Rodenbach Grand Cru - Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a clear, very dark ruby hue, with one finger of soapy beige head, which leaves a small ring of lace in its slow retreat. It smells of tart, fruity funk, and a bit yeasty. The taste is sour acidic orchard fruit - cherry, apples, some Lifesavers-like sweetness, and a bit of woodiness. The carbonation is average, the body a bit south of medium weight, and it finishes fruity, dry, and tart, the cherry tendencies coming out.

A well-balanced sour ale, not quite a knock over the head like some of its brethren.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 23:44:05 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is a 750 mL bottle, served slightly chilled in a snifter.

Appearance: With no light upon it, the beer appears to be quite dark. When held up to light, a deep ruby red color comes out. The beer pours a 1.5 finger head.

Smell: This smells unlike any other Flemish red that I've had (including Duchess and Rodenbach Red). The aroma is not pleasant. In fact, it reminds me of my dog have receiving a bath (heretofore known as a wet Domi odor). My dog does not smell great just after a bath, neither does this beer.

Taste: Very good pucker factor in this ale. The sour taste inherent to this style hits mid-sip. Up front, there is a nice fruity taste that transitions nicely into the sour aspect. This beer is so sour that one can't help but take another sip.

Mouthfeel: The interplay of sweet and sour is very nice and makes for an enjoyable drinking session.

Drinkability: While the flavors meld and transition nicely, I don't see this as an ale meant for pounding. It is, however, nice for sipping, especially as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2005 02:28:23 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Deep ruby brown color with a tan head leaves behind webbed fine belgian style lacing. Aroma: Vinous and effervescent some tart cherry or raspberry tones to it leaves a woody almost cedar like finish to it an Oud Bruin in all of it's glory. Taste: Whopping array of tart tones but it's multilayered a tartness forms on the back of the tongue then sweet fruit grapes again the wine like tone very vinous and mild chocolate tones soften the mouthfeel by applying some sweetness to the overall profile of the flavor. Mouthfeel: High carbonation in that it's spritzy on the back of the throat but it still tends to be smooth going down a medium bodied masterpiece, a step above Petrus Oud Bruin in my opinion. Drinkability: The tartness does a lot to the palate and I believe this one should be enjoyed slowly in small portions there's alot going on relax and explore this beer there's no rush.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2003 20:03:07 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

Hoooie. Gotta love you some Flanders ales. If only they were more readily available and more people were making them.

This ale carries all of the hallmark characteristics of the style. Woody, mostly cherry tartness. Makes the back of your mouth pucker a little and do funny things. I'm really building this up quite nicely, aren't I? This is closer to the wild tones of a lambic or wild ale, so you better know what you're getting into. Bottom line: this is a grand cru that deserves the title. Gotta love it.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2012 05:17:50 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.23/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a nice deep red color but as it settled it was very much a deep red-borwnish color with a nice white cap

S: Dark fruits, fresh and ripened cherries with vinegar, wood and funk

T: Tart dark and red cherries on the tip of the tongue. It's delicious. Middle of the mouth you get that funkiness. Mid mouth pucker but not as much as a Kriek. And the a crisp refreshing finish. Booze tinge with a vinegar note from start to finsih

M: Light to medium. Tart, tasty and funky
with a nice lingering vinegar and tart funk

O: Very good

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2012 21:52:27 | More by barleywinefiend

Wasatch

Utah

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml Gold Foiled

Caged/Corked

Poured into a chalice a nice ruby red color, nice carbonation, tiny fizzy off-white head, traces of sticky lacing around the edges. The nose is malty, good dose of cherries, raspberries, and caramel. The taste is sweet, tangy, lots of cheeries/raspberries. Nice little tingle of carbonation at first. Slightly dry finish. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a nice Flanders Red.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2007 18:48:24 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a chalice)
A- This beer is clear but a bit dense with a glow of reddish-brown at the base. There is a thin tan head supported by a soft carbonation.
S- This beer has a soft bright hint with an old wet wood note that has some hints of walnuts. There is a bright tart cherry hint in the finish. As the beer warms there are notes of caramel and roses with a stronger cola note in it.
T- This beer has a nice brown malt note with a bright tart finish and some chewy flavor and vinegar notes in the finish.
M- This beer has a light mouthfeel with a soft astringency and no real alcohol heat.
D- This beer has a nice flavor with notes of old and young beer in good combination. It was a pleasant surprise of malt flavors coming through as the beer warmed.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2010 22:23:55 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 33 cl bottle with a “consume before” date on the back label.

Appearance: Quick to foam though retains a healthy looking lace, deep reddish brown lets little light through.

Smell: Sour fruit; cherries, grapes and lemon. Hints of vanilla and malt husk.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Mild viscous smoothness, lots of tartness with fruity suggestions of cherries and plum. Mild flare of alcohol with a hollow vanilla flavor. Not much for hops though any kind of hop flavor would not be expected any way.

Drinkablity & Notes: A pretty exceptional brew, I have had better from this brewery in the past though this one still stands up to be a quality brew for sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2004 03:46:49 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

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

Large bottle, caged and corked, with a foil enclosure to boot. Best before date stamped on the bottle of the bottle. (There's a good place to put vital info...) Pours an interesting chestnut shade of amber, with a slight dark cherry hue. Well developed lacing emerges from a light tan puffy head, which exhibited moderate retention. Nose also, I would characterize as interesting, sweet, nutty and fruity. This brew is a classic of the style, sour, sweet,smoky,acidic, complex. Not for everybody, this style takes awhile for most to warm up to and appreciate. It goes well with food, particularily "fish with lemon" as noted on the label. Tasty, mysterious, interesting and thirst quenching. Get some, taste it, taste it again, come to love it

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2006 01:14:56 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had at a local DC tasting.

a - Pours a mahogany ambber color with one inch of white head.

s - Smells of sweet and sour fruits,

t - Tastes of sour fruits, sour grapes,

m - Medium body and low carbonation.

d - A decent flanders with some decent sour fruits. Would try again.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 06:30:50 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wha! I've never reviewed this beer before. Well silly me.

Pours a nice fizzy almost 1 finger head that fades pretty quickly, just a touch of light getting through the dark reddish maroon burnt sienna brown colored beer.

Nose is definite Belgian flemish, sour malts, malt vinegar, light bready malts, sour fruit, a bit of tart cherry and apricot like fruits, hints of brown sugar and molasses, and a bit of lactic acid like aromas.

Taste is more of the same as expected, tart fruit and sour malts hit right off, again a malt vinegar but not quite Duchesse level, tart berry, sour peach and cherry like fruit, lactic acid, etc. Then a bready brown malt, hint of molasses, juicy tart fruits. Finish is bone dry, actually even more than bone dry, but slightly flemmy, with tons of sour and tart fruits and malt flavors lingering, and a bit of lactic acid.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carb which I always thought it had more carbonation, and a little bite from the acidity.

Overall great, this is one of the staples for a flemish red style, great tart fruit, sour brown malts, light lactic acid, but smooth and juicy, and still somehow decently drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 23:39:10 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle from AKSmokedPorter as part of Secret Santa 2005. Label, I think, says best by 1/3/06. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into a Rapscallion glass, formed a 1/2" light tan head above the somewhat clear burgundy brew. Head quickly fades down to an uneven layer of bubbles, with ample delicate lacing. Aroma is piecing sour musty funk. Cool. Taste is slightly chalky cherry tartness, which fades on through to the aftertaste. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both nice for the style as well. A standard to which others should aspire and hope to supercede.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2006 02:49:38 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appears a red with a brown hue and a bubbly off white head. Nice amounts of lacing.
Smell is of sour cherries, funky yeast, pixie stix, and a touch of vinegar.
Taste is yeasty with the same aromas. Delicious though.
Mouthfeel is sugary, sour, and lingering with some lip smacking goodness.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2005 18:40:39 | More by weeare138

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

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

Pours a beautiful reddish brown, pretty clear, with a big off white head that laces. Smell is sweet with a very sour cherry type aroma. Taste is all sour cherries, cranberry juice in the middle, then a very dry tart finish. Very strong sour aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel, nice and thick, low carbonation. Excellent ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2005 02:16:32 | More by Viggo

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Serving type: on tap at Monk's Cafe, Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a very dark amber color with a foamy off-white head. Very sour fruity aroma with hints of oak and vanilla. Intensely tart and acidic with a nice amount of sour cherry as well as oak and vanilla. Very sour with a puckering dry finish.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2008 18:13:25 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.48/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark red and brown appearance, undersized head, not much lace to speak of. A slightly sour aroma, vinegar, dark fruit.

Taste, was quite underwhelmed, I thought this was supposed to be super sour, it was just kind of sour methinks. No hops, just the most tiny dark fruit feel and mild sour/tartness. Smooth. Velvety at times. No barrel taste or aroma. Cork popped off fine, but the carbonation seemed to be lacking at times.

This was a good enough beer, I guess I just thought it was going to be excellent, and it was merely a good beer. No alcohol noticeable, which is nice. $10 a bottle, just kind of meh to it. One bottle left, may update the review if it is materially different, I kind of hope so.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 22:52:25 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.8/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a darkish brown color with some red highlights. The beer also has fairly good head retention and lacing, with an interesting aroma of vanilla, cherry and sour funk. Flavors on the palate replicate the nose, except the sour tartness really dominates this beer. I do get some underlying vanilla and chocolate, but it's really dominated by the sour component. Mouthfeel is fairly light, with some prickliness from the sour. The alcohol is pretty well disguised, but the amount of sour in this beer is a bit much, and detracts a bit from this beers drinkability. Nevertheless, this is a pretty solid red flanders beer from the folks at Rodenbach.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2009 17:04:33 | More by johnmichaelsen

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.45/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

33cl Brown bottle, best before 27th Mar 2010, drank after a heavy day at work 5th Aug 2008.

Poured into my new La Chouffe tulip glass (the first beer to grace it). Deep Ruby red and as clear as clear when held up to the light. The tan head looked well formed at first, but it fell away to a collar very swiftly.

Incredible aroma of sour red fruit (Raspberries, Cherries and Redcurrents), Almonds and Mazzipan type smells too, but all sour.

The sourness is also incredible in the taste, very pronounced and in your face.

I have had a few 'Reds' in my time, but this one was very true to its style, a rich sourness prevails throughout and althought not a favourite style of mine, you can't help but appreciate the complex mix your senses are given by this beer. Whoever blended this brew did a fine job.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2008 16:38:51 | More by BlackHaddock

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Eulogy, Philly, PA

Poured into a tulip glass, an opaque reddish brown with a small, beige head that receded to a thin film. Aroma of sour cherries, and vinegar. Very kriek-like in the taste, with sweet, light sugar up front, followed almost immediately by tart cherries. Light spice, yeast, and maybe a touch of grapes finish things off smooth, but a little bitter. Medium mouthfeel, and pretty drinkable. My sister-in-law doesn't like beer, but she liked this one a lot.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2011 17:17:36 | More by Rifugium

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.83/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep ruby red/brown with a pale pink dense head that settles to a film after a while. It really does look mysterious and wonderful.

Coppery and sour on the nose, hints of maraschino cherries, pickled onions, fresh herbs, nutmeg, all underpinned by a syrupy sweetness. Smells unbelievable, unique and rich.

Coppery sourness on the front palate with a dryness that slowly spreads around your mouth like a dry red wine. There is a peppery spiciness there as well which beautifully counterpoints the sweetness. It takes some time to drink it, but you can savour every moment of it.

I can understand why some people might not like this. It certainly has the ability to offend if you're not prepared for it. I absolutely love this one. I get the taste for this in my mouth for days afterwards.

Truly remarkable

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2005 00:01:24 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

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

Well....it was a magnum of this for $7.99 or a bomber of La Folie for $10.99. Deal done! 750 ml bottle split with my friend this afternoon, and consumed outdoors, on to the beer:

There's plenty to like, and nothing to hate. The color is brilliant and bold, a dark red...almost brown, with a persistent head. That aroma of freshly prepeared caramel and sour berries is drawing my interest...and the taste is kickass too! This beer's flavor has a medium, but tamed tartness that doesn't kill your palate. Is this wine? Fresh caramel is dominate. Citrus peel, maple, liquified brown sugar...it is sweet, but also sour. A little acidic, like vinegar, and it melds well into the overall flavor.

Simply great! That's all folks!

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2009 03:23:26 | More by DoubleJ

glid02

Georgia

4.78/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On-tap at the Brick Store.

Pours a brownish-ruby color with a one-finger off-white head that has an orange tint. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of tart cherries with hints of vinegar, funk - softer and more earthy than brett-bombs but still more than noticeable, and oak. As the beer warms the funky aromas intensify a bit.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Cherries and currants that are mostly tart but also have a good deal of sweetness make up the majority of the flavor profile. Earthy funkiness with musty notes comes in midway through the sip before being tempered by a woodiness that's not obviously oak. The funk carries through to a decidedly tart ending.

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

Drinkability is great. I finished my glass very quickly and could drink a whole lot of these.

Overall this is one of the most well-balanced sours I've ever had - everything is present and in almost perfect proportions. Undoubtedly worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2010 03:26:51 | More by glid02

Gusler

Arizona

4.65/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A somewhat nebulous ruby red to almost brown color, the head modest in size and frothy in consistency, light tan in color with some decent lace to coat the glass. Nose is tart cherries with sweet hints of maple syrup, yeast and a real dream of a nose. Sweet and sour start, the top middling in its feel, finish prickly in its acidity, hops perfect in their bite, very dry, vinous almost, wow what a great beer guess if I want any more I will need phone Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2003 19:44:32 | More by Gusler

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Nearly 3 years since my last encounter, this bottle is enjoyed straight after its junior family member, Rodenbach Classic; BB 25/07/10, served lightly chilled in Tripel Karmeliet's branded long-stemmed, tulip-shaped glass.

A: given a force-pour, it lands in the glass a deeply dark brown hue with lively fizziness and a 1.5cm-thick creamy dark beige foamy head with good retention.
S: absolutely amazing... the nose has both metallic and lightly funky notes of yeasts intertwined with a deep-running but restrained aroma from oak-barrel-ageing; the classic aroma that I'd only refer to as "smoked-prune-flavoured sorbet" lingers in the background, showing random bits of old vinegar that is more fruity than sharply tart, but always with a refreshingly savoury edge of yeastiness to "complicate" the matter... Compared with the Classic that I've had ten minutes ago, the aroma is definitely drier, tarter, and cleaner, with a deeper impact of oak-ageing.
T: milder in carbonation but refreshing enough, the foretaste presents high quality vinegary made of sour dried-prunes (Chinese "Hua-Mei") that is both bold and slick, but never far away from a funky/yeasty edge and a dry-ish wheatiness as of a very smooth berry-lambic... The fruity theme stays deep down the tongue, accompanied by smooth, well-aged vinegary berry-fruits, an herbally-dry and lightly chewy undertone that shows brown-malt aroma as well as bitterness of old, dried hops, and an elegant, low-level oakiness that has been absorbed into the fruity theme. Clean, yet lightly dry in the finish, with a bit less aroma here than the aftertaste of the Classic, but the understated chewy palate still seems to outlast everything else.
M&D: the texture is impeccable, mildly spritzy yet slick enough to render an attractive palate to go with the thirst-quenching, medium-bodied flavour profile. Having tried this ale for many times now, each time I seem to find something different from the glass: this bottle is more mellow and less astringent than most of the previous encounters, which I suppose is attributable to the temp. (slightly warmer than chill) that I choose to serve this bottle. The only one thing that has not, and never will, changed is the profound complexity (in various forms) and quaffability this 6%abv. ale has to offer. This is a sheer bliss to me.

* Tasting Date: 05/05/2006
BB 29/04/07, served lightly chilled in a large Burgundy bulb wine glass.
4 A: deep and dark ruby hue, slightly hazy; the foamy off-white beer head dissipates slowly, on top of gently fizzy body.
4.5 S: sourness dominates the nose, as expected--new wood-barrels, profound prune-ish note, starfruit juice, wheat aroma, dark fruit vinegar, a faint touch of fruit esters... overall the aroma is intense and very focused, dragging all elements to a central point as far as my nose could sense.
4.5 T: slightly sharp-textured, vinegary-sour flavour upfront, cutting deep through the palate... gradually an almost lambic-like raw, dry wheat-ish and woody taste develops subtly underneath, turning softer and transforming into a slightly dryish, sour-sweet aftertaste. Crisp and tangy-fruity finish.
4 M&4 D: initially sharp on the texture but softens, while the soft fizziness sustains throughout the drink and provides a refreshing palate. A thirst-quenching, or thirst-provoking, beer with great complexity and depth. I can't pretend that I'm a great fan of this style, but this one surely is something really worth savouring once in a while--especially in summer.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2009 19:34:41 | More by wl0307

beerthulhu

New Jersey

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

A: Poured a deep burgundy with only a slight light beige head.

S: sour cherries, with a sharp tartness, oaky hints, and dark fruit (plums).

T: tart with some cherry/raspberry for flavor. The sourness was very smooth and refined with a good oaky alcohol complexity and slight astingent sour apples coming through as well dark fruit (plums).

M: medium, with moderate carbonation and a slight acidic bite on the swallow.

D: A nice drinking and smooth sour beer that is very polished flavor wise, clean and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2008 16:24:43 | More by beerthulhu