2008 Vintage Oak Aged Ale (Barrel No. 96) - Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

part of the hobo tasting no.8 that took place in the lowes parking lot this afternoon. great job bringing this one out calton. 750ml split between the two of us.

pours out a nice light reddish pink color with a light haze to it and a nice and big head of off white that reached a height of around three iches before settling with tons of side glass lacing.

aroma is rich tart cherries and raspberries, rich and a perfect mix of tartness and sweet fruit notes, i was in heaven an melted into the glass. each sip was like a fruit explosion. cherries and berries, light sourness, hints of oak as it warms but always maintaining a lightness and an airyness that kept it soo smooth and easy to drink it was absurd. such a nice dry, clean, and tart finish that left the long lasting fruit and light oak flavor on the tongue, you really just could not get enough of this one.

overall i am really becoming a huge fan of the flanders reds and this was an instant classic in my book. a hell of a beer i was proud to be able to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 01:17:43 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Mikasa tulip. Picked this up at State Line in Maryland.

Pour brings a red-tinged brownish ale with a bit of murkiness and a single-finger light-tan head. Pretty decent retention and a nice collar as it goes down. Some spotty lacing there as well. Nose brings some sherry and dark fruits along with the oak and mild acetic presence. Great character all around.

The flavor really explodes with a beautiful acidic character and bountiful notes of cherry and sherry. Dark fruits continue to linger in the background. The mouthfeel is absolute perfection--medium body with slight carbonation and a mind-numbing creaminess that goes exquisitely with the acidity. Drinkability is offer the charts. I'll certainly be seeking out more of this.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 00:53:02 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

4.48/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap for Churchill's Renaissance at Churchill's Pub & Grille in San Marcos, CA.

Pours a clear reddish-brown with a beige head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace randomly form on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of sour cherry and berry aromas, funk, and vinegar aromas. Taste is of sour cherry and berry aromas, funk, vinegar, and some slight wood notes. This beer has a very nice level of carbonation with a crisp and bubbly mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good sour that is just awesomely tart and funky.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2012 22:09:43 | More by UCLABrewN84

drabmuh

Maryland

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Beer is poured into a tulip. Beer is red, dark red, mostly clear with a white head of medium and small bubbles that leaves some lacing on the glass. Carbonation moderate to low, good head retention.

Beer smells mostly lactic, I was expecting more acetic but lactic is the winner. There is also a faint aroma of cherries.

Beer is nice and creamy with a mixture of acids, including some cherry tartness. Some tannic / oak notes in the midpalate as well. There is a lot going on in this sipper of a beer. Medium to light in body and overall a great sour. I was so convinced there were sour cherries in here I kept re-reading the label hoping that I would see the word "cherries" on there but alas. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 20:44:12 | More by drabmuh

MasterSki

Illinois

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

Bottled purchased at West Lakeview a while back. Served in a BFM chalice at thetomG's place.

A - Off-white foam settles to a thin collar, a few wisps, and minimal lacework. Somewhat opaque orange-brown body.

S - Oak, lactic notes, some cider and cherry vinegar, more sharp oak, musky funk, and mildly sweet malt base. Seems more oaky and sour than regular Rodenbach.

T - Taste has less even less sweetness and more in the way of lactic acidity, oak, sour cherry and other tart fruits, and perhaps a faint bit of red fruits and licorice malt character.

M - Medium body, lightly puckering tartness, with a super-dry oak and tannic texture. Some mild acidity, as well as some residual malt stickiness.

D - A really nice Flanders Red - not sure I could distinguish this from other single barrel Rodenbachs, or even older bottles of Grand Cru, without the virtue of an A/B comparison, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Still, the price premium means I won't be having this offering very often.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 05:32:25 | More by MasterSki

Halcyondays

California

4.9/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750 mL bottle,

A: Pours a light amber with a real mild white head, fair retention, no lace.

S: Great acetic sweet/sour nose with a lot of cherries, breathtaking.

T: Sweet cherries, cranberries, unripe raspberries with the undercurrent of delicious acid, a treat.

M: Medium-bodied, moderate acidity, very refreshing and easy on the palate.

D: Absolutely fantastic, I'm glad I picked up a bottle of this, at $22 even it's a bargain, great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 05:06:17 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ah yes, barrel #96. Definitely different than #260 from '07... mainly this one seems like it possibly had sweetener added. Review cobbled from written notes.

Into a pint glass it pours a ruddy brown, but when held to the light it's more of a glowing reddish/copper orange. Hint of crimson. The clarity is pretty sharp in fact, and it seems that it's filtered.

Acetic cherry pits and flesh, clean and not too wild. Soft tangy tartness, hint of lightly sweet caramel malt sweetness that lingers after the initial puckering tartness. Clean with a sour edge, not especially funky, though there is some acetic sharpness to the aroma.

Overall nice to try, not really better than the Grand Cru, and not really worth the premium of $18. If it was a dollar more than GC maybe, but quality wise it's practically the same. A bit of a letdown after sampling the spectacular 2007 vintage.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 02:20:40 | More by emerge077

mdfb79

New York

4.33/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From 11/21/12 notes. On tap at Rattle n Hum in NYC, leftovers from theur "Rare Beer Night". Served in a tulip.

a - Pours a hazy, dark reddish brown color with one inch of lightly reddish white head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks like the normal Rodenbach.

s - Smells of tart dark fruits, sour cherries, raspberries, oak, acidic, vinegar, fruity malts. Super tart and sour, the nose is pretty nice.

t - Tastes of sour cherries, tart dark fruits, oak, berries, lactic, vanilla, vinegar, and fruity malts. Taste is much, much more tart than the nose, and there is a lot of vinegar, but still a lot of fruit too which makes it great. More oak in the taste, a step up from the nose.

m - Medium body and moderate to high carbonation. Mouthfeel has high acidity.

o - Overall I thought this was a great flanders. I used to see this on the shelf and it was one of those beers I just never got around to, but if I still see it in NJ I will definitely buy a bottle to hold onto now. A great sour flanders with load of tart dark fruits and vinegar. If you like the normal Rodenbach you'll probably love this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 15:17:26 | More by mdfb79

glid02

Georgia

4.53/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta.

Pours a clear burgundy color with a one-finger tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of tart cherries, currants, oak, and light funk reminescent of leather. Also present are hints of vinegar and tobacco.

Tastes similar to how it smells, though not as complex. Medium malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by lightly tart currants and funk. Midway through the sip tannins from the oak come into play along with very slight earthy hops. The hops fade out quickly, allowing the funk and oak to carry through to a crisp and moderately tart ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with active carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall I found this to be a little rougher than Rodenbach Grand Cru, but the rough edges were not jarring but rather exhibited complexity in a different way. Certainly worth a shot if you see it around.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2011 13:27:13 | More by glid02

kojevergas

California

3.75/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Rodenbach Vintage 2008. 96. 7.00% ABV. Served on-draught into a 30cl tulip at Kulminator in Antwerp. Cost was a mere 3.50 euro. Reviewed from notes taken July 2011.

A: Pours a three finger head of lovely brilliant cream, magnificent thickness, and incredible retention for the fairly high ABV. Head retained longer than I could wait to drink it. Dark nontransparent red colour. Very appealing.

Sm: Light appealing fruit esters: raspbery and cherry fruit comes through. Floral hops. A pretty strong aroma. I'm excited to try this.

T: Glorious fruit esters - definitely raspberry and cherry, with bright amber hops that refresh rather than deprive. A well built foundation of strong fully expressive malts and barley supports the fruit. Complex, layered, and very well balanced. Sweet but not overly so. Very well built for the style. Some subtle sour notes come in on the climax, but even sour haters would still like this beer. I quite fancy it. Flavorful and interesting.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Not too thin as with many fruity beers. Especially older ones. Sits the flavours of the body, though I do wish it were a bit smoother.

Dr: Serve cold. Preferably in a tulip not a goblet. She's above average ABV, drinks easy, and tastes delightful. Give her a sip in Belgium where she's cheap.

B

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2012 02:41:54 | More by kojevergas

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared with mikesgroove at Hobo Tasting #8 while sitting in the car at Lowe's! Served from bottle into a Southern Tier tulip. Poured a deep red with a one finger off-white head that subsided to a half finger slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wood, cherries, dark fruit, sour, and tart. The flavor was of sweet malt, sour, funk, raspberries, and wood. It had a very light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was an excellent brew for the style. Very nicely balanced with all of the wood, fruit, and sour/tart aspects working together rather than against each other. This used to be on the Top Buzz List awhile back and now I can see why. Great aroma going on here as well. Really glad I got to try this one and was a great way to end Hobo Tasting #8 as it definitely refreshed my palate. Try this if you have not... Trust me.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 15:01:54 | More by thagr81us

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.72/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by drabmuh. Thanks Matt!

A: This Flanders brew appears a dark, ruby hue with a huge, dense, white head. The head exhibits excellent retention and leaves copious lacing throughout the glass.

S: Fruit, mostly sour cherries, funk, oak, red wine.

T: A really delicious beer. It's tannic in nature, with a wonderful bouquet of sour cherries, funk, and oak. A delicate dance of sweet and sour. This is so enjoyable and intriguing. Wonderfully complex and masterfully crafted.

M: Medium bodied, appropriately carbonated, lingering aftertaste that continues to develop for a few moments after each sip.

D: A very tasty beer and a great example of the style. This is definitely worth acquiring.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2011 01:30:48 | More by Huhzubendah

jrallen34

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap into a Rodenbach Grand Cru class at Kulminator...A dark ruby brown pour, some clearness, more red then the regular. A light tan head of two fingers, great retention but only ok lacing...The aroma is slightly tart with vinegar, wish it was a bit stronger. Not as sweet or rubust as the regular, more oak...The taste is more acidic but not in a vinegary way. A lot more of the wood comes out, this is tart. This is a little bland, I'm no so impressed. This is not an improvement, a lot of the vinegar is gone and replaced with oak. Don't mess with the best one going unless its going to be awesome.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2010 01:02:05 | More by jrallen34

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at 72 Hours of Belgium yesterday

Clear amber with a thin white head with decent retention and lacing. The nose is great. Fruity sourness, acetic acid, a little caramel, vanilla and oak, this is enjoyable. The palate opens with a huge tartness with a softened red wine vinegar, vanilla, a little sugar and some wine. Moderate oak character is present. Drying on the finish with acid, tannins and vanilla, this is excellent

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2011 14:37:54 | More by DefenCorps

smakawhat

Maryland

4.7/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I have been waiting for this beer for I don't know how long. Poured from the bottle into an official Rodenbach Tulip glass.

A nice classic red brown, rusty, opaque, the classic Flanders color. Some yeast flakes towards the bottom. A finger of caramel yellow and creamy head is made on the pour, but doesn't hold, instead a nice puck and collar is kept all throughout drinking. THere is no lacing.

The bouquet is classic and typical Rodenbach, sour cherries, some tart heat and wild ale yeast things going on, It's a little subdued it seems though from the oak aging.

Taste is just magic. The wonderful mix of chewy malt and fruit bowl cherries, a perfect balance between sweet and sour. Rich round character, mellow mouthfeel, there's even some noticeable vanilla in the swallow. Mild malt, toffee and caramel mix so nicely with the tart and sour angle. Vinous texture matching with some fizz so nicely.

Overall, just a great fantastic beer. I feel bad, cause now it's all gone, I want another one!

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 00:20:24 | More by smakawhat

dgilks

Australia

4.38/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy red colour with a small, off-white head. Good.

Sour with a touch of cherry. Mild earthy funk. Really nice aroma.

Tart sour cherry combines with some funkiness. A really well balanced Flanders Red ale.

Medium light body with high carbonation. Good.

A classic Flanders ale with lots of balanced fruity flavour, goo dtartness and plenty of sour cherry and funk. Truly great.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 11:41:47 | More by dgilks

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.68/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

MMMmmmm, Yum! Great sweet tart beer! Poured at a good temperature with smallish, foamy, light tan head that settles after a bit and a smidgen of lace. Color is a clear honey amber with a couple of bubble trails. Aroma is cider, caramel, fruit, malt, yeast. Flavor's like nose with excellent sweet/tart balance, with a little bitter to round out the picture. Body is great and carbonation perfect. Finish is like flavor, long, and superbly drinkable. Almost want to gulp it, so good.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 05:05:57 | More by drpimento

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Hulmeville inn on a sunday.

A- Rodenbach number 96 looks deep orangish red within the glass. Looks a bit brighter than most Rodenbachs. Nothing on top of this coming off the spout, swirls could not bring any life out on top, no lacing.

S- Smells like your typical Rodenbach but there is a bit more emphasis on the sweet side with vinegar coming through a bit more than barrel 230 which I recently had on tap as well. Cherry, wood, oaking and a dash of vanilla.

T- And yes, there it is that foder goodness, sweet cherry flavor mixing in well with the oak. A touch of vanilla. As expected the vinegar comes out a bit more in this vintage but not on the level of the new rodenbach grand cru that came back to Philly after it's year long absense from the area. Lemon juice pours through.

M- Tart and sweet and kinda thin, this is not a blended roady so I guess I can see that. All in all above light bodied with tart capabilities and a small amount of carb punch. The lemon kinda lingers around a bit.

D- Not so much, the 7% does not scare me, but this barrel did not really do it for me, I prefer the 2007 version more, but 08 remains damn good beer from a great brewery, possibly the best flanders producer in the world. Get on this if you get a chance.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2010 22:59:43 | More by onix1agr

oline73

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a goblet.

Appearance: Pours a slightly cloudy reddish brown color with two fingers of off white head. The head retention is excellent with some nice lacing as well.

Smell: Sour dark fruit along with some mildly sweet malt. Tart cherry/wine notes.

Taste: Extremely smooth. Tart and sour cherry and wine like flavors. I'm picking up some oak and some mild sweetness. The finish is sour and wine like.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with mild carbonation and a very dry finish.

Overall: I picked up this bottle to celebrate a job offer. I made a great choice! Very smooth and a great combination of flavors. I would definitely have another.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 21:38:03 | More by oline73

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle thanks to Metallitone1, appreciate it. I split this with a friend and off the top I think I enjoyed the 2007 more but this was still a good beer. Dark red color witha sweet-sour smell that was very robust. The flavor leaned way more towards sweet than sour and the hint of sourness was really just a suggestion like you might get from some tart cherries. Overall, not bad but I'd rather have the Rodenbach Grand Cru.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 22:29:13 | More by ArrogantB

ehammond1

California

4.4/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2008)

Belgian Beer Festival 2011
Pizza Port
Carlsbad, CA

A dark ruby and chestnut brown. Nearly no head. Decent lacing down the glass.

A tart, biting sour, vinegary aroma combined with cherry sweetness. More pungently powerful and slightly deeper aroma than the typical Grand Cru--the aromas just pop and leap from the glass!

A biting, tart, vinegary, sour ale balanced remarkably well with a sweet cherry juiciness.

Light to medium bodied. A pleasure to sip.

A well balanced, tart, sweet sour. Incredible!

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 22:05:08 | More by ehammond1

sweemzander

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL corked and caged bottle poured into a stemmed glass.

(A)- Pours a dark reddish brown hue. Produced a small off-white to tan head that dissipated to bubbles.

(S)- Very dry and oaky earth. Hints at dark fruits and raisin.

(T)- Similar to the smell. Dry and oaky with nice sour fruits and vinegar notes.

(M)- A good carbonation level and balance. Very oaky and dry with a good feel all-together of acidic sourness, fruit, and vinegar.

(D)- Big on the dry oak presence, but still a great example for the style. My only complaint is the price for a bottle of this when Grand Cru is just as good as this is for half the cost.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 02:19:03 | More by sweemzander

homebrew311

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: deep red, a bit of clinging light colored head, poor head retention

S: super acidic and oaky up front with plenty of cherry and grape to round things out

T: things start with a bit of fruity tartness and it becomes much more sour as the flavor develops, sweet red cherries are present along with grape skin and balsamic vinegar

Mf: high carbonation, moderate body

O: very delicious example of the style, nice balance between sweet and sour, definitely worth a try

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 02:24:41 | More by homebrew311

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

75 cl, natural cork and steel cage - the expectations are HIGH!

A: Pour is dark brown with hints of red. A very creamy off-white head dissipates into great lacings.

S: Sour and very fruity, mostly cherries and some plums. Kind of oak galore. A hint of brett in the yeasty smell.

T: Yeast and cherries! Some faint chocolate. Sour and oaky, without the vanilla?! Fruity. Some brett.

M: Aftertaste is rather sour and short. Body is medium and carbonation is moderate. Smooth!

O: This is a great Flanders Red Ale (but all I had are great). The oak gives the sourness yet another dimension.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 18:54:43 | More by Sunnanek

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle poured into tulip - thanks cj

Pours a bright red with some dark ruddy colors and haze. Crop of beige head fades into a bubbled film that rests on top. Patches of lacing ring the glass.

Potent nose with acidic sourness and vinegar hints. Black cherry and dark fruit with leather and oak. Funky and tannic with a soft alcohol warmth.

Sour and dry on the tongue with plenty of dark fruit notes. Raisin, cherry and dates with soft sweetness. Heavy backbone with some richness and fruit. Oak and tannic hints with red wine and red grapes. Finishes a little warm and sour.

Medium body, well carbonated, sticky and dry on the tongue. Well integrated flavors, nice round sourness and plentiful fruit tones. This was a pleasant treat.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 04:53:13 | More by xnicknj