Rodenbach Alexander

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

Rating #300. 33cl bottle via trade with Goldtwins, Shared by WeeHeavySD. When i first tried the Grand Cru, I loved it, but was dispointed I’d never get to try Alexander. Thank you Jon for the chance. Redish brown with a small tan head. Sweet complex nose with underlying sour notes. Flavor is tart and acidic, not quite ripe plum and cherry with some slightly citric notes.the Vingear flavor is not as strong as in the Grand Cru, but still there. leaves a lingering flavor in the mouth. A spent about 45 mintues with 5 oz of this beer, savor the lovely flavors, but evetually it came to an end, sadly. I’m rating #200 on this brew, and I’m sad more won’t get to try this sublime brew.

Rating is a culmination of notes from samples from vintages 1986, 87, 90, 91, 92, 93, 98, 99. All bottles(9 and 11oz) held up superbly, a testament to Rudy Ghequire’s expertise and a sophisticated recipe and bottling process. Dark, deep red pour with oily chestnut highlights. Tall cream colored head, slowly diminishing, never fully. Aroma is sour and sweet cherries, wet oaken barrel and refined glorious yeast. Also apricot rinds, apples, peaches, flowers and wax in unison, all in reserved quantities. Breathtaking. Flavor is once again solely focused on cherries, oak and yeast, and has very minor notes of funk, acidic fruits and sour grapes. Alcohol is never a noticeable factor. Finishes sweet with little acidity, cherry and sugar lingering. Palate is perfectly wrought and though syrupy at times, there is always enough sourness to dice through it. Every bottle was memorable, especially the last one, as I knew it would probably be the last ever. A tragedy this was discontinued, but hope glimmers that it will return one day. Classic.

330 ml bottle. Poured slightly cloudy deep amber in color with a small off white head. Aroma of cherries, vinegar, and mildly sour notes. Tastes of grape skins, cherries, mild vinegar, slight artificial sweetener taste as well. Little oak also present. Very nice and I think this has held up pretty well for being over 10 years old.

From a 330mL Bottle. Pours a rich toasted hazelnut shell with a marvelous layer of ivory foam and a wonderful clarity. Breathtaking aroma ripened cherries, strawaberrry flesh, and raspberry seeds waft from the glass, providing a succulent berry base to the tart bouquet. Medium bodied, crisply carbonated mouthfeel. The cherries keep rolling off of the tongue, providing a fabulously natural pectin sweetness to balance the tartness. The fruits take the lead in this one, balanced by the perfect acidity. So delcious. As the fruits slowly fade from the palate, a subtle sour funkiness appears quietly on the tongue, accompanied by a glimpse of oaky dryness. As this slowly fades, a softer version of the intial fruity characters reappear, leaving a lusciously smooth final smack. Outstandingly complex palalte with exceptional fruit flavors overall.

Bottle at CT4 shared by moejuck and spector. Aroma of slight sour and sweet maltiness with cherries coming through bigtime. Had a lot of sediment floating around but i drank it anways. Flavor was sour cherries. Very balanced and actually very smooth in the mouth for a sour beer. Tart and fruity. Great beer for number 200.

Bottle: Very generously given to me by goldtwins. Thank you very, very much, Larry! Pours a nice amber with a lively well retained light tan head. Tons of lovely acetic/vinegary character in the aroma. Fruity notes of cherry skin are there as well as passion fruit with a touch of old oak. Fluffy and crisp texture. The flavor begins with cherry skin and a acetic character. Sharp and crispy. Light notes of cask/oak character come through giving it a touch of vanilla nuances. Meshes with all types of tart fruits- cherry, passion fruit notes which lead to oaky tannins and a clean finish. Awesome stuff.

Bottle best-by 1995. Looks good. The beer in the glass copper-brown, small head. Fruity aroma. Starts very, very fruity with woody notes, cherry, also quite sourish, but soft at the same moment. Really goes down like velvet. Incredebly drinkable. An awesome beer!

Note: I had a dream about this beer...First rating from bottle at Bier Circus in Brussles: Well-integrated sourness in this baby: ghosts of cherry and hops. One of those fine treats you will never forget. Re-rating from Oakes’ cellar: Clear red-orange, vibrant fiery joy. Aroma of cherry tarts and sherry barrels. Some candied elements. Almost flat in mouthfeel. Sweet, sour, complex and nuanced. Some watermelon, some biscuit in finish, some raspberry balsamic vinegar in the start. The balance of sweet and sour is perfect here. So frickin gorgeous they better pull a Lazarus on this baby.