rodenbach grand cru
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010a while back, I was perusing the bevmo shelves (surprise!) when I came across a few offerings from rodenbach that warranted closer inspection.
- I usually pass over brews labeled as a “grand cru” because the designation is vague and seems to be all-encompassing. when I grab a bottle I usually end up with a strong, spicy tripel-esque beer that I am usually not fond of.
- however, after scanning the label of rodenbach’s grand cru, my eyes lit up – this beer was a flanders red, and was 1/3 “new” and 2/3 “old,” the “old” being matured for a couple years in oak vats.
- since the majority of the beer was old, I figured it would be more dry and tart and less sweet than its counterparts, such as the duchesse, which I personally find a bit too sweet (relatively speaking).
- when I finally got around to popping this guy, I was happy to find that the above was true. the beer had a slight vinegar note, and was pleasingly sour, with a little sweetness to back it up. it was still a little too sweet for my tastes – I could go for an 85/15 blend.
- the current blend gave the beer a great drinkability, however, and my glass was empty way too fast. I definitely plan on grabbing future bottles, since at $11 or $12 a pop it sure beats getting a champagne glass pour for $5-6 at toronado.
- turns out the MJ is a fan of this beer too.