Rodenbach Caractère Rouge - Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.

Etan

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into a Cantillon tulip.

A: Pours a very dark ruby body with a nice slightly pink head.

S: Very fruity aroma. Wafting notes of cherry, light brett and acetic acidity, raspberry, a bit lactic, some juicy and vinous tannins.

T: Sweet cherry flesh, light acetic tartness, a bit more nebulous red fruitiness, drying oak, slight vanilla, lactic and cherry sweetness in the finish.

M: Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: Definitely drinkable and complex, but at this point the cherry sweetness is a bit out of proportion. Maybe with some age the fruit will fade and the bugs will do a little more work.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 22:36:14 | More by Etan

MtnSoup

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-20-2013 21:42:00 | More by MtnSoup

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -9.5%

05-19-2013 17:23:37 | More by tom10101

largadeer

California

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

05-10-2013 20:37:43 | More by largadeer

hannydawg

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-05-2013 16:26:04 | More by hannydawg

stealth

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +13.1%

05-04-2013 07:07:41 | More by stealth

Gonzoillini

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

04-20-2013 03:14:22 | More by Gonzoillini

ThePorterSorter

New York

4.46/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Thanks seblp for offering up 2 bottles of this

The beer pours a dark, slightly dull rusty brown that shines crimson in the light and provides a fizzling pink head. Although the head fades quickly with minimal lacing, it leaves a thin blanketing/halo throughout drinking. The nose is potently fruity with prominent notes of strawberry and cherry (and celery?) followed by a very refined oak acetone. The taste is Flanders red to the max with huge amounts of description-promised strawb/cherry fruitiness, a touch of caramel and wood. Its medium bodied, effervescent, modestly dry and acidic, fruity, bold, and downright drinkable as hell. I highly recommend this brew for those that enjoy a good Flanders and have had the Rodenbach predecessors. It's an excellent beer, one of the best I've had in a long time actually.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 03:03:35 | More by ThePorterSorter

danbar

Maryland

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

04-10-2013 02:03:01 | More by danbar

Noyt

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

04-09-2013 03:41:55 | More by Noyt

yankeefan287

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

03-15-2013 15:57:32 | More by yankeefan287

thegoon55

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

03-14-2013 07:21:41 | More by thegoon55

alysmith4

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

03-13-2013 17:12:34 | More by alysmith4

dctriman

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

03-11-2013 15:53:58 | More by dctriman

smakawhat

Maryland

4.7/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Poured from the bottle into a snifter glass at Smoke & Barrel DC as part of the bottle share. Much thanks to jacewg for the bottle, been wanting this for ages. From notes.

A nice faint pink body, slightly clear, and makes a fizzy head picking up the red body color with a pink and tan sort of hue. Some bit of fizz sound when pouring just a "tad".

Oh that nose.. That bouquet is just magic. Wonderful sense of rushing cherry and red fruit bliss with a controlled warming sweet penny candy. It smells like humbugs candy in a glass, exactly like humbugs. Warming tartness but with great yeasty almost champagne/sparkling effervescence which creates a great minty menthol airy aroma. Truly a shove it up your nose brew.

It seems like after that it would be hard to get better. In a way it does, but it is by no means all downhill on first sip. An interesting light almost milky texture, but with classic Rodenbach fruity mid palate and explosive taste. Good sour and tart mix with a nice acidic edge. Carbonation is a bit fizzy but luckily doesn't distract.

Overall, just a pure joy to drink. The irony was I was going to buy a bottle of this overseas and pay for the nose, but thought after I had it I wouldn't have to. Now that I've already done it, I want the dam thing even more, and just may buy it just so I can have it again. Can't stop thinking about it, it's truly a winner.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 18:44:37 | More by smakawhat

jacewg

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

03-10-2013 05:05:34 | More by jacewg

nzerbe

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

03-04-2013 00:38:01 | More by nzerbe

Jspriest

Maryland

5/5  rDev +13.1%

02-25-2013 22:09:08 | More by Jspriest

KevSal

California

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

02-19-2013 23:33:55 | More by KevSal

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

02-19-2013 15:14:36 | More by ShanePB

Mbrown44

Delaware

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

02-17-2013 14:13:55 | More by Mbrown44

CheapBeerBuzz

California

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

02-17-2013 07:49:43 | More by CheapBeerBuzz

Jonada

New Jersey

4.74/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

750ml bottle served in a tulip glass

Appearance: Ruby red color. A finger and a half of a light pinkish head which dissipated to a thin collar. Slight haze.

Smell: Lots of red berries. Cranberry, raspberry, cherry, vinegar, green apple skin.

Taste: Tart cranberries, oak, some vinegar acidity, hints of vanilla and funk. Finish is tart and dry.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied. Crisp. Slightly creamy mouthfeel. Medium/high carbonation. Zero alcohol presence whatsoever. Incredibly refreshing

Overall: I had high expectations going into this beer and wasn't disappointed. The elements of the fruit and base beer work perfectly together without one overshadowing the other. I had to force myself to sip this, as I easily could have killed the whole bottle in no time. I will definitely be seeking out more.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 06:02:41 | More by Jonada

claaark13

Indiana

4/5  rDev -9.5%

02-05-2013 03:07:30 | More by claaark13

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

01-19-2013 15:10:33 | More by TurdFurgison