Beer Spotlight!

Dogfish Head / Rodenbach Crimson Cru

Blended Flemish Red & Red Ale with Sumac and Sweet Orange Peels
$14.99 for the 12oz six-pack bottles

Like Hannibal Smith, we just love it when a plan comes together.

Back in 2020, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, DE became the first brewery to collaborate with famous sour makers, Brauerei Rodenbach in Roeselare, Belgium. We had the resultant beer, their Vibrant P’Ocean, and it was lovely. Now, the two have come together again to create another skewed version of the Flemish Red Ales that have made Rodenbach a name.

The Crimson Cru began with Rodenbach’s Grand Cru, an oak-aged, mixed fermentation (soured by yeast and bacteria) Flemish Red. On this side of the ocean, Dogfish Head brewed a red ale infused with sumac and sweet orange peels. They then dry-hopped it with Hallertau Blanc hops, a variant of Hallertau originally released in 2012 that features aromas of tropical fruits and white wine. Finally, our intrepid brewers blended these two beers together and Boom! — the Crimson Cru.

The Crimson Cru is like a mellower version of the Grand Cru. The distinctive cherry notes and light astringency are still there, but the sourness from the mixed fermentation is muted. Instead, you have a light sweetness infused throughout the beer. It’s a very pleasant ride when cold, but get it just cool if you want to explore its subtle layers.