I first had the Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge about 2 months ago during a Sudsy Sunday drinking session with The Usual Suspects (do I really need to mention them by name?) at The Pourhouse in Westmont, NJ. This beer was recommended to me by our friendly neighborhood bartender (aka Marci) when I mentioned that I was in the mood for a Duchesse De Bourgogne. It was one of those “if you like that one, then you just HAVE to try this one” kind of moments. I really enjoyed this beer the first time around, so I figured that I may as well pick up a bottle for a proper review.

The Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge Flemish Sour Ale is brewed by Brouwerij Bockor of Bellegem, Belgium. Here is what they have to say about this beer:

Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge is a Flemish Sour Ale, red in color with a beguiling balance of malty sweetness and acidic sharpness. It is made from spontaneously fermented and barrel-aged beer of at least 18 months in age. The beer is cooled overnight in a large, shallow metal vessel called a coolship and then fermented and aged in large oak foudres which are made in France and assembled on-site at Bockor.

And now for my second impressions of this beer…

Appearance: Murky red/brown color. Tan head that dissipates rapidly and leaves a thin bead of foam around the inner rim of the glass.

Murky red/brown color. Tan head that dissipates rapidly and leaves a thin bead of foam around the inner rim of the glass. Aroma: Very prominent, sour berry aroma. Balsamic vinegar. A hint of cane sugar sweetness.

Very prominent, sour berry aroma. Balsamic vinegar. A hint of cane sugar sweetness. Taste: Lightly carbonated with soft fizzy bubbles that dissipate rapidly when they hit your tongue. Mouth puckering tartness from beginning to end. A hint of cane sugar sweetness. Very astringent finish that reminds me of a tannin rich red wine.

Lightly carbonated with soft fizzy bubbles that dissipate rapidly when they hit your tongue. Mouth puckering tartness from beginning to end. A hint of cane sugar sweetness. Very astringent finish that reminds me of a tannin rich red wine. ABV: 5.5%

The Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge is a seriously tart and flavorful beer! What I really like is that it actually improves as it comes up to room temperature. The tartness mellows a bit as it warms up and allows some of that faint malt sweetness to come through. While I enjoyed drinking this beer on it’s own, it begs to be paired with food, i.e. some creamy cheese, a few slices of cured meats, or maybe even a Porterhouse steak topped with blue cheese. If you’re a fan of Flemish Sour Ales, then I highly recommend that you give this beer a try. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.