Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge - Brouwerij Bockor N.V.

Geuzedad

Arizona

5/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap in a goblet at The Birch in Norfolk VA. It pours a dark red with a white head that dissipates into great lacing.

Smell is dark fruit with a little funk and a hint of vinegar.

Taste is tart and sour, one of the sourest Flanders I have ever had. But it was great! Taste of sour cherries and grapes with a slight funk and vinegar finish. Not so much sweet as sour.

Good smooth mouth feel with an ending that makes you pucker.

This is a very balanced Flemish red, one of the best I have ever had. Great drinkability and flavor left me craving more. A great find if you can get it!

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2011 21:37:25 | More by Geuzedad

stealth

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Absolutely delicious, perfect flanders/flemish ale. I never thought something would come close to matching Consecration (my all-time #1), but this is right there. What an amazing example of the style.

Dark ruby red pour, thick pillowy head that dissipates in to excellent lacing. Great carbonation throughout the drink. The smell is sour and tart, and lets you know it's going to be delicious. Taste is sour, tart, finishes very dry. Makes your mouth pucker and pucker. Lots of funk with sour cherry/apple notes. Vanilla comes in a bit from the oak barrels.

Overall, I find no fault with this beer. I could drink it and drink it. Low ABV as well, making this an extremely sessionable beer. If you like sours get this now.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 06:55:54 | More by stealth

dashmartino

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Wow what a wonderful sour!
Recently learned more about sour beers after a California vacation and sampling some RRs and the like. Had this beer on tap at the Blind Tiger in NYC in a little tulip glass. Pours a dark ruby red, great whif of sourness that'll nock your socks off. First sip, you're hit with the wonderful sweet and sour combination, definitely taste the cherry as well. Can smell vinegar. For anyone who has never had a sour or wants to explore them, this is a great one to try first!

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2012 23:33:27 | More by dashmartino

globe1013

4.93/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I'm fairly new to the sour beers and I have to say I'm a big fan. From my understanding this is a Flanders Red Ale and it definitely looks the part. Once poured it has a small head but releases enough aroma to smell the sour notes.

First taste has a nice sour note but not too much to make your mouth pucker. After that it has a nice body and overall great cherry like flavor. Very smooth and very easy to drink.

If you're a fan of sours and have never tried this one do not pass it up. You won't be disappointed at all. At $6 for an 11.2 oz bottle in my area it's not too expensive but I could definitely could go broke drinking this beer. However if you're not a fan of sours I would steer clear of this one because it has a lot of sour notes to it.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 03:15:21 | More by globe1013

UA8

Washington

4.9/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a dark garnet color with a a light thin head sitting atop. The taste on this one is incredible it is complex and strong with a bold and refreshing tartness. The mouthfeel is one of the coolest things about this beer. It has a high acidity level with strips the palate and the leaves a tannic chewiness in its wake. A simply stunning example of the the style if you enjoy sours I can't imagine anyone not liking this one.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2010 23:50:02 | More by UA8

buyBinboaVodka

New Jersey

4.88/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark cherry brown with some ruby highlights. A small head that clings to the glass, but dissapates quickly.

S - I love the tart cherries, oak wood, sour apple, earthy undertones, and some vinegar cider. The smell is very pungent and it hits hard on the nostrils.

T - The taste buds are hit with an immediate surge of sourness and then are followed by tart cherries, sour apples and a dark wood flavor. The sourness is sharp at first but as the beer warms up a sweeter side starts to come through.

M - Medium carbonation with a sticky sour note that leaves a lasting impression in the mouth.

O - I think hands down this is one of my favorite sours that I can easily get my hands on. The balance is executed well and it brings a lot to the table with its bold flavors.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 20:59:29 | More by buyBinboaVodka

weatherdog

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

11.2 oz. bottle poured into a basic tulip glass.

I've had the beer several times on tap and enjoyed it, it wasn't until bottles came to Chicago that I really thought how awesome this beer is.

It pours a deep crimson/ruby with a light ivory head and low amount of lacing. Tiny bubbles rest on the surface.

The aroma is nearly perfect, it strikes a balance between sweet cherry aromas and the nose tingling acid with just a little caramelized sugar.

The flavor is just perfect. It's everything I'm looking for in a Flanders Red. It's just got bit of candy sugar sweetness up front. Then the tart mouth puckering acid develops. It's not nearly as acidic as a good lambic but it's also not a straight lacto sour either. It really toes the delicate line between complimentary vinegar flavor and just pour it on a salad. I just love it. Tart cherry flavors all over and it finishes with a nice sour patch kid thing.

The carb is just right, gentle and present but not too high as to increase the harsh flavors. The aftertaste consist soley of lingering acid, just like the aftertaste of a sour candy.

To keep it short this is probably the best Flanders Red I've ever had, Oude Tart can give it a good run for it's money though. Flanders is my favorite style as well so I've tasted a few in my life. It's just outstanding and only better that's it now widely available year round and only $22 per 4 pack.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 01:44:33 | More by weatherdog

nachos

Ohio

4.88/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

From bottle, batch no. 2 on the back.

Pretty red color with a nice head that sticks around

Smells sooo good, so very sour, lots of vinegar and red fruits

tastes amazing, like it smells, but double

Mouthfeel is perfect to me for a sour, I'd be tasting it on my teeth the next morning if i didn't brush

This is a fantastic sour to me, probably the best I've ever had, but I've not had the chance to have any RR or that crazy stuff people go nuts on here for, whats it called, candle poon? I don't know. This stuff is amazing to me. I'd drink it every day if I could.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 01:53:11 | More by nachos

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.85/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Freshly tapped keg, poured into a Jacobins snifter, different logo than the one on the new tap handle. (Might need to hold onto this collector's item?)

Deep garnet hue, dusky crimson, with a slim, slightly pinkish head, like puree of raspberry.

Aromatics leap out of the glass and run around the room. Sweet and sour dance around each other in kind of tart tarantella, raspberry, sour cherry, and grape and assorted other dark stone fruit mix it with the intoxicating otherworldly Belgian yeast funk. Little sweet, little sour, little funk, little fruit.

Taste: Here it boards the palate with pistols blazing, barrels are spilled over in a terrific melee, invaders pounce on the taste buds with ferocity. Fruit and bold tart flavors make their mark and spread deliciousness and refreshment far and wide, up and down, in and out. Medium body, adequate malt, wondrous oak effect, fantastic belgian flavor.

I could empty the dictionary in further attempts to outline the exact over-pouring of tastes encounter and experience felt upon the senses, but let us make it simple, shall we?
Sharp. Tart. Zesty. Fresh. Inviting. Refreshing. Vibrant. Puckering. Uninhibited. Un-compromised. Full expression of the Flanders Red style. Impossible to find a flaw.

Fruit flavor lingers long on the palate, finish is near interminable. Won't quit, hangs hard in the mouth, but you don't want it to leave. The berries are never gone, tartness never flags. If you can't get it sour enough, here's your beer.

This is a satisfying Red indeed, one that begs more and more consumption, if your pocketbook is fat enough.
Could be wilder, wickeder, but then it wouldn't be this. And this is fine, fine stuff.
I'm on snifter #2 as we type. This stuff is truly irresistible.

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2010 01:48:14 | More by feloniousmonk

CPeterson

Minnesota

4.85/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A -- A clear garnet brown brew that pours to a one finger off white head and settles to a thin froth, leaving little lacing.

S --Pungent tones of sour cherry, tart apple, and pronounced acid are dominating.

T --Sharp acid and cherry, juicy apple and extracted grape-like tannin flavors which are then balanced on the back by a nice mellow oak and a hint of vanilla. Very rich and flavorful.

M -- Moderate body and carbonation, with a tannic grip on the tongue that really sticks and makes the beer slightly resinous.

D -- A must try for any self confessed sour fanatic, and a fantastic representation of the style. Amazing.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 03:32:09 | More by CPeterson

fdig23

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Murky reddish brown

Nose: Pungent over-ripe apple, sour cherry, strawberry, vanilla, and honey, some farm-yard funk. Very vinous.

Taste: Complex and delicious. Juicy apple, sour cherry, sweet honey, oaky vanilla, a bit of hay bale funk. Could identify dozens of flavors in here. Reminiscent of nice Pinot Noir, but more complex and bold.

Mouthfeel: perfectly creamy and carbonated.

One of the most complex, intriguing, and delicious beers I've had. Truly something you could sip on for hours and continuously discover new things. A favorite for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 07:13:12 | More by fdig23

matjack85

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I had this on tap at Quencher's Saloon in Chicago. It was served in a brandy snifter filled to the halfway point, so maybe 10oz worth of beer.

Nice garnet red color with a 1-finger pinkish head that lasted awhile and left decent lacing.

The beer smelled like one of those sweet & sour fruit roll-ups made with a combination of sweet raspberries and sour cherries.

This stuff is sweet, sour, puckering, and delicious. Some red wine grape flavors infuse their way into the sweet raspberry and sour cherry flavors. Then add some additional malt for more sweetness, but balance that out with a hefty dose of that funky Belgian yeast. Not much hop presence. I think they use the tartness and sourness to balance all the sweetness here rather than adding any bitterness. A slight woodiness also works to keep it from being overly sweet.

If you're thinking this might be thick and syrupy, it's not. They found a way to keep it on the thin and refreshing side. Lots of puckering sourness with only moderate carbonation.

This is a delicious Flanders Red that I thoroughly enjoyed. The only thing keeping me from having another is its high price tag. At $8/glass I have to consume it as a once in awhile treat rather than an everyday guzzler.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2010 07:28:30 | More by matjack85

gigaknight

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased 02/09/12 at Binny's in Downers Grove,IL for $21.99. Batch 01.

A- Pours deep cherry red below a very hissy 2 finger enamel white head, which slowly settles into a pleasant film. I suppose the nose suggests that it should look a bit stickier in the lacing, but then again most Flanders Reds I've tried are too dry to leave really beautiful lacing. Nonetheless, this particular example does leave some reasonable legs. Very good considering the style.

S- Robust nose of tart cherries, apple cider vinegar, light caramel, and lemon zest. I could smell this beer as soon as I popped the cap, and a nicely bowled glass lets it open up very nicely. A bit of musty oak comes out upon sitting, which counters the tart sweetness in the nose nicely.

T- The beer immediately hits the palate with acetic notes of vinegar, followed by lush notes of blackberries, tart cherry, and more of that musty oak resonance to keep the sharpness of the other flavors in check. This is an absolute gobsmacker, but moves across the palate with grace. Finishes dry, but a lingering tartness remains for several moments, making the mouth water.

M- A tongue-puckering tartness is present for much of the sip, but it avoids unpleasantness at the hand of the myriad other flavors in play. This acidity also fades from the palate with reasonable pace, in as much that it won't get in the way of whatever food one might pair it with. Juiciness is derived from the sour notes, and provides good counterpoint to the otherwise dry mouthfeel and fine effervescence. Absolutely delicious.

O- Edging out Monk's Cafe as my favorite Flanders Red, Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge exemplifies the ideal balance in sours of this nature. It's really a treat to have them finally brought around here, and even one beer into the 4 pack, I feel that I got my money's worth out of the somewhat steep price tag.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 20:26:15 | More by gigaknight

vonnegut21

New York

4.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: Pours a deep, reddish brown with two fingers of white head.

S: Tart acidity, sour cherry, vanilla, oak and bready malt.

T: Huge lactic acidity. Bright tart cherry. Vanilla and oak. Supremely tasty. Wow.

M: Effervescent, puckering, pungent. Very drinkable.

O: Far and away the best Flanders Red I've ever had. Expensive at $26 a 4-pack, but completely worth it. My favorite "shelf sour" beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 03:55:01 | More by vonnegut21

AJ01923

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Wow, think melted cherry sour patch kids. Great balance between tartness and drinkability.
Pours deep beet red, no lacing and the smell allows you to anticipate the sourness. Your taste buds will be thrown off but in a great way. Great value, will be purchasing more.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 02:22:46 | More by AJ01923

richcwilliamson

Virginia

4.8/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had at rfd in dc. Agree with gentleman below:

"It pours a dark red with a white head that dissipates into great lacing.

Smell is dark fruit with a little funk and a hint of vinegar.

Taste is tart and sour, one of the sourest Flanders I have ever had. But it was great! Taste of sour cherries and grapes with a slight funk and vinegar finish. Not so much sweet as sour.

Good smooth mouth feel with an ending that makes you pucker.

This is a very balanced Flemish red, one of the best I have ever had. Great drinkability and flavor left me craving more. A great find if you can get it!"

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 22:46:40 | More by richcwilliamson

DavidST

Texas

4.8/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Found this one in San Antonio during my honeymoon, I'm excited to try it. Poured from a 33cl bottle into a goblet, code of 03 on the back. This pours a slightly hazy dark brown with hints of read and a smaller fizzy short lived head. The smells are very tart and vinegary, sour cherries, brett, some barnyard funk and a hint of vanilla. The feel is medium, high carbonination. The taste is amazing, extremely tart / sour, almost overwhelming, but then you get a hint of sweet balance, some vanilla, plenty of sour cherries. I wish I bought more of these, this is excellent, one of the finest sours I've had.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 05:49:19 | More by DavidST

Dracula

New Mexico

4.79/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A: Dark burgundy, nice head with a vigorous pour that dissipated quickly. Not much lacing.

S: Very lactic, tart cherries, and leathery notes.

T: Amazing. Tart cherries, leather, tart, and sweet. very well balanced.

M: Coats the tongue, the tartness induce salivation which is good.

O: Surprisingly good. I am impressed. I would recommend this to anyone that loves tart wild ales.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 02:00:07 | More by Dracula

dirtylou

Washington

4.78/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

on-tap, map room chicago - have had this on tap a number of other times in WI

appearance: served in an unbranded tulip, dark garnet body and a light beige ring, active carbonation

smell: very tart - red wine vinegar, pure sugar, tart cherry and raspberry, oak barrel

taste: really wonderful example of the style - maybe the best really. tart cherries, raspberry, sugar, oak barrel, cider vinegar. Each sip is more stunning than the last - vibrant, tongue buckling, exciting, provocative. very much perfect.

mouthfeel: tart and lively, wonderful.

overall: very very good

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2011 23:14:55 | More by dirtylou

riored4v

Colorado

4.78/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep ruby color in to my tulip glass. 1/2 finger, white head that faded quickly to a thin ring on the outside.

Aroma was amazing. Dark fruit, cherry, and a good amount of acidity. Some oak aroma and a light maltyness. A bit of raisen as well.

Sour and tart. Good amount of cherry, prune and dark fruit upfront. Turned a mellow sweetness, then a smack you in the sides/back of your mouth tart/sourness. Good amount of tannins and acidity. Light oak flavors. Clean finish with mild acidity and grape flavors leaves you wanting more.

Mouthfeel was medium body, medium/high carb and a super dry finish.

One of the better/best sours I've had. Great balance of flavors with some nice complexity in the flavors that blend really well.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 00:42:21 | More by riored4v

kazmanbrew

California

4.75/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

First time for this beer. I want disappointed. The pour into a goblet-style vessel was a little flat, just a thin light reddish brown head. The aroma was, however quite nice, a light acid, more fruit...probably cherry or berry:
Mouthfeel was perfect. Effervescent, sharp enough, but not puckering. Taste just great. Perfect balance of acid, richness of raisins and wine.

It's hard to believe I hadn't heard of this fine beer before...although I'm still fairly new to the style.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2012 03:05:22 | More by kazmanbrew

mikeyv35

New York

4.75/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Date: 01/23/2012
Type: 11.2oz. Bottle
Vintage: Back Label Had 01, maybe 2001?
Glass: Ommegang Chalice

Pours a very wine-esque ruby red w/ brown mahoghany highlights, w/ a 1/2 finger white head that produces nice sticky lacing. Aromas of cherry, oak, Luden's cherry cough drops(medicinal), and funk. Taste starts off w/ face distorting tart/sour cherry and apple, which leads into oak and a touch of cocoa, and finishes w/ a funky twang. Medium bodied and lush. Great depth of flavors and finishes pretty dry.

Overall, this brew blew me away! Hands down the best Flanders Red I have ever had. Squashes Oude Tart! Also, just found out this brewery helped brew Ommegang Rouge, no wonder it is rated so high. Seek this brew out, it is the real deal.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 18:56:53 | More by mikeyv35

MtnBiker

Oklahoma

4.75/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Flanders goblet from a 33cl bottle. Pours a nice, dark reddish-brown with a fizzy head that quickly dissipates. Smell is of some sour fruits. The first few sips are almost like sucking on a lime it's so sour! Tastes like sour cherries and green apples, delicious! Great carbonation. This is in my book one of the best sours out there. Definitely the best I've had.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 01:53:31 | More by MtnBiker

WynnO

Florida

4.73/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer's appearance is what you expect for the style--dark brown, reddish. The smell is like old fruit that's gone sour. It prepares you for what's coming :-)

The initial taste is *quite intense*, knocking me a little harder than others in this class. I must admit a love for flagellation from Flanders Red's though, and this one does not disappoint. This seems a slightly bigger beer than its Belgian brothers (Rodenbach, Duchesse) only because the palette doesn't take to it as quick; the last drink from the glass still had a great sour kick to it.

It is a bit bubbly on the tongue but not overwhelmingly so. The beer is well balanced and dry, although I must say, this one wants to make sure that the drinker does not forget what it is!

Near perfection to this reviewer. I cannot wait (but I must) to drink the remaining two in my stock.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 04:33:07 | More by WynnO

UpToMeBeer

Colorado

4.72/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this one on-tap at Fresh Craft in Denver.

A-- Dark rosy & brownish in color. Foamy head of about one-finger; it fades slowly with minimal to moderate amount of lacing.

S-- Tart fruit - apple, cherry, and berries.

T-- tart sour fruits-- cherry dominant with a hint of plumb. Semi-sweet. Long tart fruity finish.

M-- medium-bodied, mouth puckering, just the right amount of carbonation.

I like my sours on the extreme side, and this beer definitely delivers! I only had one glass. Not sure I would want more than that in one session. I feel like a little goes a long way, but I sure do enjoy a little!

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2011 00:18:14 | More by UpToMeBeer