Rodenbach Alexander

Formerly brewed at Brouwerij Rodenbach (Palm)
Style: Sour Ale
Roeselare, Belgium

My first serious rate: Vintage 2000. For the last batch of this, some bottles made it to Ontario. Word of its demise was already out by the time it hit the shelves, so I stocked up as much as my broke ass could. In September 2008 I sampled my last bottle with Beershine and Kimchee. It was quite sweet up front, but got drier as it progressed through a rich cherryish body towards a lingering tart finish that eventually grips the throat. It’s got a deep rodenbachy aroma with abundant cherry still, even after 8 years. The body is starting to show a bit of thinness - it’s an old age for such a light beer. But otherwise, this is still going strong, the sense of balance undisturbed and the quality still evident. RIP Alexander.

5 years old
Beautiful ruby-amber color, creamy head. Deep acetic aroma; vinegar, wood, sugar, light fruitness. Beautiful mouth sensation, wrapping, velvety; perfect balance of sweetness and sourness; delicate cherry note, developing lately. The palate is less persistent than other similar beers.
Perfectly brewed!

Bottle. Clear red with tiny off white head. Lovely sweet and sour aroma with natural cherries, wood, toasted malt and wood. Tart flavor with cherries, wood, caramel and malt. Tart finish. Lovely!

Clear red brown body with almost no head. Aroma is cherry, both sweet and sour, wood. Taste is very cherry, sour more than sweet, though both parts are evident. Very flavorful, but lacking complexity. I prefer the Grand Cru.

25cl bottle at HVDL BBE 94 made in 1992. Beautiful blood red colour. Stunning aroma. Flemish sour with great tart fruit. Little musty on aroma. Flavour is stunning. The cherries are so intense, but wonderfully balanaced. Sour/sweet blond. Flavour is so juicy/tart/sweet. Musty aroma just lets it down. Bit of candy sugar toffee to in mouth.

Bottle, best until april 1993! Pinkish brown color. No foam left. Last remains of cherry juice, vinegar and sherry in the aroma. Thin. No carbon left. Beautiful vinous flavor with cherries, caramel, citric sourness, even remains of oak. Past its peak, but has matured brilliantly and is still very much drinkable.

Bottle. Ruby colour with a big beige head. Vineger, fruity aroma and a sweet sour, acid, cherry, fruity taste. Medium to full body with a sweet sour, dry finish.

A Mes rate: 1998 25cl bottle from De Heeren Van Liedekerke.
God how I love Rodenbach, God how amazing this beer is. Aroma is unbelievable. Can pick out the cherries and the sour ale seperately and quite clearly. There is just a hint of alcohol in there and dust plus some wooden notes. Obviously you can sense a bit of age in there but this has not suffered at all. Appearance is a real novelty. Like a slightly more translucent Rodenbach with a definite red/mahogany hue. The real novelty is the tan head. Most unusual on a beer that has such a strong cherry character. Head? Yes I kid you not. 8 years past its sell by date and it still has a glorious chunky head. Nice lace too. Another thing I was surprised by was the total lack of floaters. Sooooooo smooth in the mouth. Palate is unreal considering its age. I don’t recall this from the last time I had it but the cherries are clear as day. Not quite so tart and sour as Rodenbach but with just the right amount of funk. (I guess it would mellow a little with age anyway). Obvious cinnamon is there, in a Glukriek type way. None of the age is really that apparent in the flavour apart from a faint musky wooden character but it is no way as strong as I would have expected. So very very special. Finish is sublime. Just a quick hit of sour and then bitter and finally settling on fantastic dry cherries. I really can’t believe what outstanding condition this is in considering it is 8 years past it’s sell by. A very fitting 600th rate for us. I’m in heaven.