Evolved Grand Cru 10y

Feiner säuerlicher Beginn mit holzig-kirschigen Noten und subtiler Süße. Spritzig, feine Karbonisierung, zunehme Herbe von geringem Level aus. Spritzig bleibend, rund fruchtig, Balsamico, ansteigend holzig. Die feine, dennoch erhöhte Karbonisierung stört die Süffigkeit etwas, im Hintergrund dagegen weich und stimmig. Langer säuerlicher, nur wenig süßer Ausklang, mittellanger Nachgeschmack. 8/11/11/11/12/11

New luxury Rodenbach blend (under the control of Swinkels today) containing 'foederbier' of no less than ten years old - a must for the lovers of 'oud bruin', in that sense... From a 75 cl bottle shared with Craftmember. Thick, dense and frothy, yellowish pale beige, stable and regular head over a clear vermillion-hued brownish-copper robe with a whirlwind of fierce sparkling rushing upwards. Aroma of cherries, caramel, rosehip tea (quite strong!), dusty old wood, raspberry candy, wet dog, young green tree leaves in spring, sweet rooibos, hints of petrichor and vague old rubber. Tart but rounded onset, fruity with notes of red apple, lingonberry and cherry, rosehip effect coming up early; vague balsamic touch and some grape-like sweetness together combine into that typical Rodenbach sweet-sourness. Finely tingling but very lively effervescence, through a slick, slender, caramelly and slightly biscuity malt core, where some red candy-ish sweetness builds upon, together with an increasing rosehip tea effect; gentle woody tannins in the finish, vinous with that herbal rosehip flavour coming to its zenith, before minerally and remaining fruity-sour elements bring things back to basics. Very elegant and streamlined oud bruin in full-fledged contemporary Rodenbach style, perhaps a bit too streamlined even: this is clearly filtered (clear till the last drop) and does have a certain sleek and clean 'macro brew' aspect to it. I miss the depth, earthy esteriness and oakiness the old foederbier could and should have contributed, to be honest... Solid, interesting brew, but somehow - and having been familiar with Rodenbach for thirty-odd years - I have the feeling that this could have been so much more.

Gylden brun med hvitt skum. Lukter karamell, sure stenfrukter og trevirke. Fyldig og sur. Smaker sure bør, grønne epler og trevirke. Middels lang.

Bottle at Brewdog Tallinn. Thin body, light carbonation. Medium sourness, med-light tartness. Light acetic, medium cherryish, slightly caramelly. Surprisingly single-dimensional. I mean, it's good, but not great. I expected a bit more maybe.