Rodenbach

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

I wanted to try a new style, read good things about Flemish Sour beers so gave this a try based on a recommendation. I was however quite skeptical after reading reviews. Vinegar? That doesn’t sound appealing at all. So the beer pours a murky brown color with a small head. It does indeed smell and taste quite a bit like vinegar. The flavor is dark fruits with some cherry and vinegar. It is a little sour but not as sour as I was expecting. There is a winey presence about it. The finish and aftertaste is a bit weird and bland. Overall it’s not horrible and easier drinking than I feared but I don’t really like it. The first sip I had was a little gross but it grew a little on me. Still, I would have been perfectly happy with a small 12 ounce sample. As is I had a big bottle and halfway through I didn’t even want to finish it. Of course I did finish it and honestly it was better as it warmed a bit. If I ever have it again I’ll note to let it warm a little.

Lightly hazy dark red poor, small light brown head. Aromas of blasamic and red wine vinegar, pommegranite, and mustard seeds. Sweet and sour hits you right off the bat but quickly fades away. Nice sweet rhubarb taste but flavors are somewhat lacking. Low carbonation and light bodied.

A deep, clear ruby body beneath a frothy, rocky tan head. Smells very oaky, with acidic, spicy, cherry, berry, and, unfortunately, a little vinegar. Super strong brett/wild yeast aroma. The complexity of flavors is incredible. Cherry, plum, fig, brett, oak, chocolate, sourdough bread, acidic, and sweet notes bombard the taste buds. The finish is long, sour, strong, abrasive, and I love it. One of the most (if not the most) classic Belgian sour ales. I know it’s not the same since Palm bought it out, but it’s still a tasty, tasty brew, and one of my all time favorites.

[bottle] Pours a great deep red. Nose of tart fruits and sour funk. Taste is sour apples and cherries. Not as woody or smooth as the grand cru but very tasty regardless.

750 mL bottle from the Hendersonville (NC) Food Co-Op....for $1.99/bottle!!

I’m stingy with my perfect 5’s, so I opted for a 19 on the Overall...after all, as another reviewer said, it’s hard to drink more than one of these at a go, even with the 5.1% ABV.

It is, nevertheless, an absolutely glorious concoction. I have been a champion of the Duchesse de Bourgogne for some time, but after a head-to-head with Rodenbach, the Duchess has been dethroned.

Poured into an oversize Merlot goblet.

Appearance: The color of madeira (or, for you low-brow types, Dr. Pepper. :) ). Burnt russet-brown with a lovely light-tan lacing of head. Beautifully stunning in the glass.

Nose: An extensive bouquet -- wild grapes, sour cherries, vanilla, a hint of balsamic vinegar, cloves, cardamom, white pepper, deep, dark hops, sourdough yeast, fresh-cut hay, plums, and maple syrup.

Taste: Similar to the nose -- a yummy sweet and sour! Balsamic vinegar, apple, plum, scuppernong grapes, cherries, white pepper, maple syrup, cloves, and sourdough bread.

Mouth/palate: Sharp, dry, spritzy, smooth, and full-bodied.

This really puts the Duchesse to shame. Try with artisan cheese, grilled meats (duck), or even Chinese food.

Best By Date October 2006; Sampled March 2008
I am quite surprised by the best by date as I bought it newly distributed to AZ about a year ago. The beer pours with a frothy, initially two-finger thick, fairly quickly dissipating, darkish tan colored head. The beer is a deep, richly concentrated amber color, but shows a bright cranberry color when held up to the light. Faintly tart smelling as I visually inspect this beer, with a wisp of acetic acid to it. A deeper inspection of the aroma confirms the tartness, though there is lots of balancing caramelized malt notes to balance this out. Fruity aromatics of cherries and prunes are noticeable from time to time, though more in a supporting kind of role. Some drier malt notes contribute a light nuttiness as well as some biscuit like aromatics. Softer funk notes contribute a slight musty earth note, While not as powerful as its big brother, this beer’s nose has a really nice complexity to it and the fruit character is can be quite rich if you spend an extended period smelling the nose.

Lightly tart, but with a balancing light sweetness that is matched up front. The sweetness dies a bit towards the finish (where the tartness takes over), but then picks up again to provide more balance to the light sourness in the long finish. Very light bodied, more so than I was expecting from this 5.1% abv beer; not watery, but it is darn near refreshing. A cherry like fruitiness is accented by a light acetic note that reminds me a bit of washed out balsamic vinegar. There seems to be a touch of woody tannins in the finish that coat the mouth a bit like black tea does. The malt / caramel character of this brew also adds some character; light toasty, bread flavors, a touch of sweet caramel and perhaps a hint of toffee.

As the beer warms up a bit and my palate gets used to it, the body picks up a touch more heft, though it is still down right quaffable. It also gets a bit more acetic, which is perfectly all right with me. The second pour of this was clear right up until the last drop, yet there was a dark, tightly compacted sediment layer on the bottom of the bottle of this pasteurized brew. I haven’t had this for a long time, but this is much more interesting than I remember it being. I wonder if the fact that I have an out of date bottle has helped things. I need to try and get a fresh bottle of this to see if it is still this good. I really like how quaffable this brew is; finishing a 750ml bottle of this brew is just too easy.

Purchased: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Liquors, Tucson AZ

This was outstanding,I love my sours along with my IPS and this hit the spot,wity a very tart and sour taste like a fruity delight with a tart finish very pleasing and enjoyable.CHEERS!

Bottled. Dark red/brown, small beige head. Woody, sour aroma. Apples, pears. Tart. Taste like a fantastic sour ale should: sour, apples, vanilla. It’s dry and tart, but lack the woody flavours and some of the complexity that its big brother has. Very balanced.