Rodenbach Grand Cru

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

Dark reddish brown pour with a light tan head. Aroma is very tart with some oak, vinegar, sour apples and essence of dark cherries. Medium bodied with light spritzy carbonation. Taste is very tart and oaky with sharp cherries and vinegar ~ the vinegar taste actually works for this though. The sourness starts to be almost like tannins. Later the beer starts have more oak to the taste and less fruit. This is quite a complex beer in the taste, but the taste does not change that much down the bottle. A wonderful beer, but best if shared with someone - a 750 ml of this was very overwhelming to the palate. (9/4/8/4/16 - 4.1) <P> <b> Rerate notes - </b> Glad I came back to see my notes and score on this. After having MANY of these my palate has changed drastically. After becoming adapt to the style this has become my favorite of the style and I find new excitement with each bottle. I must change from my previous review that this does in fact evolve as it warms bringing new depths with the oak and sourness. Also I no longer find a 750 overwhelming, now it is welcoming. As close to a perfect beer as I’ve found.

since there is no more Alexander, this will have to be the one. Pours a Deep cloudy Amber with a nice tan head with nice lacing. Aromas of sour funk, apples, a little soap. Flavors of the same with a nice sour finish that begs for more.

Bottled, a year old; or so: dark, sienna brown copper. Full, luscious, slightly rocky tan head. Ancient, while elegant gold dust aroma with bitter cherries, tart red grapes and dirty barn yard. Perfect carbonation, delicately tart, zesty cherries and mouthwatering flavours: leather, horse blanket among a buffet of other fruits and tastes. Stellar brew.

Garnet almost blood colour. Large head that settled to a smooth rich foam. Pungent aroma of wood and vinegar.Beautiful sour brett taste. Malts start to make themselves apparent after the initial sour shock. Wonderful deep musty, earthy tones appear full of noble rot. A complex beer that is also oddly refreshing.

Aroma strikes from an arms length away! Dark cherries. The kind with the stones left in and maybe out in the sun a bit too long...but this is a good thing! Vanilla, oak, perfumey floralness...sublime and complex nose. Color is a gorgeous ruby red, with slightly brownish tones. Carbonation is light and a tan head forms but fades fast. A nice dense ring sticks to the sides of the glass however. This beer begs to be tasted! Tart, acidic, puckering taste at first. Sharp fruitiness in the middle. A mesmorizing combination of flavors combine at the end. Oak, cherries, a little alcohol. This is a refreshing, spring time beer that is wonderful when sipped on a sunny day outside on your deck! One of the world's greats! Thanks for the trade Chazwicke!

In a bottle, rated at 6.0%abv, best before 21-06-2004. Pours red/brown with a tight off-white head that fades quickly. evident lactic aroma with a hint of musty, stale hops in the background. Pronounced lambic taste hinting at dry wine, with a drying finish leaving the mouth feeling slightly as it would after a mint - kind of chilled. Overall a delightful brew, which only makes me wonder how good the higher rated Flemish sour Ales must be...

12.31.04: dated 30/06/06: Thanks to Secret Santa, Joeycapps for this long sought after brew! The pour is a beautiful clear burgundy red with a slick tan head. Inviting aromas of balsalmic, cherry kirsch, lots of oak, somewhat toasty. The flavor is as smooth and balanced as any I’ve tried, better than I expected. Tart cherries, herbal, not vinegar-like at all, lots of grape, plum. Wow. Soft palate and light eff temper the tart flavors and evens the finish. This is all I could have asked for, a benchmark for the style. Thanks Joe!

Very fruity and sour. Hints of apple. Definitely smells like balsamic vinegar. Ruby brown complexion. Nice amount of sweetness. Beautiful looking brew. Quite enjoyable.