Rodenbach Classic (Red) - Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.11/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

11.2 oz bottle into a Samuel Smith pint glass.

A: Pours a dark red color with nice clarity. Typical of a sour, there isn't much head, a one finger eggshell color that fades quickly.

S: I love how the cherries intermingle with the oak qualities the aroma provides. Sourness is subtle, enough to create a delicate interplay between the other aromatic notes. Not explosive, just wonderful to inhale.

T: A bit of a letdown from the nose, which isn't really saying much. Immediately, cherry flavors combine with a balanced lactic tartness. I love how cherry forward this comes across without going overly sweet. The finish is mostly grainy malts and some diacetyl; however, after a few sips some of the cherry qualities bleed past the midtaste to drown out the buttery notes - exactly what I want in a Flemish red. Keep in mind this is about 3/10 sour, so those looking for an enamel beatdown won't find it here.

M: Light and crisp. A very light tannic quality appears in the aftertaste, but this isn't particularly dry. It's well carbonated and refreshing, and goes down quickly.

O: One thing that deserves to be mentioned is how inexpensive this bottle was - about $1.75 for a single 11.2 oz bottle. It's not the greatest sour ever, but as a refreshing thirst quencher, I'd take this over many standard fruit beers any day. It's cheap (for a sour), it's well made, and it's a panty dropper. Enough said!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 22:14:31 | More by ThisWangsChung

JSouth

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-25-2013 21:26:32 | More by JSouth

DerekMorgan

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-25-2013 03:16:28 | More by DerekMorgan

desint

Belgium

2.5/5  rDev -38.1%

05-24-2013 12:48:31 | More by desint

robertmitchum

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-24-2013 09:38:58 | More by robertmitchum

JellyJacket

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%

05-24-2013 05:34:22 | More by JellyJacket

Boilerfood

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-24-2013 03:03:41 | More by Boilerfood

Holland

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -25.7%

05-24-2013 01:04:50 | More by Holland

Mersh

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -1%

05-23-2013 17:11:35 | More by Mersh

ThomasMetal75

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Dark maroon/mahogany & cloudy. Good amount of carbination towards the top of the glass.

S- Funky Belgian beer smell, but in a good way! Sour and malty, with deep dark fruits. Kind of like a dark red wine. There is a sweet element as well. That sour yest and dark fruit is the main smell.

T- Sour and sweet, with a dark fruit tartness. Finish is surprisingly dry. The sour lingers in your mouth, but it's not really bitter. I can even detect a woody presence as well towards the finish. Finish is pretty fast. Moderate carbonation. As far as Belgian beers go, this is excellent!

M- It's not the easiest thing to drink in the world, but it's certainly not extremely heavy. I like how the beer coats your mouth for a few seconds after you take a sip with all of it's delicious flavor, and then quickly dries. You do get that sourish, fruity taste that sticks around faintly after the finish.

*Overall, this is a really special beer. It's got everything a great sour Belgian beer should have. And to boot, it's not that alcoholic or hard to drink like some Belgian beers can be. I will diffidently be picking this up again for sure!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:58:02 | More by ThomasMetal75

beeragent

Texas

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter from a bottle.

A - Pours a deep ruby brown with a small off-white head. No lacing visible.

S - Dark fruit, light vinegar, and tartness that tickles the nose.

T - Oak and cherry flavor up front with a light vinegary taste throughout. Not as tart as expected but still present. Flavor does not stay on the palate long after the swallow.

M - Light mouthfeel with light body and medium carbonation. Almost has a soda pop mouthfeel to it.

O - Easy drinker overall. Not what I would go for if I was craving a sour ale, but it has a nice tartness and smoothness common to the style. Makes for a great beer for the summer time.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 00:59:59 | More by beeragent

Gregvg

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1%

05-16-2013 18:31:43 | More by Gregvg

GinsuDave

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-16-2013 10:32:00 | More by GinsuDave

augustwest0823

New Jersey

1.5/5  rDev -62.9%

05-16-2013 00:52:08 | More by augustwest0823

valkyre65

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-14-2013 16:18:35 | More by valkyre65

Dweedlebug

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-14-2013 00:02:24 | More by Dweedlebug

BMMillsy

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-12-2013 13:52:44 | More by BMMillsy

Texasfan549

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%

05-10-2013 03:36:49 | More by Texasfan549

JamesQuaff

California

4/5  rDev -1%

05-09-2013 20:21:54 | More by JamesQuaff

troy138

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

05-07-2013 18:44:56 | More by troy138

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.93/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – Pours a deep ruby red color with a small white foam on the top of the brew. The thin foam fades rather rapidly leaving only a trace level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell- The aroma is a mix of cherry and plum with a strong sour aroma of a candy like nature as well as some notes of a yeasty like smell.

Taste – The taste begins with a raspberry and cherry sweetness mixed with a rather mellow tartness. As the flavor advances the fruit flavors remain constant and are joined by some light oaky flavors as well as an increase in the tart and sour flavors due to an advent of a tart apple and lactic acid taste. As the taste advances further to the end a yeasty like taste joins the mix producing a slightly funky and sour taste to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is on the thinner side with a carbonation level that is rather average as well. Both are rather fitting for the style and help keep the brew an easier drinker even in light of its more tart nature.

Overall – A rather enjoyable brew with a nice blend of sweet and tart.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 00:35:06 | More by Darkmagus82

wer3w01f

Russian Federation

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-06-2013 12:04:39 | More by wer3w01f

wonothesane42

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1%

05-06-2013 03:14:22 | More by wonothesane42

hopoilcrazy

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-05-2013 23:04:47 | More by hopoilcrazy

schaffer9252

New York

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

05-04-2013 14:10:43 | More by schaffer9252