Session # 107 | Rodenbach | Grand Cru | 6% ABV
Flanders Red Sour Ale | Roeselare, Belgium | Rating: 96/100
While not my favorite style of beer yet, the sour ale is slowly creeping up the food chain for me. The beer we’ll be looking at today, Rodenbach Grand Cru, is a very good reason for this. I have been looking for a bottle for at least a year now, and it’s been a long time coming on the show. Well here we are — I finally got it because of a recent visit to Minneapolis. Man I love traveling to other states in my car! Anyway…
The Rodenbach Grand Cru is a Flemish Red, which are known for having that puckering sourness paired with delicious tart fruits like cherries, apples, and pears. They’re commonly referred to as the “vinegar beers,” which, in truth, is not far off from what you smell and taste. The Grand Cru is also aged in large oak vats (seen here), for two years and then blended with younger ale to make for a more balanced and enjoyable experience. In this case, 67% is aged in oak while the remaining 33% is considered “young ale.” Even with the blending process, you can certainly taste the oak character in the beer.
Grand Cru pours a beautifully deep mahogany red with a nice amount of off-white head. The aroma hits your nose before you even get your nose to the glass. It’s filled with tons of sour cherry, tart apple, red wine vinegar, light caramel, and a healthy amount of oak. The taste is not much different (which is always fine with me). It hits you hard up front with the green apple and tart cherry paired with tons of red wine vinegar. The oak, while not predominant, plays a huge role. Though it may be a sour ale, it’s quite refreshing and one hell of an experience. I like this one a lot.
Up next: Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS)
Others: Duchesse de Bourgogne, Lost Abbey Red Poppy, Russian River Consecration
Check out all sessions of The Hopry here.
This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Real Estate “Beach Comber”
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Posted by Big Mike on September 2, 2010 at 7:21 AM
This is one of those beers that I see everywhere I go and for one reason or another have never gotten around to actually trying it. Next time I’m at the store I’ll definitely grab a bottle.
Posted by thehopry on September 2, 2010 at 7:34 AM
It is really damn good. The more it opens up the softer it gets on the palate. I really REALLY liked this one a lot. I also think they may come in smaller bottles, too, which I would recommend if you’ll be drinking this one alone. 750ml is a bit much for one person.
Posted by Leo Daly on September 2, 2010 at 8:23 AM
Personally I prefer the Duchesse de Bourgogne, as there’s a slight model glue aroma and taste in the Grand Cru that I find unwelcomed. Even with time given to breathe I can stick pick it up. That said, it’s still an enjoyable and highly refreshing beer.
Perhaps the mixing of the fresh batch with the old is also to tone down some of the acidity.
Posted by thehopry on September 2, 2010 at 9:28 AM
I didn’t get any model glue (especially like I get in some of DFH’s beers). And the Duchesse is definitely good. I’d like to try them side-by-side, but I really thought this one was damn good. The only difference I might add in the two is this one felt a touch thinner on the palate. But yeah, both are stellar beers and leaders of the style.
Posted by Jamison Moeckel on September 2, 2010 at 10:15 AM
great review, you really liked this one. I thought it was very good as well.
Posted by Big Mike on September 2, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Hey Mark,
I just got word that The new batch of Temptation should be hitting this area in the next week to 10 days. No word on if it’s the 750′s or the 375′s yet or if there’s going to be a 1 or 2 bottle limit. When more info comes in I’ll let you know and I’ll try my best to grab you at least one.
Big Mike
Posted by thehopry on September 2, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Very nice. Thank you. In fact, I would really only like some if you can get it in the 375s. The 750s are just too big for me…
Posted by Jon on September 2, 2010 at 5:43 PM
We have been hearing that it was hitting SoCal this week, but all the stores I’ve looked at don’t show anything in their pipeline yet. As a side note, I understand that the entire release is 375s.
Posted by thehopry on September 2, 2010 at 5:52 PM
That makes me very happy. Thank you for the update Jon.
Posted by Big Mike on September 2, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Awesome news. I hope I can get a bunch of these. I’ve been dying to try it!
Posted by Jon on September 3, 2010 at 12:03 AM
I’m still trying to warm up to most European sours. I really like where American brewers have taken them and now every time I try a European one they taste “off” in some way. By far the most pleasant (to me) though has been the vinegar ones, but I happen to be a fan of vinegar to begin with. I’m happy to drink the Rodenbach on tap, but just can’t justify buying the bottles.