Rodenbach Grand Cru

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

Strangely I remembered putting this more toward Ommegang Rouge and very different than Duchesse but this bottle (or perhaps my memory is bad) reminds me much more of the Duchesse. Tart cherry dominates the nose with some hints of wood and nail polish remover (which I don’t recall from my last couple of bottles). Appearance is decent, a dark red liquid with a thin milky layer of bubbles. The flavor still works quite well, with tart cherries and vinegar and a nice sour apple aftertaste. Thin and bubbly on the palate. I am going to need to try my next bottle to see if this was possibly vicitm of a bad bottle or bad memory, but strangely..while this isn’t the grand slam that I recall it to be, this still works.

330mL Bottle. Poured deep copper, leaning towards red, thick pinkish head, lovely lacing. Nose is tart. acetic, and surprisingly fruity, running more to pickled fruits than to funk, though there is decidedly some funk present. Very spicy, red fruits, plus dates, and raisins, a hint of dry citrus. Palate is broad and tart, and very refreshing, plenty of fruit, oak ,a nd shades of funk in with the pervading sourness. Enjoyed this from beginning to end. Wonderful stuff.

Bottle (330ml). Age roughly 1 year piror to tasting. Poured dark burnt bronze with a good sized, lightly tanned, dense foamy head which was mostly lasting. A complex aroma with notes of citric acid, dried apricots, dates, port, cinnamon, allspice, wood, light notes of rum & raisin chocolate and a touch of caramel in the back. Flavor was of tart fruit acids with sour cherries & raspberries, tart lemon, balsamic vinegar, salt, allspice, light note of fermenting plums and hints of wood in the finish. Medium bodied with medium carbonation, a dry/tart mouthfeel, slick texture and a good length finish.

Bottle... Poured a deep, ruby/brown with a khaki head. Souring vinegar, and tart fruit aroma. Dry palate. Flavors of tart and bitter fruits. An acidic and puckering finish.

24.09.2004, 0,33l Bottle. Che colour is brown. At first the aroma is very sour. Gradually there are more flavours coming. Oak, vinegar and also some malty sweetnes. Very interresting beer that gets much better.

Bottled 33cl from crackedkettle.com. Appearance: It pours a beautiful clear ruby beer with a creamy nicely remaining light beige head. Good lacework. Aroma: Woody, acidic, vinous with Christmas pudding, oak, vinegar, cherry, overripe melon, rum and very faint nail polish remover showing up. Flavor and palate: Complex. Strong acidity. Oaky, vinous with hints of plums, banana, faint glue and cherry. Very powerful on the swallow leading to a dry finish which is remniscent of a good kriek. Overall impression: Very interesting.

100th Rating. 2007 Btl. Tart and tangy. Clean but dense mahogany red color. Weird head that lingers but leaves no lace. Nose of fermented soybean, currants, blueberry? Palate is not a pucker bomb, nor does it lack acidity, nice balance. Fig, blood orange, sour patch kids, braeburn apples. Slick richness from the oak. Lingering finish without being overbearing. Balsamic-esque. This beer is what i call the ultimate food beer.

Aroma is very tart, red fruit, vinegar, puke, and oak. Color of rubies. Taste is sweet caramel malt, some vinegar, oak, and red fruit. Finish is like a sweet tart- sour and a bit grainy with some sweetness. Wow. Awesome.