Ommegang Rouge Grand Cru

Brewed by Bockor
Style: Sour Ale
Bellegem, Belgium

One of the two finest sour beers I’ve ever had the delight to sample (at Redmond, Wa.’s Malt and Vine. Wonderfully tart aroma of barnyard, funk, horseblanket, and wood. Not overpowering, but rather almost seductive, which is no mean feat for a such an assertive sour to pull off. The only reason I deducted a single point was because it could have been just that slightest bit more ’’room filling’’. The flavor contained all of the above elements, and the Brett really shone in this beauty, but there also a number of fruity undertones, from strawberry to apricot, that kept appearing, and fading, which contributed to craving another sip.The finish was nearly endlessly sour, but finally, it was beautifully dry, and that also contributed to a desire for more. My companions and I went through three glasses there, and then brought a growler to go, with the intent of drinking it a couple of days hence, but it was so compelling that we ended up nearly polishing it off in the evening. I love serious sours, but I’m usually sated after a couple, especially if they are really mouth puckering, but in this caseI was happy to make an exception.

Had this after the excellent Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout at Smokin’ Joe’s in Pittsburgh. What a great double hitter. Pours a brownish red with a small but thick looking eggshell head. Smells of cherry and wood. I’ve had a lot of sours in the range of this scent and it could go either way but.. Taste..this is just perfect, one of the best Flanders Red, if not THE best I have had. Sweet and sour cherry dominate with an acidic bite that is just right. Mouth is also a revelation, I usually like this style thin and bubbly but it brings things more toward the middle with a great result. I wanted a growler of this but I kicked it.

Growler from Bierkraft. Deep red-brown beer with a fast-fading white head. Mmmm, gorgeous oaky fruity aroma. Rich tartness, lightly acetic with a nice red grape vineous character. Oak, vanilla and a rich berry fruitiness as well. Man, the flavour is so good that I barely have the words to describe it. Rich cherry fruit, red grape, sweet oak and earthy woodiness. Lingering sweet/sour finish that just lasts and lasts. Perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. Awesome!

(draft @ 2009 Flour City Brewer’s Fest - Frontier Field - Rochester, NY) Deep ruby red color with a light red head. Aroma is loaded with tart and sour cherries and a lot of really good sour funk. Some sweetness from the oak. Flavor is a blast of tart and sour cherries mixing with some light sweetness and vanilla. Finishes tart with a load of cherry flavors. Outstanding.

Draft, at BCTC. This was my favorite of the fest, so i went back for numerous samples. Poured dark brown with ruby highlights, topped with a small off-white head. Aroma of sour cherry, vanilla, wild yeast, oak, and leather. The flavor was much more tart than the aroma, with sour cherry, oak, vanilla, nuts and leather the primary flavors. The cherries provide just enough sweetness to keep the sourness in check. Long, dry, oaky finish. I was very impressed with this beer and can’t wait to try it again.

One of my all time favourites. It has sour, candy, beer, soda, etc all in one. If I could always have this....

On tap, Roadhouse. This beer is a standout, and tantalizingly different from Ommegang’s other offerings. Appearance is clear, dark ruby with a fluffy white head that sat nicely in the tulip glass it was served in. Aroma has immediate tartness mostly of the sour cherry variety, but there is also cranberry, watermelon, and earthiness. Flavor also lends immediate sour qualities, made crisp and quaffable by a full but effervescent palate. The primary flavors are surinam cherry, strawberry syrup, and unsweetened cranberry, and earthiness. Sweet fruit/malt sits content in the background, present but never asserted. Overall, this beer is close to perfection for me, and totally unassuming given the name, alcohol, brewery, etc. Perfectly balanced, perfectly drinkable.

Tap at Stub & Herbs. Dark, nearly brown, red with a medium head. It takes some time for the aroma of cherries and sour malt to come out, but it is there. The taste is outstanding. Tart and sour cherries mixed with a complex sour barnyard funk. Thick, malty, a little caramelly. Friggin delicious.