Try?
Lots of times
when I talk about beer with people just getting involved in the hobby as a
serious interest, they ask about some of the more exotic and less well-known
styles made today. One of them that comes to mind most immediately, and that
I always love talking about, is Rodenbach Grand Cru.
To be sure, this is not a beer for everyone. In fact, many would not
recognize it as a beer at all, perhaps thinking it more akin to a wine for
the uninitiated. The main reason for this is the overwhelming sourness of
Rodenbach Grand Cru. It’s a huge, mouth-puckering, eye-popping tart
sourness. And it is an eye-opener to what the great wide world of beer can
be.
Rodenbach Grand Cru is made in a style called Flanders Red or Flanders Brown (on the bottle it’s called Flemish Sour). It’s produced in Belgium by the Rodenbach brewery, which is in turn owned by the Palm family of breweries.
What makes Rodenbach Grand Cru so unique is the aging it undergoes. The beer is matured in huge oak barrels, some of which are 150 years old. Rodenbach Grand Cru undergoes two fermentations, one with traditional yeast and one with bacteria. The latter delivers that wonderful sourness, and makes Rodenbach Grand Cru extremely refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Like fine wine, Rodenbach Grand Cru comes in a 750ml bottle topped with a
caged cork and an attractive foil neck wrapper. The bottle is attractive and
although the glass is green, this isn’t as big of an issue as it might be
since this is not a highly hopped beer. Green glass does not effectively
filter light, and allows light to interact with chemicals found in hops to
“skunk” beer. Unlike some wines, Rodenbach Grand Cru is very reasonably
priced at about $6 for a bottle that will nicely serve two. And at just %6
alcohol by volume, I find it to be more drinkable than wine, too.
You’ll often hear people talking about how wine seems to pair better than beer with food. To those I would say that just haven’t tried enough beer. To me, Rodenbach Grand Cru is the perfect beer to serve with a meal. The distinctive sourness cuts nicely through poultry, beef, pork, or seafood. It also holds up to and clears the palate of rich sauces. As I type, its a few days before Thanksgiving, and a few bottles of Rodenbach will be set alongside the turkey and fixings on our holiday table.
Rodenbach Grand Cru pours to a cloudy reddish brown color with a
towering head formation and a nose so tart that your nose will immediately
be assaulted by it as soon as you pop the cap. The head takes a while to
recede, and deposits a thick layer of Brussels lace on the sides of my glass
as it descends.
As soon as you sip, you can’t help but be awed by the puckering sourness of the brew. It grabs your tongue, holds on for life, and won’t let go. Sour cherries immediately come to mind, along with a touch of oak and perhaps toasted almond.
The beer finishes acidic, wonderfully sour, and tart. If you loved sour and tart candies as a kid, you’ll love Rodenbach Grand Cru as an adult. It’s utterly fantastic. Why not pick up a few bottles to serve with your holiday meals, or anytime a sumptuous repast is in order. It will change your mind about what beer can be forever.
To be sure, this is not a beer for everyone. In fact, many would not
recognize it as a beer at all, perhaps thinking it more akin to a wine for
the uninitiated. The main reason for this is the overwhelming sourness of
Rodenbach Grand Cru. It’s a huge, mouth-puckering, eye-popping tart
sourness. And it is an eye-opener to what the great wide world of beer can
be. Rodenbach Grand Cru is made in a style called Flanders Red or Flanders Brown (on the bottle it’s called Flemish Sour). It’s produced in Belgium by the Rodenbach brewery, which is in turn owned by the Palm family of breweries.
What makes Rodenbach Grand Cru so unique is the aging it undergoes. The beer is matured in huge oak barrels, some of which are 150 years old. Rodenbach Grand Cru undergoes two fermentations, one with traditional yeast and one with bacteria. The latter delivers that wonderful sourness, and makes Rodenbach Grand Cru extremely refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Like fine wine, Rodenbach Grand Cru comes in a 750ml bottle topped with a
caged cork and an attractive foil neck wrapper. The bottle is attractive and
although the glass is green, this isn’t as big of an issue as it might be
since this is not a highly hopped beer. Green glass does not effectively
filter light, and allows light to interact with chemicals found in hops to
“skunk” beer. Unlike some wines, Rodenbach Grand Cru is very reasonably
priced at about $6 for a bottle that will nicely serve two. And at just %6
alcohol by volume, I find it to be more drinkable than wine, too. You’ll often hear people talking about how wine seems to pair better than beer with food. To those I would say that just haven’t tried enough beer. To me, Rodenbach Grand Cru is the perfect beer to serve with a meal. The distinctive sourness cuts nicely through poultry, beef, pork, or seafood. It also holds up to and clears the palate of rich sauces. As I type, its a few days before Thanksgiving, and a few bottles of Rodenbach will be set alongside the turkey and fixings on our holiday table.
Rodenbach Grand Cru pours to a cloudy reddish brown color with a
towering head formation and a nose so tart that your nose will immediately
be assaulted by it as soon as you pop the cap. The head takes a while to
recede, and deposits a thick layer of Brussels lace on the sides of my glass
as it descends. As soon as you sip, you can’t help but be awed by the puckering sourness of the brew. It grabs your tongue, holds on for life, and won’t let go. Sour cherries immediately come to mind, along with a touch of oak and perhaps toasted almond.
The beer finishes acidic, wonderfully sour, and tart. If you loved sour and tart candies as a kid, you’ll love Rodenbach Grand Cru as an adult. It’s utterly fantastic. Why not pick up a few bottles to serve with your holiday meals, or anytime a sumptuous repast is in order. It will change your mind about what beer can be forever.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler
