Ommegang Rouge Grand Cru

Brewed by Bockor
Style: Sour Ale
Bellegem, Belgium

On tap at the Beer Engine. Pours very dark brown with off white head. Was clear dark brown. Aroma was tart lemon, funk, barnyard, and oak. Medium light mouthfeel with a fair amount of carbonation that tickled my tongue. Flavor was sour tart lemon, woody, oaky, brett, tobacco, leather, and was very smooth. This was a nice brew.

On tap at Max’s in Baltimore. The pour was brown with lots of ruby highlights. A short, off-white head with bits of lacing. The aroma is tart cherry in front of sweeter malts and underlying wood and very slight earthiness. The flavor is tart cherry and oak. A slight hint of vinegar. Plenty of sweetness (from the malts I’ll assume). Effortless mouthfeel that finishes crisp and dry. Very nice.

Sampled on draft at Smokin Joes in Pittsburgh PA this beer poured a dark ruby color with a trace beige head. The aroma was very tart and dry berries. The flavor was tart, dry, tangy, sour and fruity. The finish was short sour and tart. Well done.

Enjoyed on draft in a fluted glass. This was one of the great beers I’ve been fortunate enough to sample. Aromas of red wine, a slight touch of malt, and cherries come through - almost teasing the drinker to just dump the whole thing on his/her face. Flavors of sour cherries, background sweetness, and of course...tartness, come through in the palate. The finish is bone-dry. Overall, a wonderfully crafted Belgian classic.

On tap at Redlight Redlight. Dark ruby brilliance in a fizzy pour. Cranberry, pomegranate, grapefruit, and raisins. A refreshing balance of sweet and sour perfection. Pleasantly surprised by this tart, fruity offering.

On tap at The Thirsty Monk, Asheville. Sour cherry, oak, acid, and berries. Sooo tart in the nose with lovely green apple. Dark coppery brown clear with thin lacing head. Medium body with medium-heavy carbonation. Perfectly sour with teeth, and mine hurt afterwards. Tingling bite, acidic, and woody with cherry and berries. So tart but so delicious. Done very well. Finish is acidic and sour and puckering. Terrific sour with lactic after. Super stuff and I hope to have it again.

Aroma is tart with refined wood character. Malt aroma is rich and elegant. Pours beautiful red-burgundy with off white head, that left some lacing. Flavor was strikingly sour, yet balanced and malty with slight woodiness - would drink this everyday.

On tap at Toronado SF. Poured into a tulip glass. Ruddy brown color with a frothy tan head. Aroma is cranberries, apples, and caramel. Flavor is in the La Folie vein of Flanders Reds, with a solid acetic acidity tempered by caramel apple sweetness. Good balance, great mouthfeel, and one of the easier to drink sours I’ve had.