 Mes_and_Sim (4487), Highgate, Greater London, England
Sep 4, 2006 Updated: Apr 25, 2008
A Mes rate: 1998 25cl bottle from De Heeren Van Liedekerke.
God how I love Rodenbach, God how amazing this beer is. Aroma is unbelievable. Can pick out the cherries and the sour ale seperately and quite clearly. There is just a hint of alcohol in there and dust plus some wooden notes. Obviously you can sense a bit of age in there but this has not suffered at all. Appearance is a real novelty. Like a slightly more translucent Rodenbach with a definite red/mahogany hue. The real novelty is the tan head. Most unusual on a beer that has such a strong cherry character. Head? Yes I kid you not. 8 years past its sell by date and it still has a glorious chunky head. Nice lace too. Another thing I was surprised by was the total lack of floaters. Sooooooo smooth in the mouth. Palate is unreal considering its age. I don’t recall this from the last time I had it but the cherries are clear as day. Not quite so tart and sour as Rodenbach but with just the right amount of funk. (I guess it would mellow a little with age anyway). Obvious cinnamon is there, in a Glukriek type way. None of the age is really that apparent in the flavour apart from a faint musky wooden character but it is no way as strong as I would have expected. So very very special. Finish is sublime. Just a quick hit of sour and then bitter and finally settling on fantastic dry cherries. I really can’t believe what outstanding condition this is in considering it is 8 years past it’s sell by. A very fitting 600th rate for us. I’m in heaven.
BDR (1929), Roseville, Minnesota, USA
Oct 7, 2008 This was hanging on better than I’d heard. Hazy copper color with cherries, brown sugar, and pitted fruits. A smooth body with similar flavors and the faintest hint of banana marring the otherwise fantastic body. A very thick mouthfeel.
santoslhalper (193), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 3, 2008 1996 bottle, I think. Reddish amber body with a thin fizzy head. Very fruity, oaky and sour smell with some grapes, cherries, chocolate, raisins and lemons. The taste is incredibly fruity with a strong sour back. Cherries, dates, plums, oak, lemons, oranges, chocolate, raisins, and tons more. Complex, and aging great. Can’t wait to have another bottle in 10 years!
dpjuart (572), Indiana, Pennsylvania, USA
Oct 1, 2008 9/17/08 - Courtesy of santoslhalper, shared with Exec Board. ’96 bottle. Pours orange/amber with red hues, eggshell, fizzy head that reduces quickly to a thin, rimming film. Nose is caramel, raisin, figs, chery and mild chocolate - slight sherry notes. Taste is lots of cherry with caramel notes, leading to a candied chocolate, nice crisp tartness fro mthe sour cherry. Very, very solid beer. Yummy in the tummy. Thanks for the treat, Jon.
JMFG (1173), Florida, USA
Sep 27, 2008 Courtesy Beerlando. Cloudy copper-brown color, a little soapy white head. Some creamy dark fruits, mild oak, a healthy sweet component set off by lactic tartness. Sweet oak and sour cherry notes dominate the taste with nice lingering tartness on the back end. Good balance, great flavors.
Beerlando (1354), Orlando, Florida, USA
Sep 10, 2008 Pours very lightly hazy, almost transparent, and ruby red in color. A small, foamy, cream colored head leaves soapy spots of lace behind. The aroma is absolutely fantastic, notes of intense, sour cherries meeting sweet, fruity malts, vanilla, and sour lactose. Hints of worn leather, brown sugar and dark, sweet and sour fruits permeate. Flavors show even more sourness, tart cherries and lactic acidity screeching through the sweet fruits, oaky vanilla and lightly musty yeast lending complimentary depth. Medium bodied with light to moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is stellar for a brew of this age. Overall, this one lived up to the hype for me. It’s a simply fantastic brew that should be put back into production ASAP.
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