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

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a tumbler at ChurchKey.

Finally, a place that has this on tap so that I don't have to buy a bottle (I'm cheap). You rock, CK! It pours a seemingly clear, though rather dark, ruby topped by over a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises light vinegar, mandarin oranges, pineapple, maple syrup, sour grapes, and raspberries. The taste begins with some o' those sour grapes and vinegar notes, followed by some wheat, lightly roasted malts, and nutmeg. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sticky finish. Overall, a tasty Flemish offering, but not necessarily something I see myself drinking too often.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2010 04:49:35 | More by TMoney2591

drabmuh

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Never had this on tap before. Beer is dark red and mostly clear with no head, no lacing and minimal carbonation. Looks fine.

Aroma is a little sweet and mildly acetic. I was hoping for more acid but its the young one so I guess I don't get that.

Beer is light in body and mildly acetic, sweet on the front end and slightly tart on the back. Its highly drinkable and really nice. The other is considerably more sour but this is a perfectly serviceable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2010 18:29:04 | More by drabmuh

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

You know you're in luck when you walk into a pizzeria and see they have this beer and the Ommegang Witte on tap, and a part of their $5 slice-and-a-pint special. I then found out that it was $7 for a slice and a 9oz pour, but oh well, that still is a great deal.

The pour is solid, mildly hazy deep red with a thin beige head that vanishes quite rapidly. The nose is quite excellent, a beautiful blend of vanilla, brown sugar, cherries, red wine and a little vinegar. Tannin character is quite low, this is fruity, tart and quite vinous. These flavors are replicated on the palate, opening vinous along with vanilla, cherries, brown sugar, and drying on the finish with a some vinegar. Medium-light in body with a moderate level of carbonation, this beer is just very very enjoyable and very refreshing. I've had aged bottles of this, and I have to admit, I like this better fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2010 02:29:20 | More by DefenCorps

DmanGTR

New York

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

Review from notes (10/15/09) from Belga Cafe in DC.

A - very clear, garnet red with 1" off-white head. Dimished to a thin bubbly cap after a few minutes. 4.0

S - lots of red wine aroma. Tart and acidic, with a touch of funk. Hint of oak and relatively clean. 4.0

T - Not as pronounced as the aroma and the red wine/grape taste is prominent. Well balanced but is quite subdued in this department. 3.5

M - mildly watery. Not as full bodied as the aged version in the bottle. Smooth carbonation. 3.5

D - quite good. 4.0

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2010 15:52:51 | More by DmanGTR

david18

New York

4.65/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I was so happy to see this beer on tap! It was as the Amsterdam Ale House in Manhattan and almost no one knew what a big deal it was. Served in a custom Rodenbach 10 oz glass. Aroma and flavor are intensely sour with great malt character.

It's great to have a beer with so much character and complexity with a session-level alcohol by volume.

Eight dollars for ten ounces and worth every penny of it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2009 22:34:16 | More by david18

ryantupy

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy red color with a quickly dissolving head .

S - This beer smells of oak with hints of cherries and spice.

T - Very tart beer with a mild oak smothiness followed by cherries and spice in the backdrop.

M - Tart at first but once you warm up to it, it is smooth and tasty.

D - Great session beer!

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2008 15:39:30 | More by ryantupy

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Summits in Snellville, GA a while ago. Poured a ruby red tinted with dark brown. Slight head that faded to a ring. Quite acetic on the nose and with aromas of muscadine grapes, tart currants, and some muskiness as well as vinegar. Taste is similar, and and quite tart on the finish but slightly more mellow up front. There is a nice bitterness that helps temper the acetic qualities as well, and also some tart raspberry throughout. Mouthfeel is smooth and sour, leading this to be quite a refreshing beer. Not as complex as the Grand Cru, but simple and quenching.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2008 13:56:52 | More by Georgiabeer

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a dark ruby hued brown that has no head. Nose is a pretty smooth mix of wood and fruit. Flavor has that sour tone to it and definite fruit and wood as well. Smooth feel with a low but biting carbonation. Nice to drink, but you'd have to be able to appreciate the style to really enjoy this one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2008 16:14:57 | More by RblWthACoz

MiScusi

California

4.22/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Lucky Baldwin's in Pasadena for their 9th annual Belgian beer festival.

Poured a dark reddish brown. The smell is mildly tart. The taste is also tart with some red grape fruitiness. The mouthfeel is smoother and less spritzy than their Grand Cru. This beer is not as intense as the Grand Cru and is a fine sour beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2008 04:17:55 | More by MiScusi

MrMcGibblets

Illinois

2.7/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

ok, before i get panned for the low scores, let me just say that either the rest of you are lemmings scoring it high because you think you should, or you just enjoy this really unique, challenging style of beer. i wanted to like this beer. i tried to like this beer. i didn't like this beer. it poured beautifully: on-tap at 3F's pub, a deep reddish amber, mostly clear, with a super-thick, rocky, creamy, big-ass lasting pinkish head and lacing. nose was of cherries/berries and acetic sourness along with some musty barnyardy aromas. taste was sweet upfront dominated by sourness. kinda like drinking turned/old juice. light bodied, spritzy, with a drying, sour finish. tastes more like a sparkling rose wine that beer. no hop presence per the style. this might go well with a cherry pie.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2008 05:44:37 | More by MrMcGibblets

kleffman

California

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Some of this finally made its way to SD and I was fortunate enough to get a pour of it at O'Briens. Poured a very reddish brown with very little head and a light carbonation. Only a slight lacing. The aroma immediately hit me with cherries, both sour and fresh. There is a definite vinegar presence but not overpowering like some examples of the style. Possible hints of oak as well. The taste is incredible. Dominated by tart cherries, some vanilla and minimal vinegar that only helps the balance. Also some ripe apple. The mouthfeel is nice and coating, allowing even the smallest sip to linger. It's actually a very refreshing example of this style and the more I get to know it the Flanders Red is becoming more of a friend than an acquaintance. Really want to try the Grand Cru now as I heard it's much better.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2008 17:03:41 | More by kleffman

dfillius

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Chimay goblet at O'Brien's Pub.

A: Dark reddish brown. Onlythe tiniest hint of a ring of lace.
S: Fruit - cherry and apple. Tart - is that even a smell? Mint gum?
T: Tart - fruity and dry like a geueze but not that tart. Kind of like New Glarus Sour Brown mixed with their Belgian Red. It finishes bready around the sides of my tongue.
M: Tingly! Finishes thick in my throat like milk or Sunny D. A bit numbing for my tongue like cloves.
D: Delicious, I could have another, but it isn't really a session beer, especially not at $7 a glass.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2008 06:00:13 | More by dfillius

Halcyondays

California

4.45/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Beachwood BBQ, in Seal Beach, CA, this is the first time I have ever seen this for sale in CA, so I jumped at the chance to try it,

A: Pours a dark, maroon red, with a small white/off-white head.

S: Sour funk, though not as funky as a lambic, more of a lactic acidity, with some cherry and strawberry, and oak.

T: Taste is a fascinating blend of oak and fruit mixed with lactic acid. It can get a little to vinegary at times but overall, I was enthralled with its upfront sour character which evolved into a malty sweet berry flavour, definitely worth the wait.

M: Sour obviously, lactic, vineagry, acetic, but very refreshing.

D: I really dug this beer, would like to have it again, but it was $7 for about 8 oz. so it will have to be a rare treat.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2008 01:16:46 | More by Halcyondays

therica

Maryland

1.53/5  rDev -62.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

I'm transferring in my review which had accidentally been done on the unfortunately now-retired Alexander Rodenbach, which apparently was a far better beer than this mass-produced Classic Red version.

5Jan2006 Leuven Belgium, on-tap (and regretting it since!)

I had this in a bar in Leuven Belgium, on-tap. The bartendress warned me that "you either love it or you hate it."

I noted that the head dissipated quickly and disappointingly as she drafted it, and was nearly gone after she sat it in front of me.

Appearance-- like lemon juice.

Nose-- phew-- like apple-cider vinegar.

First taste-- like slightly fermented apple-cider vinegar.

Next taste was a good-sized healthy gulp. My guts instantly warned me. I continued through the mug, laughing that I was drinking cold slightly-carbonated not overly pleasant lemon-apple-vinegar.

My opinion never changed. Well, actually after about 10 minutes when I became severely nauseated and spent half an hour throwing up (which I hadn't done in 10 years), then watching the ceiling spin for another 6 hours, my opinion was modestly worsened, regarding this concoction.

Note that their advertising slogan states (as did the bartendress), "You either love it or you hate it."

I would also note, the barmistress stated firmly that the alcohol content was 4.8 percent, and not 5.0 percent as advertised. She knew her stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2008 23:30:20 | More by therica

auxiliary

Rhode Island

2.65/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

If you are a lambic lover, you might like this.
Remind me Cantallion. This beer was very sour and bitter. Good thing I was given a small sample of this from the tap. Dark reddish color, no head on this one, had about 5 sips of it, and that was the end of this.
If you are big on wine, and sour patch kids, then you are going to like this. Looking at the review, people do like it. Hats off to you.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2008 02:04:22 | More by auxiliary

RunawayJim

Rhode Island

3.35/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I apologize for the 2 quick reviews, but I had these laying around. I had the bottle after draft, but put them in in opposite order.

Poured into a small snifter-like glass at the bar. Poured a reddish brown with an average tan head. Looked like lots of carbonation. Smells of cherry and perhaps tart apple in there.

Taste wasn't overly strong, again that cherry and apple taste with a mix of sweet and tart, but neither overpowering the other.

The beer seemed overly carbonated and felt that way. It was almost like drinking a less sweet cherry cola. I wasn't overly impressed, but it wasn't bad. It was easy drinking, but mainly because there weren't any overpowering flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2007 00:48:16 | More by RunawayJim

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Rich, dark ruby brown. A thin creamy tan head that lasts. Held up to the light it is a very interesting looking liquid.

S - Musty, with hints of sour apples and cherries.

T - WOW! Sour and sweet but not overly so in either way.Cherries and sour apples flavors untie. Really nice.

M - Medium body with pleasant carbonation. Side of mouth bite and after numerous sips tounge starts to pucker...in a pleasant way.

D - Very tasty....one of my tops Flanders sours....maybe only second to The Duchess.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2007 12:40:15 | More by Deuane

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Dark ruby red body with thin foamy off-white head that has great retention. No lacing is left behind in the glass.

S- Strong acidic vinergar aroma with hints of sour cherries. Smell was somewhat unpleasant to me.

T- very complex. Tart sour cherries upfront with deep malt backbone. Then the acidity hits and is quite overwhelming. Finish is very plesent. Fruity cherry aftertaste that is both sweet and sour with some breadiness lingering.

M- very smooth with some light carbonation. Body is somewhat syrupy.

D- This was good and a unique brew. I will have it again. The smell kinda turned me away and one every once in awhile is probably good enough.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2007 17:00:44 | More by PittBeerGirl

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Rodenbach glass a very deep amber, with a very nice white lacing on the glass. It has a sweet aroma and the taste is all about tartness and dark fuits, even so small. This is one of those special occasion beers, not an everyday kind of thing, even though it is fantastic.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2007 02:40:52 | More by OWSLEY069

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I'm surprised that I've not reviewed this beer before, which I've had on several occasions (most memorably at 't Oud Arsenaal in Antwerp). This time was a $4 small goblet-full at Stumptown on SW 3rd, Portland.

A: Not much to look at initially, a murky, chestnut brown pour without carbonation. Paper-thin wisps of head spiral around the glass, collecting in a thin ring around the edges. As the pour settles, this beer becomes more and more clear, eventually settling as a relatively clear amber with ruby-colored highlights.

S: Lightly sour cherry smell, some aged balsamic vinegar and a generous dash of sugar.

T: Sweet and sour at once. Dry cola/caramel syrup wrapped in a lightly sour/tartness. Cherry seems to dominate, with a little lemon tea and something like raw oak. It's pretty good, though lacks complexity in my opinion - I am reminded a bit too much of a Cherry Coke.

M: Nicely carbonated, clean and crisp without being fizzy. Body is light-medium.

D: Quite easy to drink, light in body, ABV, etc. Has a fresh, clean sweet/sour quality that makes it as good to drink on a warm day as a cool one. A nice apertif/digestif, too.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2007 00:48:24 | More by msubulldog25

penguinjive7

New York

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber with a bit of a white head. Good amount of lacing. Smell is of sour fruit and a bit vinous. Taste is tart to begin with but fades into sweetness leaving the slight vinegar taste behind. The finish is much smoother than the front and leaves a nice taste in the mouth. The carbonation is done well and complements the taste nicely.
Overall this is a very unique brew. The several stages in flavor lead to a nice complexity. I would not go out of my way to get this again, but it is definitely worth a try and I will again soon, I'm sure.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2007 06:50:22 | More by penguinjive7

cabsandking

Ohio

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

Very dark brown color with a beige cap thats pretty slim. Dominant vinous nose with some oak and a slight molasses sweetness. Dry, bitter canvas for its bold flavor of fermented berry tartness, burnt grains. Displays some yeastiness but one sided, could have used more depth here. As is warms fig and prune notes come out and all the flavors start to blend together for a smoother, balanced flavor. Finishes dry with a light fruitiness and slight tartness. Full body and an even mouthfeel. Carbonation is low but exerts just enough crispness to make it quite enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2007 23:51:07 | More by cabsandking

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Reddish with a brown tint. Large head with impressive retention. Not really any lacing there.

S - A bit of yeasty fruit - cherries mostly. Slight maltiness, but it is dwarfed by the cherries.

T - Cherries, very sour cherries. The aftertaste is a lingering sour cherry . . . not a touch of sweetness. A faint slightly fruity bitterness in the aftertaste. Quite good.

M - Smooth, thin, very refreshing.

D - Great. I actually ordered two of these in a row because they were so good. I won't hesitate to have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2007 02:50:35 | More by mrasskicktastic

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the BXL Cafe in NYC.

Funk, yet refined this was a great beer to try. Not overwhelming like a few lambics I've tried, but still nothing a great example of the style. The wood character was evident along with very tart cherries, grapes and apples. Flavor was subdued at first until the beer warmed up. Reminds me of La Folie with a bit more fruit but not as rich in flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2007 22:51:51 | More by tempest

LarryV

Massachusetts

2.68/5  rDev -33.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I found this to be a really disappointing beer. Aroma wasn't bad, but the overwhelming sourness once I tasted it turned me right off. Reminded me of drinking apple cider and had apple cider vinegar overtones. It was a chore to drink a 10.5 oz glass of this.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2006 00:56:37 | More by LarryV