JustHereForTheBeer.com - Beer of the Week
*Our rating scale is based on a five point system (1 being least enjoyable, 5 being excellent) We rate the beer using the following criteria; overall taste, appearance, mouthfeel, freshness, body, aroma, finish, availability, and price.
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Click here to view previous beers. We feature a new beer every Saturday - This week's beer:
Rodenbach Grand Cru - Palm Breweries, Steenhuffeldorp, Germany
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Best Feature: great price for an import
Grand Cru is a 6% South Flemish Ale. It has a deep reddy - brown colour and an amazing fruity aroma with wine characteristics. With minimal head retention, this complex tasting beer has a sharp, bold & tart taste through the finish, similar of sour cherries. You can purchase this unique ale at government liquor stores for $2.95 per 330ml bottle. As well as enjoying Grand Cru by sipping, this would be an excellent beer to cook with, especially to reduce!
Beer Fact: Grand Cru has an extensive conditioning (fermentation) process. After the main fermentation, it is then conditioned for an additional four weeks. Then Rodenbach matures the beer for 18 - 24 months in huge oak vats that are as high as the ceiling. When maturation is complete, they combine the contents of these oak vats together for more consistency in bottling.
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(4 out of 5) |
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Best Features: similar to a high end wine
Rodenbach Grand Cru is definitely a specialty product and has a unique flavour and taste. This beer is very complex and the fermination takes place for up to 24 months. The result is a beer higher in alcohol content (6%) and a beer with fruity characteristics similar to wine. The colour is deep and bright red. The fruity aroma is immediately released when the bottle is opened and an even stronger aroma emulates from the glass. The fruity and sour taste reminds me of stronger beers and barley wines. The mouthfeel is light but you are left with a tart finish similar to a wine that is low on the sweetness scale. However, Grand Cru is refreshing and does not leave your mouth dry. This is not the type of beer would drink a regular basis, but I enjoy the complexity and it is the perfect beer for sharing with friends. Grand Cru is an exquisite beer and the perfect product to showcase some of the different flavours and varieties of beer. I would recommend having this beer with a blackberry pie, or a wild berry fruit salad.
Beer Fact: In general, the longer a beer is fermented the higher the actual gravity or alcohol percentage. Beer that is fermented in casks for long periods of time can reach 10% alcohol or more!
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(3.5 out of 5) |
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Best Feature: easy to drink
Rodenbach Grand Cru is a very unique Belgian red ale. In the glass, its hue is a clear reddish chestnut brown topped by a thin cream coloured head. I found the aroma to be interesting with what I can only describe as sour grapes. The mouthfeel was surprisingly light with above average carbonation levels. The taste is somewhat acidic and fruity at the same time with a mildly sour aftertaste. As far a Belgian style beers goes this is a rather complex tasting ale which I would only have one for an evening.
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(3 out of 5) |
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