Rosetta
Brewery Ommegang

L: Pours a darker brilliant red with a small white head and no lacing.

S: Aroma is a little light with some nice notes of cherry and nice sour and tartness.

T: Tart and slightly sour cherry, with a note of toasted caramel and vanilla.

F: Carbonation could be a bit higher with a medium body

O: Solid cherry sour beer

 

The pint can came with an updated label, but it has to be the same as the original brew. The pour that emptied it entirely into a clear glass liter mug also produced some generous foam. Barely tinted by the liquid beneath, it receded to less than a proper head, quickly. The beer is brightly and somewhat lightly mahogany-amber, without any cloudiness. It smells sour and of tannins. There's little else coming through for the nose, reasonably seeking some cherry, than is there. Thankfully, there's some cherry to taste and it almost stands up to the tannins. This is, thanks to the tannins, truly more sour than tart. Credit to this being a good example of the original style than merely providing a tart cherry flavored beer. Whether that appeals is completely a beer drinkers' choice. There's enough malt to provide a sweet counterbalance and make a light, but acceptable and pleasant for the overall, mouthfeel. The tannins are the only taste distraction, as the Belgian style yeastiness, bringing its own specific dominant taste inclusion, is well in check here. There's some glass lacing, but that's not the reason to appreciate, nor dismiss this beer. It's short of world-class distinction, but checking reservations about Flanders Reds, this can be very enjoyable.

Aroma is zesty Belgian yeast and sweet cherries. The flavor is fruit, malts, smooth/even texture and a mildly sweet cherry/spicy Belgian yeast finish.

On tap:
Nice deep ruby body with a finger head that completely curtains the glass. Nose has a lovely funky sour note that I haven’t really had in a while, so the rating may be running a bit high. It is funky sour, not acidic sour, more earthy than tart, more wooden than piquant. I am living in the nose.

So much so of note the cherries, which are obviously there, but not trying to be too powerful. Taste brings a bit more fruity seeetness than I expected. It’s still fairly earthy, but the sour and funk are muted. The beer is light-plus in heft and nicely effervescent.

Warmth brings a bit more tang to the beverage, but I really wish the nose transferred to the taste more directly.

 

RB transfer

Brown with a shade of red. Big , pink head . Cherries, sourness and hint of yeasts in aroma . Cherries and malt in tart/sweet taste . Delicious beer.

 

Light reddish brown highlights are quite evident within the clear, mahogany beer (SRM 17-19). One and a half inches of tight almond head falls to a veil, leaving a coating of fine lace on a small Simpi pint glass.

Wow, that's a lot of cherry! Black cherry dominates the aroma over mild brown sugar and rhubarb pie. Warmth releases light graham cracker. There is no real funkiness to speak of.

Tartness is modest and there is no sourness at all. Unsurprisingly, the cherry comes out strong, with mild sweetness. Light bitterness and currants show up as it warms. There is a quick burst of berries in a very short-lived finish. I didn't notice any caramelization.

A medium body and soft, watery texture. The alcohol is as advertised, while the carbonation is modest and there is a mild quality of minerals.

Overall, this one was a little disappointing. It seems to be a commercial example of the style. While there is nothing wrong or offensive, I think a Flanders Oud Bruin should be somewhat offensive. It should pop with tartness. Nevertheless, as cherry beers go, this one is enjoyable, and I have three cans waiting in the wings.

I have a preference for cherries beers. This one hits my sweet spot. Clean finish. Nicely balanced. Hard to stop at just one.

 

Bought at Liquor Shed in Casper, best by August 28th 2023.

It pours a reddish brown with a small but very long lasting head of foam, lacing is superb.

It smells of cherries, Brett, the overall nose leans on the medicinal side.

The taste is a bit dull. ( single can sitting on a warm shelf)
The cherries seem to have lost their luster. It is not have a lot of tartness, not much going on.

Good mouthfeel. I will give the smell and taste a 3 because I'm sure that under the right conditions, this would shine.

 

L: Big peach head, pours cloudy
S: Tea, cherry
T: Dull sour cherry, metal (copper)
F: unmemorable
O: Sour enough, not enough cherry(?), metal after tasted not a good thing... wish it was better, looks complex but not bourne out by taste/smell

 

Poured into a goblet: color is amber, head is off white/very light tan, presents 1/2 inch thick, head dissipates to thin ring along glass with spotty lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is cherry forward (not overdone) with barrel complexities, light earth, funk, sour lactic note, light oak, vanilla.

Taste is more barrel/funk forward, cherry follows, sour lactic notes, earth, aged/oak quality, hint of vanilla.

Mouthfeel is light/moderate carbonation, moderate sweet/sourness which is milder for the style but within range and well put together, no bitterness, lingering slow lactic pucker.

Overall a very subtle, but high quality blended sour - light but pleasant barrel notes, aged malt qualities, funky and somewhat fresh, cherries are not overdone.

750 mL crown cap bottle from the LCBO; best before Apr 2022 and served slightly chilled. Never reviewed a real oud bruin before, though I have enjoyed the krieks I've tried over the years.

Pours a clear copper-brown colour with ruby red highlights; it's initially topped with one finger of frothy, buff-tinged head that falls apart within two minutes or so. A soapy, sudsy collar and bubbly film continue to grace the surface afterwards, with a small amount of lace - I haven't had all that many Flemish sours (red or brown), but this resembles the ones I've tried. Sweet black cherry and sour cherries on the nose, with hints of sugar and light vinegar; not a lot of funk, but there are suggestions of vanilla and cherry pit.

Very nice, mellow sour, though it's honestly not all that sour IMO. Mild backdrop of caramelized sugars and doughy malts, with sweet black cherry flavour dominating at first; it transitions more toward sour cherry on the back end, with hints of vanilla, and very light acetic/vinegar sourness dissipating at the finish, concluding with sweet cherry juice in the aftertaste. Medium in body, with relatively lively, fine-bubbled carbonation that softly tickles the palate continuously with each sip; feels smooth in the mouth, and surprisingly crisp/drinkable for a Flemish-style sour. I was a little worried that finishing the whole bottle would be tiresome, but the low sourness, moderate abv and high sessionability quickly alleviated that concern.

Final Grade: 4.08, an A-. I still don't think I can say I've reviewed a real oud bruin, as Ommegang's Rosetta is blended with kriek lambic, making it a derivative hybrid of the style at best. However, its cherry flavours are simply delightful, and totally authentic - this is a beer brewed for cherry beer lovers, first and foremost, and I think anyone who fits that description would enjoy this beer (even if they're not too keen on sour stuff in general). I haven't seen this around here in a while, but I'd pick it up again if given the chance.

 

Had on tap. Mostly opaque reddish brown appearance with a khaki head and light bands of lacing. Smell and taste are clones: big cherry with light vanilla in a lower depth oud bruin with lacto and faint spices. Flashes of cherry coke honestly. Feel is playfully sour with faint darker oak supporting in a medium body, carb is sneaky high. I like it though but not sure I need to have again given how limited the depth is.