Rodenbach Grand Cru

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

This is some complex stuff. Redish brown in colour. Not much of a head, but a fair amount of carbonation. The aroma falls somewhere between sour cherries and cranberries, with a hint of red wine vinegar. The taste is quite similar to the smell, with some malt and cola notes mixed in as well. The palate was surprisingly light and fizzy, which made this beer quite refreshing. Overall, this isn't the type of beer that I could drink ALL of the time, but it's still fantastic.

WHat a nice suprise this is. As I sit here on this winter’s day and think about how much I am enjoying this beer, I am also depressed that I snagged only one. But I digress........ Appears to have almost a dual layer of colour...first on top I see a fizzy beige head thats making a lot of noise here. Next I see a dark, almost ruby in colour layer, followed by the bottom, which is a sort of light orange. Let’s move on to the aroma. Very complex.......immediate sourness...makes my mouth water actually. Grapey wine quality is also present in the aroma....reminds me of a nice white wine...but with all the qualities of an ale. Floral and spicy hints are also here in the aroma. Very nice! Lots of carbonation here. Taste is sour grapes, mossy, malty, and spices all mixed in. Alcohol is hidden very well. I love the fizziness present here, and it is a nice suprise to have this cross my palate. ALl in all, this brew is complex, tasty, interesting, and a must try for everyone!

Reddish/brown color. Smells of oak and wine. Tastes of oak and cherries? Very sour and acidic, yet quite refreshing. Great balance between tart and sweet.

This is an excellent beer and may turn me away from Lambics. It’s got a nice nose, an excellent sour fruit mouth, an a very thin head. I’ll be drinking more of this and will probably have a few bottles in my luggage on my return.

I may have found a new favourite style. Other than its appearance - flat, deep red with the odd bubble floating to the top - this is a truly spectacular Ale. The aroma is unbelievable! Sour yet not bitter, a mix of sour cherry and (believe it or not) ketchup. Yes, ketchup - I could try to conjure up a more esoteric smell, but... This isn’t a bad thing - quite the contrary. But ultimately, it comes down to taste, and this is a phenomenal Ale. Sour as hell, but clean, crisp and refreshing. The aftertaste is also sour, but the heaviness of the taste fades quickly, leaving a nice tang on the back of the tongue. Grand Cru is something unique - to me at least. And while clearly not a session ale, it is something that I will return to over and over again. A classic!

Bottle from Super Saver. Hazy rubiyish/deep coppery pour. The aromas are huge oaky cherries, raspberries, cabernet, some funky yeast. It tastes very tart, not nearly the level as a Cantillon, but it stays very tart and red winey and krieky throughout, with some intermingling oaky cognac, and funky peaty yeast flavors. Very nice.

A dark redbrown colour with a white head. The aroma is intense of vinegar oak, and a fruity sweetness. Taste is.. . . amazing. sweet, sour, acidic, oak, fruit, all in a wonderfull balance. This beer is one of my alltime favourites.

Vanilla,oak,cinnamon and an almost Armanagnac(SP?) dominate the nose. Bright ruby red,slow traveling bubbles, with a lingering head but a quick fading lace. Huge mouthfeel with long finish,rich but dry,tart and keeps your mouth watering. Sweetness is evident but is washed away quickly by the tart acidity.