Rodenbach

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

bottle at Brussels Midi en route to Amersterdam: sour and oaky aroma. pours deep brown with a red hue into a Rodenbach glass. Tasted like a wine beer hybrid with wood notes. So in that way it reminded me of De Dolle oerbier special reserve. mouthfeel is very nice, very active and carbonated tickels the tongue. Not bad

0.5L bottle. Amber color with fluffy-creamy tan head. Strong aroma of sourness and tart fruitiness. Tastes a lot like the aroma with mild sourness, strong tart grapes (wine like) and behind that is a faint sweet malt, very faint. I didn’t sense any oak aged notes. Big carbonation with nice lacing.

Bottle. Pours a dark brown - ruby colour, thin off-white head. Nose is strangely sherberty, cherry, sour red wine vinegar. Initial mouthtaste is a cherry and vinous one, but on the swallow, this woody bitter for half a second. The lasting palate is slightly sweet with plenty of lively sherbert and some dull sourness. Rich and lively. Rather nice.

This is a downright strange beer. It might be like that simply because it was the first time I ever encountered sour ale. It tasted less like beer and more like a nice, high quality soda. I didn’t know how to feel about it at first, but right now I kind of wish I had one in my hands.

bottle from Uto. One of my favourite beers in my favourite style. About time I gave it a rate. Red mohagony in colour with faint off white head. Classic nose of red wine and balsamic vinegar with a nice Earthy base and notes of sour cherry, oak and unripened plum. Taste to match. A clean sweet-ish start leads into a murky tartness. Aftertaste of walnut skin, but not nearly as unpleasant. Somewhat less dramatic than the other Rodenbachs. This is in no way a fault - just means that it is perfectly drinkable. A regular on my rota and not for lack of choice.

8.45oz bottle. Aroma: Tartness is strong, but not aggressive. Some fresh cherries, red grapes, and a medium-strong woodiness. Appearance: Dark reddish-brown and fairly clear. Off-white head was full and frothy, but didn’t linger long. Good lacing. Flavor: Tartnes comes on first with strong cherry, and currant flavors. The oaky wood flavor hits me next. And trailing that is just a touch of earthy funk. Malt comes on into the finish with a light caramel and bread profile. Finish is pretty dry. Palate: Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Getting a bit of tannic ’dry-mouth. as I drink more of this. Overall: Haven’t had this in a few year, and I don’t remember it being this good. This is definatly one of the beers to start someone on the sour beer path. Sour, complex, but very drinkable. Great stuff.

250ml Bottle. Deep Chestnut color with a tan head. sharp, acidic nose. Tart and refreshing. Dry finish. Excellent beer, but the Grand Cru blows it away.

Bottle at Sharp Edge. Reddish brown body, creamy and lasting off-white head. Aroma has sour concord grapes (light), watered down oak and cherries. Flavor has light watered down sour cherry juice with some alcohol oak notes. Pleasant crisp sourness that is light and well-balanced.