Rodenbach Grand Cru

11.2oz bottle, best by 4/25/08: Deep ruby pour with a smallish cap. The nose is sharp with notes of vinegar, plums, wood and raisans. The body is a bit thin and not as near as tart as I expected. The sourness does expand on the tongue as it finishes with extended notes of woody malt and caramel beneath the balsamic vinegar. Not a huge fan as I expected more complexity.

Sharp nose with sour raspberry balanced with some licorice and cocoa. After this, it all goes to hell and back. I’ve rated it neutral as I’m not sure how to take this beer - it’s kind of like a lambic but then also kind of like a sour sweet. I’ll give it time and try it again.

(Thanks to radiomgb) 330 mL bottle. (Best before 06/30/06!) Dark translucent orange-brown with a film of head. There is a strong, tart (fruit) aroma, comparable to a sweet wine or a good kriek. The taste is quite complex, suggesting again a red wine or a good, dry kriek, with the additional appearance of a little malt near the end, which adds some balance to the strong acidity. Nice tart finish and aftertaste, reminiscent of a gueuze. Carbonation seems, for some reason, to let up in the middle. Very clean and dry, and yet also quite full. Gimme more.

Pours a clear rubish color with light off-white head. Aroma if very fruity with light apple, cherry, and even some berries. Also has a light touch of oak and light funk. Taste is very fruity with the same aformentioned fruits along with some oak being a bit more apparent. Good carbonation and very enjoyable.

Pours a clear amber. Aroma is fruity and sour with grape and blackberry hints. Taste is carbonated up front with sparkling grape notes. Delicious.

Bottle (33 cl) from Hildigöltur’s beer cellar. Deep clear ryby with a small off-white head. Fruity and cidery aroma with red apples, raspberries, wood, and also some fudgy notes. Light in body with a lively carbonation. A very refreshing acidity, not overpowering, just perfect. A truly great beer.

325 mL bottle at Flatbread, Burlington. Poured reddish brown with terrific white lacing. Terrific sour flavor with notes of cherries, raspberries, raisins and plums. A terrific go-to beer I order when available.

750ml - The nose really put me off. if I didn’t know what I was in for I would of thought the cork had failed. On the palate it was really nice, with a nice red/brown pour and great lace to boot. I served it with pickled beets and maple glazed carrots. The sweet-sour pairing worked nicely.