Rodenbach Grand Cru

Brewed by Brouwerij Rodenbach (Palm)
Style: Sour Ale
Roeselare, Belgium

33cl bottle at Auberge des Douceurs Belges. Poured dark brown-red with med head no retention. Nice appereance. Aroma is sour and vinegar. Taste is quite sour, fruity and quite sweet. Finish is very sour. IWell made but I’m still not used to sour beers like these. Will revisit if I get used to it someday ! Rating 108

From bottle. Nice pour. Dark amber, with beautiful fluffy light brown head. Aroma of fruit, vinegar, sour, and sweet. Initially a metallicly hint in the beginning rounding out to cherry, sour, vinegar, sweet , oaky mix. Tart in the end, with longer after linger of sugar. Very interesting and bold brew. Everything seems to come together very well

Bouteille de 330ml. Nos yeux observent une bière de couleur rouge vin ainsi qu’un col de mousse modeste. Au nez on respire des arômes de raisin bleu, de chêne et d’acidité. En bouche le corps est moyen avec une effervescence moyenne. On goûte des saveurs de raisin acide, de vanille et de chêne. Bien fait mais pas mon style.

750 ml. bottle (2008) in a white wine glass. Ruby, brown at the top fading to a clear pale ochre at the edges, negligible head true to style. Vinous aroma, candied apples, elusive nutty Brie and Camembert that kept running away. Vinegar-y taste, yet not too much, sour and tart, perfectly understated sweetness w/ tart raspberries, oaky vanilla notes. Pine needles in aroma too. Effervescence barely noticeable in mouth, medium bodied ending dry. Exquisite and timeless.

Pours a dark red with hues of brown and an off-white head. Aroma is earthy, cider vinegar, citrus, and dried fruits (maybe over-ripe fruits also). Flavor is very interesting and I think beats the pants off of regular Rodenbach. Flavors are strong of grapes, apple cider, and some tart berries. I tried Rodenbach and was not happy with it, I am very happy I decided to try this.

Wow...no matter how many times I have this brew, it always reminds me of summer in Belgium! I just love it! Beat ruby red colour & lovely lacing head. Smells like apples, citrus, vinegar, musty, vanilla maybe a little toffee/caramel notes. Flavour is great. tart, sweet, yeasty, wow! Then, a beatifully sharp clean finish.

Bomber, shared with Alex. Pours brown with red undertones and heavy lacing. Aroma of apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, tart citrus and green apple. Flavor is incredibly bold, and transitions throughout the palate. Starts of tart apple, red grape skin, then moves to sweet candied apple and lemon. Finishes is spicy and prickly – an unusual sensation – and some cactus fruit. Overall, I loved this beer and craved its complexity, but a disclaimer: my buddy Alex let this beer warm up longer than I did, and a certain harshness in both the nose and finish (spicy/alcohol) can through too noticeably.)

Pours a dark ruby-brown with a 1 finger muddy tan head that has o.k. retention. Aroma is red apple skin, balsamic vinegar, sweet grapes, wet forest, nice dry wood notes, hints of cherries, vanilla, light caramel and pear. Some interesting, banana/banana oil notes come up as it warms. Flavor is red grapes, underripe raspberries, musty grain, sweet apple cider, plenty of sweet earthy and sour balsamic notes, strawberry, just a touch of cane sugar and maple sap. Finish is tart, slightly bready, fading fruit notes and some nice earth. Palate is medium-thin, highly carbonated, maybe too highly, very dry and clean throughout. Good stuff, though a little more vinegar than I would like.