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

vladtheimpaler

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Tap at Andy's. Three glasses full with Slander and Mkobes (and Tony Forder for that matter). Seductive looking tulip glass. Burnt orange hugh, nice head on top. Not really clear. Rich soured apple and cherry aromas. Flavors are tart and malty. You can pick out apples and cherries in that sweet and sour combination of fruit and malt. Decent mouth feel. Tart finish. Drinkable to the max. A session beer with all the trimmings.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2005 16:04:40 | More by vladtheimpaler

yelterdow

New Jersey

4.97/5  rDev +23%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

When Tommy @ Andy's Corner in Bogota sent out the e-mail with one day's notice that this would be on tap, there was no mistaking my showing up for a taste. What follows are the results of this extraordinary experience, one that my taste buds shall remember 'til the end of days.

Served in a Libbey's tulip glass (model #3715 for anyone who cares) nice and cold fresh from the keg.

Appearance- A reddish-brown mostly clear color with a tight, foamy head. Large bubbles popped and hissed amongst the soapy remains of the initial pour. Retention was nice for a Flanders Red.

Smell- Clean, fresh, pungent sour cherries with a full, deep follow-through. This was one of those "I can't stop smelling this beer" events, because it is not often that we get to experience this style so fresh. Sour turns to sweet as the beer slowly approaches cellar temperature. Outstanding.

Taste- Total refreshment. Totally thirst-quenching. This is the ideal summertime answer to that special brew that wakes up your taste buds... not like an IPA or kicked-up pilsner... but it satisfies your complete tongue and begs you to drink more. Sour cherries dominate, and they fade to a background of granny smith apples.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Perfect in every regard... slick and moderate, smooth and inviting. Everything about this makes me want to try one more sip, one more glass. Totally thirst-quenching and a feast for the senses, I am so happy to have sampled what might be perfection for this style. At $7 a glass, I didn't care... four went down the gullet inside of 3 hours, and when I tell you that I enjoyed and savored each taste, I mean it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2005 04:12:01 | More by yelterdow

99bottles

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Monks, this came in its own glass and looked delicious. The beer has a deep ruby color with hues of brown, a head of foamy tan lace and a moderate amount of carbonation. The smell didn't really impress me, with a bit of a sour note that felt drowned out by rather flat malt and some residual carmel sweetness. The first sip was surprisingly smooth, without the sharp acidic bite I'm used to from this style. This instead has a sweet brown sugar flavor, mixed with some sour cherry and fruity esteric malt. I really wasn't amazed, and yet I still liked this quite a bit. I think it's worth trying in a bottle just to see if the flavor is more defined. In any case, not a bad offering especially if the sourness of this style is a turn off. A nice, balanced version with plenty of malt and sweetness to smooth the edges.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2005 04:07:25 | More by 99bottles

joecast

Australia

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pours a reddiesh brown color with light carbonatoin. minimal tan head laves only lace at the edge of the glass.
very distinct, tart aroma. i probably would have been put off by this (and have, by orval) earlier in my BA career. though, it is somewhat inviting now. has a candy sweetness that lends some balance.

difficult to define the taste. has some of the tart character from the aroma, but more subdued, and less sweetness. to be fair, any more sweet and it would be cloying so thats a good thing. nice finishing bitterness.

well, im surprised by how much i liked this beer. ive seen it in the shop quite a few times but always passed it up for something else. very happy i finally gave up the $8 for this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2005 06:58:11 | More by joecast

GeoffFromSJ

New Jersey

4.55/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Had the immense pleasure of having this on-tap at Tria in Philly.

Rodenbach makes some of the most refreshing beers in the world. This will be my lawnmower beer.

Pours a ruby color with thick head. Was cloudy at least at first. I think I saw some brown in there.

Fruit (I believe cherries) in the smell and up front in the taste. Ends with some tartness. Not overwhelming Cantillon-esque tartness. But a tartness which makes this incredibly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2005 13:35:35 | More by GeoffFromSJ

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

250ml bottle obtained via trade with Jetsbeer. Date 03/08/05 on back of bottle. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into a Rapscallion glass, formed a 1/4" over the clear bright reddish amber brew. Lacing is is good, even though the head has faded to a bubbly film. Aroma is malty, yet funky and has sour tinges as well. Taste is pleasantly tart, with a reasonable malty body, and minimal funk, for better or worse. Mouthfeel is creamy smooth even considering it's tartness, and as such, drinkability for the styleis superb.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2005 02:05:58 | More by ppoitras

meathookjones

Virginia

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from a 25cl bottled with a date of 20/10/05 on the back. Pours out a dark reddish brown with a light tan head. Some lace was left around the glass. Aroma is mild, but notes of tart fruits and a slight mustiness are most evident. Cherries seem to be the only fruit I could really pick out. Flavor starts off with a sweet and tart fruitiness with mainly a cherry component. Some other sweet flavors are mingling about like caramel. Pretty interesting stuff, it balances the tartness with sweetness quite nicely. Finished with a lightly tart note. Mouthfeel is a bit bubbly and crisp. Pretty refreshing stuff. Great drinkability as well.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2005 12:43:49 | More by meathookjones

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A masterpiece, red and brown appearance, with the rich smell of a good wine and cherry. Sour cherry and sweet fruit simultaneously. A tad of other spice and is it the oak that brings this all together? A full mouth experience. Sure liked it a lot more than their Grand Cru. Just as good on-tap at Eulogy In May 2005.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2005 02:28:29 | More by northyorksammy

paterlodie

Belgium

4.05/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

After drinking the grand cru last night, i tried a regular one today. Colour looks to be less dark but a great autum colour; no great head but a spectacular nose. Litle sour but lots of cherryfruit and overal more then plesant. Taste is full, litle sour, cherry and oak. Great beer however I think it's not what it used to be.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2004 14:48:00 | More by paterlodie

marburg

Michigan

4.95/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

(Addendum) After having this fresh at the brewery in Belgium, sampling some bottles I brought back, and talking with some friends, I've come to the conclusion that either this beer's changed or, more likely, every sample I've ever loved has been aged. Drink this beer after it's a couple years old and it'll go from decent to spectacular. I'm knocking a tiny bit off the mouthfeel score because I'm unwilling to ignore my past experiences that indicate it's a prefect 5 -- but the current product lacks the living, breathing, lively sensation this beer can and should produce.

(Original Review: 11/02/2003) Rodenbach can simply do no wrong -- or if they can, they sure as hell keep it to themselves. Because their beers are simply exercises in perfection.

Poured from a 1.5L bottle and shared with some Detroit-area BAs and a buddy at Kuhnhenn's. There's something about these larger bottle sizes too, be it mental or physical, that makes for a more impressive brew. Impeccible character.

Mildly acerbic character underlies the entire aroma. Tart cherries blend in perfect harmony with chocolatey malts, very subtle raw herbal mint, and mild oaky vanilla. Earthy, deep, complex. As fantastic an aroma as one could hope to find on anything.

The acidity carries through to the palate. Refreshingly crisp despite the obvious estery fruit qualities. Woody and loaded with cherries and sweetness.

And let's be honest here: Do these beers, including this one, have any rival in terms of balance? A tasteful and elegant sweetness balanced perfectly with a light sour flavor. It's natural and carries a perfect understanding of flavor.

Drink one. Drink two. Drink three. Drink all night. This is a perfect beverage.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2004 03:26:56 | More by marburg

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle drank at le Cirio in Brussels: Poured a light red/brown colored beer with a nice head with better then average retention. Aroma is mostly dominated by the oak/cherry smell but not as strong as for the Grand Cru. Taste is surprisingly more refreshing then expected with again the oak/cherry taste and some light sweetness. The end is a bit sour and watery. This is not on par with the Grand Cru but it would wonderful to drink this during a hot summer days beside the pool.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2004 15:07:25 | More by Phyl21ca

connecticutpoet

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This one was brown and cloudy, with almost no head.

The aroma was slightly skunky, but mostly of strong musty malt. Hints of fruitiness.

The taste was very fruity, hints of cherries and apples, sweet, pronounced malt, and red wine notes as well. It did seem a little thin for the taste though.

An interesting beer, worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2004 04:27:18 | More by connecticutpoet

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark, plummy red color, poured into my Duvel glass, with a brief, perfunctory white head, soon gone.
Aroma is in a realm of it's own, bold sour cherries, slight suggestion of cocoa and nuts, a brown ale emboldened with brazen fruit, and atingle with spices.
floods the mouth with flavor, brisk, fruity, distinctive, tangy, just a touch sour, with a trickle of sweet. Very tasty, very lively on the tongue.
Medium to full in body, brimming with great taste, medium length, slightly sour/slightly sweet fruity finish.
Excellent. Utterly delectable.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2004 03:32:55 | More by feloniousmonk

donnebaby

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Dark burgundy brown color and a dark tan tightly foamy head. Smells of breezy fresh black cherries. Fleshy and sweet. As it warms, the cherries seem to ripen a bit more, intensifying.

The taste off the bat brings those cherries down to bear in an almost lambic fashion. Black cherries take on a sweet and sour lemon, with balsamic edge, which is both mouth-puckering and refreshing. This tiny bottle went far too fast. Hard to locate the hops until well after the cherries have left the building. Notes of mint and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Carbonation comes out as creamy in the forefront, with a medium blast in the throat, all at the same moment. Then returns to being creamy and rolls down the throat. Pleasing.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2004 12:48:59 | More by donnebaby

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Magnum purchased in 1998. A real treat to pop open and share with friends.
Foamed over upon opening, poured like champagne in the wine glass. Light pink tinge in the aggresive head that falls within a few minutes. Very light lacework that dissapeared partway through the glass. Great mahogany color with reddish highlights. A little murky.
Cherries, acid, some mustiness in the nose. Aromas develope as beer warmed and breathed. Slight nuttiness and vanilla. Winelike fruitiness.
Nice, mellow tartness on the pallet. Very crisp and refreshing. Medium to thin in the body, leans tword a sparkling red wine. Nice balance of cherries, light malt, acid. No hops present here. Challenging to find the oakiness, adds more complexity than flavor.
Drying and inviting, very drinkable. Great complexity and subdued Belgian funkiness. Light notes of sherry, vanilla, ever so slight almonds. A classic Belgian that dissapeared like a perfect spring day.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2004 17:05:58 | More by brewandbbq

Andreji

Colombia

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tried this at the heart of Brussel's while celebrating the victory of the french over the english in rugby (well, I didn't really celebrate. just stood on the sidelines.)

Pour is dark caramel, completely opaque with a medium cream dark tan head, lasting for a bit. The smell is fruity as the taste, in terms of rather 'frutti di bosco' sorta fruits (red stuff I guess), very pleasing combination within a very dense body.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2004 12:39:07 | More by Andreji

SheepNutz

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2oz. bottle poured into a tulip-style glass. It pours a deep ruby red color with one finger of head. There is a little bit of lacing left on the glass. The smell is very malty and sweet, with cherry, red grape, and a hint of alcohol. The taste is also fairly malty, with sweet fruits and a little spice. The finish has a slight tartness to it. The mouthfeel is fairly thick and heavy. The drinkability is fairly good too. A solid Belgian Red.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2004 03:42:53 | More by SheepNutz

Bourre

France

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark red color. The smell is winy and woody. The beer matured two years in wooden barrels, so it’s not really a surprise. I’m kind of scared because I usually don’t appreciate this kind of beer very much. Cherries, wood and fruity wine flavors come in the taste. Raspberries and blueberries. Sweetness. Definitely cherries. The mouthfeel is light. The real surprise for me was the sourness, mixed with some slightly bitter aftertaste. I didn’t expect the tart but it was very deep in the brew. Good, but not one of my favorites. Too sour for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2004 23:45:46 | More by Bourre

ViveLaChouffe

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep cherry red with a thin, light-tan head. Some light lacing evident. Smells of sour cherries. Other fruity aromas apparent. Caramel and port notes. Oak and rounded vanilla aromas with just a hint of sweet chocolate.

Taste is much like the smell. Sour cherry and vanilla in the body followed by musky chocolate, hints of oak. Lightly sour finish. Not nearly as full-flavored or sour as the smell would indicate but nicely balanced. A bit thin with a lingering sourness on the tongue. Very smooth and pretty drinkable for the style. Not nearly as sour when I last had it some 8 years ago but I will chalk that up to a maturing palate. A real treat and a classic.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2004 17:14:18 | More by ViveLaChouffe

jed

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: Slim brown bottle with a picture of casks, "Mixed Fermented Beer" written in German and in French. 25 cl, best if consumed by 1/12/05. Though there's some kind of bottling code, no bottled on date.

Appearance: Pours a bright mahogany with a very weak head, almost no retention. Small trail of lacing laps at the side of the glass. Tons of bubbles from the carbonation, bubbles continue until near the end of the beer.

Smell: Warm, smoky aroma of roasted malt mixed with sour, tart fruits — cherrys, prunes. Tobacco/smoky aroma reminiscent of peat.

Taste: Rodenbach is different from any other beer I've tried. Initial flavors of tart cherry mixed with almost syrupy roasted malts. More difficult to describe the fruits, but in addition to cherry some sour apple, raspberries. Hops? Nope. The smokiness in the smell manifests itself in the taste as some kind of hard to describe charcoal/meat flavor. Influence of the casks is also apparent, similar to some French red wines. The effect of the initial malt flavor followed by the sour (almost vinegar) fruit is initially off-putting, but soon becomes an enjoyable contrast. The tart fruit also contributes to the try finish, leaving behind an aftertaste of sweeter apples and a dry, sour flavor.

Mouthfeel: Not much to say here, slightly above average mouthfeel improved by a little bit of creaminess.

Drinkability: While I think Rodenbach is an interesting, complex beer, the vinegar component combined with the sour, tart flavors really hurts the drinkability.

This one changed my idea of the normal "beer" flavors. Rodenbach packs a very complex flavor different from other sweet fruit beers or Belgian ales, and I'm glad I tried it. While I respect the flavor, it's definitely not something I'd come back to — not really my thing — and the high cost in the U.S. means I'll have to stick with other Belgians I like better.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2004 11:38:10 | More by jed

Naerhu

Japan

4.13/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brownish red head on a huge red dark body.
Raspberry like aroma.
Raspberry flavor, on a roasted biscuit and carmel pastry with the slightest bit of chocolate. Dry and pleasing. It is really hard to believe that they have not used a significant amount of raspberry juice in brewing this. Nice acidity, but little bitterness. What bitterness there is seems more tanic, like wine tanins.

If I wanted a drink this fruity I would have a glass of wine. Gimme something with hops that bite and malt that greets me without and shyness.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2004 15:24:08 | More by Naerhu

francisweizen

Australia

4.72/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This flemish red ale is great. Bottles only go for around 1 Euro a pop as well. This pours out a nice pinkish/red colour with a small head of raspberry like foam. The aromas are very cherry-ish, lactic, slightly sour, and a bit sweet all at the same time. The taste is wonderfully fresh and creamy, with all of the flavors intermingling nicely. The mouthfeel is definately a little less creamy than it is on tap and this does hurt the drinkability a bit.

Please note that a recent 750 of this brew has a very funky metallic tastes to it...I'd stick with the little bottles, personally.

Pre-palm vintage, perhaps a 1993? This stuff is dark brown with a small off-white head. Aromas are of smoky malts, cherries, acidic funk, chocolate, and more. The taste is chocolate-like, with smoke, cherries, funk, and lambic-like acid all in the mix as well. The mouthfeel is a bit thinner thinner than usual, and the drinkability is still absolutely awesome. Wow this is so different than fresh, post-palm rodenbach. I wonder if the reciple changed? At 10 years old this stuff is starting to have the complexity of a Hardy's!

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2003 17:54:42 | More by francisweizen

skar

New York

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on-tap at the Blind Tiger, NYC 11/5/03 Belgian Beer Fest
This keg had been in Blind Tiger's cellar for over a year.

Appearance/Head: Deep mahogany color. Pretty clear and served with a good head.

Aroma: Sour cherries. Rather floral with a little oak in the background.

Taste: Red fruits with quite a bit of acidity for beer. Notes of red wine vinegar (or even balsamic vinegar), which just adds to the complexity of this brew. Most of the flavors are most winelike than beer.

Bottom line: Most BA's present thought the age of the keg detracted from the flavor of the beer. One former brewmaster thought it improved with the age. I thought the aging changed the beer a little but in a neutral manner. Although I prefer the Grand Cru and the Alexander, Rodenbach is a great example of what is right about Belgian beer. Refreshing, unique, and highly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2003 13:58:18 | More by skar

putnam

Michigan

5/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

What is beer?
It is impossible to exaggerate this "beer's" greatness.
Served from a 1.5 L bottle by Marburg.
There is Impossible complexity divinely integrated.
There is sweetness in the form of baked breads, cakes, spiced cookies, sweet red and black cherries, raspberries.
The sweet elements are overlaid with nutshell bitterness, cocoa, corroded copper, jerky and raw and toasted spices.
It is dense. It is polished.
There is plenty of room for delicate floral and sweet herbal fragrances to emerge throughout.
This beer is like walking through a dimensional door into a fairy tale. Every element is absolutely durable and beautiful...
Forests of complexity. Recognition of long-lost perfection.
---
The next day I drank a young Bordeaux and found a lot of similarities to this beer. I think a lot of what this beer is about comes from the oak in the barrels.
---
A fresh sample delivered directly from Belgium on 6.1.2004 was a surprise. Tasted next to a Duchesse de Bourgogne, the young sample of Rodenbach appeared to open in the glass from a state of austere, minty herbal woodiness. But first - on the nose - it was very sour and gastric smelling. Seasoned oak, dried, oily cinnamon bark and Uttar Pradesh spices lurk in the background before surging as it warms and agitates in the glass. This process brings even more complexity over time. I feel this beer should be allowed to age for a minimum of two years based on my results from bottles that are 2-5 years old.
Thanks Alan.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2003 16:31:47 | More by putnam

saltydog

New York

4.6/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was, amazingly enough, a bottle from 1988, served at Kroegske. Appearance: Mild head, bright dark red color, very clear. Aroma: very strong sourness, still enough malt to balance it out, with an incredibly smooth balance. Flavor: Tart and very mellow. Malty is subdued, and vinous flavors. Dinkability is dominated by tart finish. The sourness wonderfully masks the age; the only way you would have any idea how old it is would be that they don't make it this well anymore!

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2003 01:46:28 | More by saltydog