Rodenbach Grand Cru - Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.

SHODriver

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: pours a fairly deep brown with a small off white nearly tan head that doesn't have much staying power
S: Smells intensely of sour cherries and other berries with faint wisps of oakiness
T: Delightfully sour cherry flavor turns deceptively sweet before another wave of sourness rushes in. Vanilla and oakiness comes in on the back end and a slightly sour but mostly woody sweet finish on the swallow
M: good carbonation and a solid mouthfeel. Not thin but not overly heavy
O: Rodenbach Classic is great and this one ratchets up the sourness to the next level. I think a little bit of the complexity is lost due to that but this one still has the same flavors with an extra dash of tartness.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 04:17:32 | More by SHODriver

superspak

Michigan

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

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours hazy very dark reddish brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lace cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of big tart cherry, raspberry, cranberry, green apple, red grape, balsamic vinegar, oak, red wine, clove, light leather, light funk, and yeast earthiness. Fantastic aromas with great balance and complexity of tart fruity ester notes with good barrel presence; and good strength. Taste of tart cherry, raspberry, cranberry, green apple, red grape, oak, clove, balsamic vinegar, red wine, light leather, light funk, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate tart acidity on the finish; with lingering notes of tart dark fruits, oak, hay, balsamic vinegar, red wine, light funk, light leather, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic complexity and balance of tart fruity ester flavors with moderate oak presence; with a great malt/acidic balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a moderately slick and acidic mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Flanders Red ale! All around great balance and complexity of fruity/acidic flavors with moderate barrel presence; and very smooth to sip on with the moderate acidity. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2013 04:39:03 | More by superspak

mtalley999

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

06-17-2013 11:11:11 | More by mtalley999

jaxon53

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -6.8%

06-17-2013 08:50:10 | More by jaxon53

BeerGut4Life

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

06-16-2013 23:05:18 | More by BeerGut4Life

IndyDad

New York

4/5  rDev -6.8%

06-16-2013 02:35:57 | More by IndyDad

anson42

California

3.75/5  rDev -12.6%

06-16-2013 01:32:06 | More by anson42

Hoptron_3000

Australia

5/5  rDev +16.6%

06-15-2013 22:35:45 | More by Hoptron_3000

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Dark chestnut, cloudy body; no real head

Aroma: wine-like; oak notes; sour

Taste: Acidic; Sour; fruity;

Remarks: good to have something different every once in a while. Don't normally like sour beers, but this one wasn't bad.

Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 22:08:12 | More by IchLiebeBier

afallon86

California

4/5  rDev -6.8%

06-15-2013 09:26:03 | More by afallon86

mmapes

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Had a bottle earlier in the day that was fresh. Reviewing a roughly five year old bottle from Beer Mania.

Poured into wine glasses. Head was there briefly but dissipated quickly. Color is cola-reddish-brown.

Smell is sour up front, carmel, maybe a hint of slight vinegar... we hope it's okay. I think the fresh bottle earlier had a more appealing scent -- the sour note seemed more fruity.

Very interesting first sip: Sweet, a little sour, very complex. Some cherry up front, but quickly turns less fruity than the fresh bottle earlier had been. The age makes it smoother than the fresh bottle. The sour component is preceded by a dark brown sugary malt that is quite sweet, and just the right offset for the sour. The long finish makes it easy to sip. I'm not the biggest fan of sour beers, but this is delicious.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 15:31:02 | More by mmapes

KStark

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

06-14-2013 14:27:29 | More by KStark

BrockLanders

Oklahoma

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

06-14-2013 01:44:49 | More by BrockLanders

Eighty

Washington

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

06-13-2013 20:34:11 | More by Eighty

Brewman123

New York

4/5  rDev -6.8%

06-13-2013 12:17:31 | More by Brewman123

dwren89

Virginia

4.61/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: dark black/brown with red hues in the light, creamy tan head, no clarity from dark color

Aroma: fruity with notes of black cherry and orange, and plum, soft malt sweetness in the background

Taste: immediately taste the cherry, orange and plum, malt then takes over and rounds out taste to keep it definitively in the beer taste category and not wine, sour finish, incredible complexity of flavor and evolution of taste

Mouthfeel: high carbonation, medium body, prickly in the mouth like a soft drink but smooth on the swallow

Overall Impression: A beer with amazing complexity and depth. Deftly skirts the line between beer and red wine, sour and sweet, and biting and smooth. Best described as a beer dressed up as a red wine with a sour kick.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 22:02:02 | More by dwren89

freebirdbm14

New York

4/5  rDev -6.8%

06-11-2013 18:53:26 | More by freebirdbm14

dunix

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%

06-11-2013 17:50:59 | More by dunix

VernonBaxter

Texas

4/5  rDev -6.8%

06-11-2013 03:56:45 | More by VernonBaxter

mojuyt

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

06-11-2013 01:10:17 | More by mojuyt

riemster

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

06-10-2013 20:38:22 | More by riemster

beepill

California

5/5  rDev +16.6%

06-10-2013 16:46:27 | More by beepill

Brian_B

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +10.7%

06-10-2013 12:27:37 | More by Brian_B

jarrgal

North Dakota

3.25/5  rDev -24.2%

06-10-2013 11:49:34 | More by jarrgal

JRdaSconnie

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%

06-10-2013 11:27:06 | More by JRdaSconnie