Ommegang Rouge Grand Cru

Brewed by Bockor
Style: Sour Ale
Bellegem, Belgium

Tap. Tart cherry/raspberry malt aroma. Red-brown color with a nice head. Sweet tart cherry malt flavor. Nice dry finish. Well made - a real pleasure to drink.

Sampled September 2009
A soft pour from the growler into my 25cl tulip glass produces barely a wisp of a head. The beer is deep, almost burnt red color that shows a brilliantly clear, rich ruby hue and a slight carbonation when held up to the light. The aroma smells tart with a mix of lactic and acetic notes and it also smells of dark fruit; most prominently cherries, but a touch of tart raspberry and perhaps even a hint of cranberry. Towards the finish there is a touch of toasted malt character that becomes more noticeable if you really focus on the aroma.

A light prickle of carbonation couples with a medium body for a sour; the texture is nice, but it could certainly use a touch more carbonation. A rich cherry fruitiness is found here, much of it is brought out by a light acetic character that adds a touch of an edge to the more prominent lactic notes. This does have a nice sour tang to it this is balanced somewhat by a tannic astringency in the finish, a touch of oaky spiciness and a nice touch of woodiness. A touch of sweetness helps to accentuate the fruit character here. The combination of the acetic tang and the tannins from the oak contribute some part of a tart / tannic raspberry.

My second pour of this is a bit more vigorous and produces a light covering of tan colored froth. I really like the mix of oak, fruit, tartness and light sweetness in this brew; the end effect is a very drinkable, quite enjoyable brew. The finish has a nice toasted malt and caramelized grain character to it that lingers on the palate after the beer has left my mouth.

A very nice beer, it has lost some of its carbonation during its journey in the growler, but has held up quite well and the flavors in this beer are ones that any sour beer lover would love to experience. It could perhaps use a touch more complexity, but the balance that this beer achieves is quite nice.

Draught @ Brouwer’s Café:   Deep red, moderate to thin light beige head, little lacing.   Quite sour on the nose, a little bit of oak and cherry fruitiness.   This certainly appears to be a sour.   Quite tart on the tongue.   Sour, but not stinging.   Rather dry as well.   Hmmm... This one was better than expected.   Wow, really dry.   I would say sour but its so dry that the it just dries out your mouth very quickly.   Seems like its uber tart.   Full bodied.   Mouthfeel is fairly moderate.   Lingering oak and immature cherry fruitiness.   Dry tart finish, even a little sweetness.   I would sum this up as quite dry, tart, with a little bit of sweetness to round it out.   Well done Ommegang!

On tap at Capone’s. Smells of sour cherries. Tastes of sour cherries. No head. That’s all to say. If you like a super smooth sour with cherry flavor and great red color, this is for you. Even if you don’t, try it just for the heck of it. Great beer.

Draft at trappeze. A great brew. Reminiscent of red poppy, but a little more full bodied. Great.

Aroma of tart apple and cherries. Murky red appearance with creamy head. Flavor of BIG tart apple vinegar with a sour cherry\apple finish. Palate was bubbly. Pretty good.

On tap at Capones. Served in a snifter. Dark red with no head. The aroma is very sour and somewhat acetic with lots of cherry and raspberry character. The initial flavor is very sour cherry with some funk coming forward. Mid-palate the sour diminishes and wheat dough, and olive flavors emerge. Sourness is nearly gone by the finish which is also slightly astringent. That initial hit though is quite amazing.

Draft Sampler at Tyler’s Taproom. Pours a red beer with a thin off white fine head. Aroma is very fruity and cranberry apple smell, very smelly. Flavor is Super sour right off, then a sweet bitterness. Very sour and very smelly, but good!