Rodenbach Grand Cru

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

Reddish tan head over a deep ruby body, aroma of potent cherries, currants, sugar, and yeast, flavor is utterly brilliant and complex, sweet and sour fruits, cherry and currant, some sugars, fading into deep woody notes, and a pleasant tart finish. Deliciously fun to let roll around on your tongue. My new favorite

This world class brew is a legend in the beer world. Grand Cru is aged for up to two years in oak tuns. The result is a beer that is very tart, acidic, and refreshing. This beer is amazingly complex and vibrant. The beer world’s answer to wine. If you are a novice to the style do not let the intense flavors put you off. You will fall in love with this beer, and once you do, you will be a Grand Cru fan for life.

Yikes. This one is insane. As tasty, if not tastier, than regular Rodenbach.

Amazing, pilloy, off-white head, and it crackles if you put your ear to it! Got kind of careless with anticipation, had to use a two stage pour. Bright nose, taut mouthfeel. I love how the tartness wallops me right in the back corners of my mouth. This one had my full attention for quite a while, and it left me smacking my mouth for hours trying to relive the experience. That’s after I turned the bottle over looking for every last drop. Also gave me some of the best beer belches I’ve ever had. A truly incredible beer.

The complexity of this world classic is second to none. Can’t drink a lot of it due to the high acid level, but a truly unique beer to share amoung beer loving friends.

Overall fantastic beer! appearance is beautiful in my tulip glass, and I can sit and smell it forever.. Amazing & superlative beer! The acidic taste requires some openmindedness the first time, but after the first shock (if not used to sour beer), you can enjoy the complexity. Maybe my favourite (but not for session drinking!)

Looking forward to open one. I have set myself to a limit. I open them only when it’s 30 degrees outside... but it’s for me one of the best beer there is in summertime. Real refresshing taste...

Grand Cru is a very rare, unblended, version of Belgian "red ale", a variation of a West Flanders Old Bruin or "Old Brown Ale". Rodenbach Grand Cru is the pure, un-blended version of the more popular, Rodenbach, which is a blend of the Grand Cru, and a younger beer. The Grand Cru is the "pure" beer if you will, spending two years or more, in un-lined oak fermenters. This time in the wood ,gives this beer a very unique, refreshing, sharp, oaky edge, that makes Rodenbach Grand Cru one of, if not, the most refreshing beer in the world. This beer is as world class as a beer will ever get, and is so respected by beer lovers, it enjoys an almost mythical status. Rodenbach Grand Cru pours to a beautiful, deep, ruby red, to rusty brown color, with a nice white head that slowly fades, and a very lively carbonation. The nose on this beer is fantastic, with very vibrant, sour, oaky, and vinous aromas, paired with hints of caramel malt. The palate is firm, with a good malt base, that is accented with complex flavors of oak, sour fruit, and vinous character. There is lots of carbonation on the tongue, and the flavors of this beer just buzz. Rodenbach Grand Cru finishes with more complex oaky, sour and vinous notes, then ends with a very dry and oaky finish. This is one of the most impressive, and refreshing beers, you will ever taste. This beer is truly in a class of its own. It makes the ultimate aperitif beer, it makes the ultimate beer to match with rich foods such as buttery cheeses, roasted turkey, or prime rib, because of its cutting power. It would be the perfect beer to match with or have as a sorbet, or rich and dense deserts.