Posted in New Releases

NEW RELEASE: Ommegang Zuur

Zuur means sour.  Ommegang Zuur is Flemish Sour Brown Ale and is a special release by Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY.)  The back story to this beer is a little complicated, hopefully this is explanation is simple enough…

Zuur is collaboration between Ommegang and Leifmans Brewing out of Belgium.  Zuur is a  blend of two beers from Liefmans Brewing.  The Belgian brewer has been in existence since 1679, and produces Oud Bruin, Goudenband, Lambic and Cuvee and was recently acquired by Duvel Moortgat Brewing in Breedonk, Belgium.

Leifmans is unique, as they use a blending process in their brews.   Blending was a method of beer preservation before the onset of refrigeration.  Older beers were blended with younger beers to liven up the flavor.  The brewery uses a mix of fermentation methods (open fermenation, spontaneous fermentation, and bottle fermentation before blending the younger beers with older beers.  Most of Liefmans brews will aged up to 2 years before being blended with a younger counterpart.

Zuur is a blend of Leifmans Oud Bruin, and Liefmans Cuvee Brut.  Brut is the newest brew out of Leifmans.  It’s Oud Bruin with cherries added and aged for 1 year.  Then its blended with younger Oud Bruin and blended again with Goudenband, a Belgian brown ale.  (You almost need  flowchart to keep up. )

From the Label:

Zuur — or Sour — is our collaborative Flemish sour brown ale. A beer whose style arises from the mists of brewing history. It uses mixed fermentation, real fruit, significant aging, and master blending.

All of these are ancient and revered Belgian techniques. This unique Flemish sour brown ale is complex, tart with a touch of sweetness, lightly malty and gently hopped. Zuur is a unique blend created in collaboration between Brewery Ommegang and Brouwerij Liefmans.”

Availability – 750 ML Bottles, Corked & Caged.  Draft.

6% ABV