Rodenbach Grand Cru

Wonderful beer - had this in Spain, ironically. Complex aroma of cherry, dried fruits, and sourness. More enjoyable for me because while it had a nice mild tart finish, it wasn’t over the top sour. Yum.

Tasted at Nate’s House, poured into snifter. I really have to thank him for this libation. Pours an amber to brown color with little head, what was there was pretty fizzy, almost champagne-like. Very intense, complex nose. Had a sweet, almost grapie aroma with hints of balsamic vinegar. This was my first Flemish Sour. It had a very sweet start to it, surprisingly, a bit oakie, with an intense, sour finish. The sweet start diminished as the beer warmed. Overall, very, very good.

330ml bottle poured into a sniffer. Pours brown with a small fizzy off-white head. The head mostly fades, leaving a small film on the top of the beer, there is no lacing. The aroma is very complex. First there is a sour vinigar aroma, then there are hints of soy sauce and then a slight hint of oak. The flavor is a little more one dimentional. The flavor is of sour apple, then there is a vinegary finish. The body is medium-full with a dry yet syrupy texture and soft carbonation. Overall it is allright, I didnt know what to expect on this one, it is something that I have never experienced before.

sour almost borderline vinegar flavor, nice redish colour to it. flavour was very tart powerful element of cherries, not really my thing.

Light mahogany in color, with a slight off-white head. The nose is an interesting mix of sour, bubblegum, Concord grapes, cherry pie filling, and soy sauce. The taste comes off in a similar fashion, with strong sour cherry coming on strong. Quite interesting and a really neat thing to taste.

Bottle at home. Another wickedly sour ale from Belgium. Dark, wheaty colour with barely any foam. Smells very sour indeed. Quite strong. Apples and vinegar definitely shine through. I’m sure this is tops in its league - but not my thing. Sweet/sour combo nice, as aforementioned.

[Taster – Seattle International Beerfest]
Dark reddish brown color with a slight haze with a thin head. This was served way too cold so once warmed up the fruity essence was awesome. This was a true Belgian delight. Lots of spices and fruity flavors. Very vinegary like a apple flavors. Did I just color Easter eggs? Interesting flavors with the use of strong Oak.

This is what it’s all about! Almost opaque in the glass, but when thinned along the sides looks like a reddish copper. Nose is sour apple and vinegar, and a hint of oak. Tastes of red and sour apples and a little bit of vinegar. The vinegar note is round, like an aged balsamic. There is an narrow toasted oak note that is surprising--perhaps even offputting. It seems artificial. I’m surprised a softer oak was not chosen. Very slightly sweet, just the mildest hint of bitterness. Slightly mouth puckering; my mouth feels cleansed. I feel like I’ve just finished a Granny Smith apple. Not super-complex. A great beer nonetheless.