Rodenbach Alexander

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

Courtesy of a Secret Santa I still haven’t discovered. This beer must be more than 6 years old if not older. The pour looks completely flat. A muddy red beer with no head except for the tiny ring of tight bubbles around the edge. Aroma is a little muddled at first. Sweet, sour, definitely fruity. The flavor is immense! Well blended from years of age (I’m assuming) but still quite vibrant. The begining is almost a touch watery, but then the flavor slams home with huge fruit notes and candy sweetness, but then it rakes over my tongue and throat with palate cleansing acidicy. Absolutely fantastic!!

Bottle thanks to EDA. Brownish orange, thin head. Sweet sour cherry aroma. Explosive juicy cherry flavors, with a pleasant amount of tart balance. Lingering sour cherry finish. Could this be that first Kriek that I had in a Belgian cafe back when I was 19?

A very special treat, thanks to Ron Raike of Shipyard for sharing this with me! Tart raspberries hints of vanilla, tart caramelly aromas. Pours cloudy red with a thick white head. Tart raspberries, apple skins, very tart yet sweet with hints of a caramel. Vanilla oak with slight hints of balsamic vinegar. Awesome!!! Great beer!!!!!

12oz bottle generously shared by Styles. Pours a very dark red color with a thick off white foamy head. Nose is sour cherries, sugar, light bready malt, biscuit. A full body, sugary and sour cherries in the flavor. Palate is fizzy and playful, light bitter finish. Some notes of bread and biscuit in the flavor as well.

11.2 oz bottle, rating 1300. HUGE thanks to Brian for this gem. Hazy brown with a single layer of bubbles on top. Nose is faint malt and cider vinegar, chocolate covered cherries, brandied peach preserves and hints of cinnamon stick. Takes a while to open up but the result is amazing. Exceptionally smooth and soft especially for a sour, almost still. Kind of watery but a mild, juicy tartness keeps it lively. Taste is cherry and caramel balanced perfectly by sour raspberry and lemon peel. Near perfection for me. This is beer artistry.

Pours a bright red color with just a little, off-white head. The aroma is magnificent, sweet and tart cherries, both must and wood, and it's slightly vinous. The flavors are not quite as strong as the aroma, but still quite wonderful. Sour cherries, wood, wine, a touch of vinegar and a hint of citrus. A nice balance to both sweet and sour aspects. Neither overpowers the other. A wonderful beer. I've still got one more. Hopefully I can even find others.

I’m glad I could join in Andrew’s 1000th beer rating. Big thanks to your generosity. Pours a clear orange red with a soapy off-white ring. The aroma is strong and funky with sour, hay, and sugar dominating. Funky barnyard all over with caramel malts and surprisingly alcohol notes present. Sweet flavors. Red fruit, sour, hay, tart, apples. As it warms the flavors become more complex. Earthy tart and tasty. Not the perfect beer I had expected, but quite tasty still.

[bottle--thanks, Nighfall!] Floral, spicy hops with raisins, apricot, and a little cardboard. Almost clear, orange-amber with a lasting, off-white bubbly, lacy top. Mildly sour with slightly medicinal vinegar, and a lingering sour cherry, both gentle and delicate. Smidgen of a black pepper note. Light body with moderate to medium carbonation and a tangy, refreshing finish.