Rodenbach Vin de Céréale

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

Bottled. A copper colored beer with next to no beige head. The aroma is lovely complex with an acidic note in the background on which is notes of wood, brettanomyces, unripe wine grapes, unripe apples, and cloudberries. The flavor is sweet just when it hits the lips, but from then on the tartness hits combined with lots of complexity of wood, brettanomyces, grapefruit, cloudberries, dry white wine, fresh green apples, and more - lovely complexiity. The finish is tart and the acidity burns slightly in the throat. The alcohol is only just felt. This should be listed under a new style: Imperial Flemmish Sour.

(Bottle 33 cl) Clear, deep golden with no head whatsoever. Intense, tart aroma yet with a cake-like sweetness - kinda like macaroon pie. Medium body, almost flat with tart and almost fruity accents, some wood and then these cake-like accents. Tart and astringent finish. A very complex and wonderful beer. 120308

Bottled, thanks ante! Clear amber, absolutely no head. Concentrated citric buttery nose. A good amount of buttery caramelly malt well hidden in tart oaky citric acid. Juicy and concentrated flavour of vinegar and cranberry with the slightest hint of disturbing vegetables. Powerful and interesting, but I still prefer the regular Grand Cru.

RB BE # 500: From bottle@Alvinne PreZBF2008 open house (crazy Alvinne Special sampler with Struise Pannepot Grand Reserva, Westvleteren 12, Vin de Cereal and Alvinne Oak Podge). Pours clear cobber and with no head. Dry woody and wineous brett nose. Sweet caramel and intense estery woody sour flavour. Distinct barrel notes to the woody flavour. Solid bite in the finish. Light woody lingering and wineous. Light spiced too.

Bottle. 37.5cl. [Vintage 2004].
Clear medium orange color with a virtually none appearance, virtually none lacing, off-white head. Aroma is light to moderate wood, oak, sour apple. moderate vinegar, tart. Flavor is moderate to light heavy sweet and acetic (vinegar) with a long to average duration, and a dry dry finish. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is flat. Very nice. (210408)

Bottle, 10%. 2004 bottle, cask 132. Very nice aroma, mouthwatering citric, a bit like white wine. With a faint hint of mold. Clear amber colour, looks quite flat. It does have quite low carbonation. Small frothy head. The flavour is very citric, not vinegary, but getting very close. Has a little sweetness to balance. Again a faint hint of mold, probably the oak casks coming through ever so slightly. The aftertaste is of course citric, very cleansing, but it does not seem to hurt my throat. It does not really taste its 10%, perhaps the oak and the alcohol balance each other out.

Bottled@Kulminator. (2004 vintage). Golden colour, small white head. Lots of carbonation bubbles on the glass. Strong sour apples and citrusfruits along with some nutty hints. Flavour is extremely dry almondy and appleish along with some oak barrely notes. Some vanilla becomes present when it warms up a bit, as does some vinegar. Hides the alcohol totally.

Bottle. Clear orange coloured wityh a fast disappearing white head. Light acidic aroma of wood, wine and vanilla. Light acidic flavour of red wine and wood with notes of foie gras/liver/blood. Tart finish.