Ommegang Rosetta 4Pk

Ommegang Rosetta 4Pk is a Belgian-style sour cherry ale blended from aged oud bruin and young kriek, bottled at 5.6% ABV in a four-pack of 12 oz bottles. A World Beer Cup Gold Medal winner, Rosetta stands out for its masterful balance between tart and sweet — a quality that also earned it a 91/100 from both BeerAdvocate and Beer Connoisseur.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.6%  |  Origin: Brewed in Belgium by Liefmans  |  Style: Flemish Sour Cherry Ale  |  Brand: Brewery Ommegang (Duvel Moortgat family)

Production & Heritage

Though marketed under the Brewery Ommegang label — headquartered in Cooperstown, New York — Rosetta is actually brewed at Liefmans, a historic Belgian brewery and Ommegang's sister operation within the Duvel Moortgat family. The beer is a carefully calibrated blend of old Flemish brown ale (oud bruin) that has been aged on cherries for at least three years, combined with a young, lively kriek. The grain bill features Pilsner malt and caramel malt barleys along with sucrose, hopped with Hallertau and Magnum, and fermented with Liefmans' proprietary mixed culture — a combination of yeast strains that drives the beer's layered sourness and fruity complexity.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe cherry fruit leads immediately, followed by a gently sour, almost vinous quality. Beneath the fruit sits a subtle malty sweetness and faint vanilla undertone.

Taste: Sweet black cherry dominates the entry, rich and full without feeling syrupy. At mid-palate the character shifts toward sour cherry, with a restrained, slightly puckering tartness that never overwhelms. Light acetic notes add depth, while the caramel malt backbone keeps the fruit grounded.

Finish: Medium in length, finishing with lingering cherry sweetness and a clean, crisp sourness that resets the palate. Fine-bubbled carbonation provides a soft, lively texture that makes each sip feel surprisingly refreshing.

How to Drink Rosetta

Rosetta is best enjoyed chilled at around 45–50°F, poured into a tulip glass or Belgian goblet to concentrate the cherry aromatics. It drinks beautifully on its own but also works in beer-forward mixed drinks. A Kriek Royale — Rosetta topped with a splash of dry sparkling wine — amplifies the effervescence and tartness. A Berliner Shandy riff, mixing Rosetta with lemonade and fresh mint, makes an excellent warm-weather refresher. For something more adventurous, try a Sour Cherry Spritz combining Rosetta with Aperol and a squeeze of orange, playing the cherry fruit against bitter citrus.

Best For

• Introducing a friend to sour ales without overwhelming tartness
• Pairing with a charcuterie or cheese board at a dinner gathering
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates Belgian brewing traditions
• Warm-weather afternoon drinking when you want complexity without high ABV

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rosetta taste like? Rosetta leads with sweet black cherry that transitions into sour cherry on the back end, supported by subtle vanilla and a restrained tartness — it is a balanced sour fruit beer rather than an extreme pucker bomb.

How does Rosetta compare to Duchesse de Bourgogne? Both are Flemish-style sour brown ales with prominent fruit character, but Rosetta strikes a tighter balance between sweet and sour, whereas Duchesse de Bourgogne tends to lean more overtly sweet. Rosetta's three-year cherry aging and kriek blending give it a brighter, more lifted cherry quality compared to Duchesse's darker caramel-driven profile.

Is Rosetta good for sour beer beginners? Rosetta is an excellent entry point into sour ales because its tartness is restrained and well-balanced by cherry sweetness, making it approachable rather than aggressive.

Where is Rosetta made? Rosetta is brewed at the Liefmans brewery in Belgium, a sister brewery to Ommegang within the Duvel Moortgat family of breweries; Ommegang's main operations are based in Cooperstown, New York.

What foods pair well with Rosetta? Aged Gouda or Gruyère complement the malty sweetness and cherry tartness. Duck or pork dishes with fruit-based glazes mirror the cherry notes. Dark chocolate desserts play well against the sour-sweet balance. A classic Belgian moules-frites lets the beer's acidity cut through richness. Fresh goat cheese salads with balsamic dressing echo Rosetta's vinous acidity.

What sizes does Rosetta come in? Rosetta is available in a four-pack of 12 oz bottles, and has also been offered in a 750 ml corked-and-caged bottle format.

Is Rosetta worth the price? Rosetta positions as a mid-premium Belgian-style sour ale, and its World Beer Cup Gold Medal, 91-point critical scores, and authentic Liefmans-brewed pedigree deliver strong value within the imported sour ale category.

Why Rosetta?

What separates Rosetta from the crowded field of cherry sour ales is the three-year aging on real cherries followed by blending with young kriek — a traditional Flemish technique executed at one of Belgium's most respected sour ale producers. That process earned it a World Beer Cup Gold Medal and a 91/100 from Beer Connoisseur, where it scored a near-perfect 6/6 on appearance and 36/40 on flavor. At 5.6% ABV, it is sessionable enough to enjoy across a full four-pack without fatigue, yet complex enough to reward slow, attentive sipping. In a category where many beers veer too tart or too sweet, Rosetta's defining quality is equilibrium — and that balance is what keeps experienced sour beer drinkers returning to it.