Rodenbach

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

I love sour ... this isn’t sour. The microflora the label speaks of lend little funk and little sour. I agree with ElGaucho56 about the cherry/chocolate flavors, less intense than the Bell’s Cherry Stout, as I would expect. However, the odd balance between sour and sweet makes it hard for me to classify. I expected more given the description on the label.

Pours a cola-brown with ruby highlights and hardly a wisp of a head. nose is vinegary and like photochemicals; things fare a little better on the tongue, where mildly sour cherries develop into a baking-chocolate malt character. Seemed really pared down for a sour ale, unsure of whether it wants to be sweet or sour; I’m guessing the grand cru is a little more rewarding.

Pours a deep amber color with thin off-white head. Aroma is of tart cherries, brett, and vinuous characteristics. Taste is tart cherries, light oak and malt. Light on the palate, very carbonated and very excellent. Reminds me of Engima in some ways.

This reddish-brown ale poured with no head. It is a sweet and sour brown ale, very mellow but tangy on the tongue.

Pours a dark cherry red/ mahognay brown. Sour aroma of cherries. A nice balance of sour and sweet with neiher to overpowering. Very tasty and refreshing with hints of cherry.

Pours a dark, purplish ruby color with a small, fizzy, off-white head. Just a few isolated spots of lacing dot the glass. The aroma is vinous and lightly sour, with black cherries being the dominant fruit component. Oak is detectable in trace amounts, but nowhere near the level of the Grand Cru. The flavor follows suit, with sour cherry again taking charge. There is a lactic feel, almost like milk that is just slightly past its time, or perhaps a mild aged cheese. Medium-light bodied, the brew is well carbonated but a bit thin feeling. Finishes short and fruity. Overall, not bad, but its definitely worth the extra $2 for the Grand Cru.

tap. dark red with thin head. Dry and tart, with cherries, raspberries. Very much like a tannic wine. I didn’t love it at first, but it grew on me. Interesting and enjoyable.

draft at O’Brien’s in San Diego - Pours red with a very thin head. The aroma is mostly sour cherries and is quite good. The flavor is nice and sour with tart cherry tones and some sweetness for contrast. It’s fairly light on the palate and overall enjoyable.