Rodenbach Grand Cru

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.

Pours hazy medium amber brown. Thin tan filmy head. Big sour funky sharp nose. Forward attack, mostly sharp tartness. Lots of funky cherry and green apple nose. Nice stuff.

Nothing stretches the definition of beer than a Flemish Sour Ale and man is this one a great one. Aroma of vinegar with wood. Pour was a small fizzy bubbly dark brown with a one finger tan head and nice sediment. Mouthfeel was heavily carbonated and almost burned the cheeks. Taste of wood, vinegar and burn. Nice and sour with a dry finish. I make the face people do when they imitate fish when drinking this (sucking my cheeks in).

Very surprised at the very faint sound when the cork was opened. My first thought was uh-oh!! Not to worry though. Virtually no head. Cherry, vinegar, and large amount of oak. No overpowering sour like some of this style. Good mouthfell - only a lishgt pucker. Surprisingly lively considering the lack of head and lack of any kind of pop with the cork. If this was the first sour ale I had I would be really iimpressed. But I prefer others over this one - slightly.

750ml bottle via trade with MrBendo. Shared with BikesandBeer. Pours reddish amber with a thin ring island of a tan ring. The nose is so crazy intensely sour and vinegary. That is damn sour and there is far more vinegar in the taste than I could imagine. Sour sour sour cherries. Damn, I want to rate this well but this almost gnarly in its intensity.

My first real Belgian ever, I have returned numerous times to this treasure. Beautiful ruby color. Most intense aroma, sour cherries, iron, raw oak, malt vinegar, not aromas that normally elict drool, but this is Rodenbach. Quinching beyond description.

Pours ruby with medium tan head with little lacing. Very beautiful beer. Nose is sour, vinegary, with a complex, almost meaty note. The flavor is sour cherries, sweet malt, blackberries. Oaky, dry aftertaste with lingering sourness. Pretty tasty.

Bottle at the Waterhuis bar in Ghent (Belgium), a dark black with a slightly beige foamy head. A sour aroma, but of licorice and rich molasses. The palate is rich and sweet, licorice and cherry flavour coming through, and then tart in the finish.