Rodenbach Grand Cru

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

Thanks to HogTownHarry. I think there’s a couple of years ageing on this. *Edit 2004 vintage*Appearance: red/brown with a medium (one finger) off white head/ Aroma: Pretty sour/vinegar, cherry, rye, sugar and candy, vanilla and malt. Flavour: Wow, a delicious sour, sweet, sour (again), floral, cherry flavour with candy, raisin and figs. Just a delicious sour finish, fantastic!

Bottle. Ruby in colour with a small tan head. Aroma is balsamic vinegar, port, prune and a little alcohol. The vinegar is unfortunately to dominating. It has a medium bodied flavour of raisin, candy sugar and notes of vinegar. The aftertaste is a bit of acidic prune.

How have I not rated this one yet! Notes from tap at Capones. Poured a deeper amberish/brown color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of woodiness, vinegar, and sour cherry. Tastes of vinegar and sour dark fruits. If you don’t like vinegar, skip this one for sure.

small bottle, hm a large oak impression hits you when sniffing this rather hazy red brown brew, its is combined with a candish sour cherry frutiness and bready notes, along with some vinegar very inviting. the flavor is sharp and very defined with again cherry dominating. intense sourness but the sweet malty body makes a good contrast, ends sweet and sour ,with a little vinegar sour maybe.

Apperance; Very dark redish, clear with a head that dissapear right after you pour. Aroma; Sour fruity and some vanilla. The flavor is heavily sour, like some candy. A special beer, but good.

Tap at capons. Pours a deeper brownish amber that had little to no head. Aroma was initially all vinegar…and I cannot stand vinegar…yuck. As I let it sit though it aired out a bit. Aroma turned from mostly vinegar to more of a sourness, some deep sour cherry notes along with a touch of some malt/grain sweetness. Flavor was more sour than vinegar like. Tart acidity. I’m torn on this one. My hate for vinegar probably weighs in a bit more here, but it is what it is.

Dark, a tad hazy ruby with small beige head. Good sour balsamico aroma, some Käck-liquorice, sour cherries and sugary sweetness. Flavor starts quite sharp with sour balsamico and strong cherry; after a while there’s berry, wood and liquorice notes. Berry vinous finish with sweetish candi sugar. Medium bodied, a bit sticky but well carbonated mouthfeel, leaves a warming sting in the throat. After the palate gets over that vinegary attack, it really opens up. A charming sour.

First sour ale. Been putting this one off for ages, but realised it’s 4 months past it’s use by, so time to face my fears! Head lasts for all of two seconds before dissapearing without a trace. Dark, fiery, ruby red, perfectly clear. Aroma is sweet red wine (lambrusco?), vinegar, stale sweat, more vinergar, sweet plums, vinegar, raisins, brandy, and more vinergar. Taste is (surprise!) vinegar, unripe plums, astringent lemon peel. I can feel my stomach shuddering in protest. No where near as crazy as the aroma though. Rather pleasant actually, after a few sips. Phwoar! This is once crazy mofo style right here! Cherry and other dark fruits are apparent after being desensitised to the vinegar. Slightly watery, with active carbonation giving it extra tang (as if it needed it). No way I’d be drinking more than one of these in a week, let alone a night. However, this is my first sour ale... Crazy crazy crazy.