Rodenbach Grand Cru


This, my first Flanders red ale, looks more like a clear brown, but with deep red / fiery highlights in the glass - similar to a barley wine. The head is small, cream in colour, and leaves some spotty lacing.

It smells of red wine, maybe some vinegar, as well as some oaky woodiness.

The flavour is tart, with some cherry / kriek lambic flavours, and some other fruits, like... apricot. It tastes best when held in mouth for a few seconds, I think - the intensity / complexity builds.

As for feel, it has a very dry finish - a very quickly-vanishing and clean finish with little aftertaste. The body is light.

Overall, this is very nice and solid. It was a little too vinegary, perhaps, but quite refreshing on a muggy day.