart cherries, dark fruit and a hint of oak. The mouthfeel starts out prickly and sour, but finishes sweet and dry . This would be a great start if you want to try a sour ale.

12oz bottle. Pours a deep deep red so dark its almost black. Big tan head that hangs around for a long while. Gorgeous looking beer. Nose is tart sour cherries, a little balsamic but not alot. Some strong oak notes. Taste is lightly tart cherry. Very little sourness at all. This seems very young. Strong yeast notes, and some alcohol warmth. Not really representative of the style but as a belgian ale its quite good. Very strong woody oak notes in the finish with a great touch of caramel. This needs more acidity and more sourness but its still an excellent beer. A Sour though? Not so much.

Pours dark reddish brown with light tan head. Light fruity aroma. Mildly sour fruit flavor with some wood notes. Medium body with moderate carbonation and a dry finish. A very subdued sour ale.