Ommegang Rouge Grand Cru

Brewed by Bockor
Style: Sour Ale
Bellegem, Belgium

Pours dark brown in color with a bit of a reddish hue. Some carbonation bubbles on the pour, but almost no head. Smell is all funk. There’s a bit of fruitiness to it. Plenty of carbonation in the mouthfeel as well. This is very sour. But not too much. This is very easy drinking and inviting. Well done. I would buy this occasionally if they were to every bottle it.

Tap @ Lucky Baldwin’s, Pasadeezy. Not the most complex brew you’ve ever had, but stupidly drinkable and very satisfying. Aroma underwhelming. Flavor notes of tart berry and milk. Simple, which may not be everyone’s thing.

Draft @ Buckeye Beer Engine. Deep burgundy color with little head, little carbonation. Huge sour tartness smacks you in the face upon initial sip. Flavors of dark fruits and cherries, like cranberry juice. The sourness levels a bit throughout. It doesn’t finish quite as well as Rodenbach Grand Cru or New Belgium La Folie, but excellent nonetheless. Why is this not bottled??????????????

Had on draft at Buckeye Beer Engine in Lakewood, OH. I was pleasantly surprised at how good this Flemish sour was. It reminded me of La Folie from New Belgium and even Rodenbach Grand Cru. I love this style of beer, and it impresses me to no end that American Brewers are creating these at this high of a level. This beer is sour, tart, tangy and full of that yeasty Belgian flavor that I love. It does not finish nearly as well as the two mentioned earlier as it lacks that oaky bite, but a great session beer nonetheless.

On tap at Hopcat in Grand Rapids. Poured a nice red color with just a couple of small bubbles on top. Aroma was very nice, tart and full, vinegar and berries. Taste was much the same, a very full flavor in the middle and a nice little finish. Nothing rediculously tart, but enough to satisfy the craving, and good to sip on. Great night. Best of luck to the bros and a safe trip home!

Growler shared by shigadeyo from Party Town. Poured clear brown with a medium fizzy off-white head htat lasted with good lacing. Heavy complex tart fruit woody aroma. Medium body. Medium sour fruit flavor with medium sweet & sour finish of medium to long duration. This is a standout sour beer.

On tap at Delaney’s in New Haven. Malty vinegar aroma. Hazy amber color with no head. Malty beginning that gets very sour and tangy in the finish. Well balanced sour very drinkable.

10/08/2008: Ommegang Grand Cru Rouge has a sour cherry-like aroma laced with tart raspberries and dry cranberries. The color of the beer is a clear, reddish brown color and it has a very little, but frothy head on top. The flavor is sour with a very subtle cherry, but it seems to fall of quickly. It is tart, but doesn’t pucker the lips. It has more of a dry/sweet/sour/tart finish to it. Although I think it is getting more and more sour with each taste (and as it warms), more of the fruity sweetness is starting to come through. Tart raspberries also pop out in the finish along with dry, tart cranberries. The body is medium-light and slips down effortly. This is a very balanced beer that I would consider to be a good introductory sour for most people and still quite respectable for regular sour beer lovers. Surprisingly, my wife who is not a big beer fan at all really likes this beer.

Draught via growler fill from Party Town in Florence, Kentucky shared at the weekly Party Source gathering. Rating #62 for this beer...