Rodenbach Grand Cru
I’m a big fan of Flanders Red Ales — Duchesse De Bourgogne is a staple in my cellar. Unfortunately, you don’t see many beers of this style on shelves, especially lately as space has been given to the rise of craft beer over the past few years. As a result, I just happened across a bottle of Rodenbach’s Grand Cru in late January of this year.
It’s a shame that I don’t see this beer or others of its ilk in the local market. Grand Cru is a world class beer that blends roughly 1/3 young beer and 2/3 beer that is then matured for two years in oak foeders. The result is a beer that combines a wonderfully fruity cherry character, yeast and a moderate level of tartness.
It’s also a beer of which I wish I was able to purchase. To have enjoyed Grand Cru just once is not enough. This is a beer that I would love to see more often and even toss a few bottles in that cellar to join the Duchesse.