Ommegang Rouge Grand Cru

Brewed by Bockor
Style: Sour Ale
Bellegem, Belgium

Name: Rouge Flemish Sour Ale
Brewery: Brewery Ommegang (Moortgat)
Date: October 17, 2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Taco Mac, Decatur
Appearance: opaque dark red, wispy beige head
Aroma: fruity aroma with lots of cherry tartness
Flavor: huge tart cherry pit flavor, fruity sweetness is quickly balanced by the tart cherry
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4

(BCTC, draft) Off-white head atop clear mahogany body. Aroma is medium sweet, some sourness, cherry, farmhouse yeast. Taste is medium sweet, sour cherry, light yeast. Light acidity, light-medium body.

On tap at Capone’s. Poured a medium to deeper reddish/brown color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of wood (the wood really came out as it warmed up), earthy, light funk, and cherries. Tastes of wood, cherries, some vanillla, and lightly vinous. This was fine, but I kept thinking I want my sours to be a little more ’sour and tart’.

Objectively speaking: An appealing experimental brew with a fair dose of lactic acid.
I like: Chossing its acid types wisely, avoiding acetic, but venturing into lemony citric as much as yogurty lactic. Appropriately wild yeastiness is a fine match for the deep cherry flavours. Dry and excellently textured with effervescent, but smooth Belgianesque palate. Perhaps steel-aged, but still tasting woody, oaky – the flavour actually dominates the finish. It’s not Rodenbach, but takes a genuine shot at it and might be tarter at that.
I dislike: Not particularly appealing clear burgundy looks with minimal head.

(Draft) Pours a hazy ruby body with a small off-white head. Aroma of sour cherries, leather, nuts, balsamic vinegar, and oak. Flavor of sour cherry, vinous, caramel malt, earthiness, and dry oak.

On tap at Max’s Belgian Fest: Pours a transparent dark copper mahogany with a thin ring of cream-colored head. Aroma of tart cherries and lightly sweet caramel with good oaky character. Body starts with good thickness and effervescent carbonation along with complex tart fruity flavors and good sweet malty balance before a crisp puckering finish. Very true to style and enjoyable.

***Re-Rate*** Draft... This beer rocks!... Even better on draft. Fresh, this is the ultimate session beer. I could drink it all day... every day! ***Original Rating***Growler... Clear burnt-orange ale with crimson highlights. Earthy, woodsy, funky nose with lots of sour and barnyard notes. Medium-bodied with tickling carbonation. Fruity and very tart, but not quite sour thanks to a touch of residual sugar that keeps it within the style guidelines of a Flanders red. Tart, lightly sweet finish that dries way out. Thanks so much to SoLan for bringing this along to the semi-grand opening of the new redlight redlight in Orlando!

Growler courtesy of Alexsdad06. Pours red/brown with a thin white head. Tastes tarte with a nice vinous quality. Venry dry with a great hint of residual sugar quality. Very surprising.