Totally free of head; cognac-orange colour; the REAL Rodenbach colour. Quite sharp, even acetic, but with a superb vinous aroma, with wineacids (malonic, tartaric,...) At the same time tart, sharp, mild, vinous, alcoholic (when only a little), slight aftertaste as from a Sauternes. Ultra-dry MF, acidburn in the end, a bit oily. Nice - OK : superb - but I would have liked just a bit more explanation apart from what is printed on the hardly readable wrapper.

Bottle. Clear dark amber red color with a average, frothy, fair lacing, fully diminishing, beige head. Aroma is moderate vinegar, berry sweet / sour, wood. Flavor is moderate sweet and moderate acetic (vinegar), salty, with average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily to watery, carbonation is flat. ;o)) (241107)

So here it is rating # 800, I got something very special and I would not have been able to try it if it was not for BigErn, again many thanks. It’s the regular 11.2 oz bottle, no date. It pours sort of dead with just a tiny bit of white lacing. The color is dark burgundy red with lighter tints at the bottom of the glass and no clarity otherwise. Aroma is cherry balsamic vinegar but the balsamic is not too strong. It’s lightly sour and not really showing much age outside of maybe a reduction in the sourness (but I really cannot tell what it used to smell like anyway). Taste starts off sweet cherry syrup then leads to light balsamic vinegar and faint cocoa before a nice short burst of acidity and sourness that quickly runs away and leaves a lightly dry sour cherry aftertaste. The taste is actually extremely nice once I realize this probably was never meant to be a sour assault on the palate a la the more modern Flanders Reds. It’s actually quite comfortable in providing enough of the sourness but then quickly taking it away from the drinker. At first I was a little disappointed but then I realized this beer is going for something else. After the first sip I was like, aww, it’s not bad but it’s not earth shattering. But after a few more, as I type, my mouth waters for more beer as this long-lasting cherry stays and the palate is so dried out from the burst of sourness at the end of the flavor. The mouthfeel is a bit sticky which adds to the medium body which creates a very felt beer. The carbonation is actual right around average. Can’t tell whether I have convinced myself that this is that good or it really is that good. I even broke out the Rodenbach Grand Cru tulip glass for this, actually I bought this glass with the purpose of using it to drink this beer.