Rodenbach Alexander
Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.

Rodenbach AlexanderRodenbach Alexander
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From:
Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.
 
Belgium
Style:
Flanders Red Ale
Ranked #2
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
98
Ranked #457
Avg:
4.41 | pDev: 7.26%
Reviews:
278
Ratings:
948
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 21, 2024
Added:
Oct 19, 2001
Wants:
  225
Gots:
  163
Flanders Red Ale- a blend of 1/3 young and 2/3 two-year old ale matured in oak foeders, that is macerated with sour cherries.
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Ratings by mikepcarney:
Photo of mikepcarney
Rated by mikepcarney from Ohio

5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Aug 01, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by rare_bird from Michigan

Mar 21, 2024
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.41/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
330 ml bottle, dated "JD 11 1.182" which I'm not sure what means.

pours a slightly cloudy dark pink color, with a light pink colored head. pretty good head retention. wonderful sour cherry aroma. taste is similar, has a nice depth to the flavor - starts sweet but then the sour comes in the finish. short finish. not crazy sour, it's easy to drink. nice smooth mouthfeel
Feb 12, 2024
 
Rated: 3 by NorbertB1974 from Germany

Feb 10, 2024
 
Rated: 4.46 by Rodya-CA from California

Feb 06, 2024
 
Rated: 4.18 by vidisad from California

Jan 01, 2024
 
Rated: 4.25 by Nyoder

Nov 25, 2023
Photo of Larryken
Reviewed by Larryken from Massachusetts

4.91/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
If you like this style, seek this one out. Smooth and well balanced taste that’s predominantly cherry. Beautiful deep red color. I like Rodenbachs Grand Cru and Alex is even better.
Nov 09, 2023
Photo of Saluki
Reviewed by Saluki from Florida

4.44/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From a bottle to a frozen stemless wine glass. Couldn't decode the date label.

For what it is, it is a very good tasty beer. Head lasts nicely. Lots of flavors, predominantly the cherries of course, ale almost an after thought. Not sure I could taste the oak foeder, but it is very smooth which I guess is the point. Following up with a lesser beer highlights all this and makes it better than it would be on its own. Three more to go, one at a time is enough.

If you don't like sours, or cherries, or have a great curiosity for beers, take a pass. Overpriced.
Oct 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by BrisLoganite from Australia

Oct 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by TheIPAHunter from California

Oct 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.62 by pbhuss from California

Oct 06, 2023
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.22/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
750 mL corked & caged bottle from the LCBO; best before 03/01/2021 and served slightly chilled.

Pours a clear, purplish burgundy colour, shining ruby red when held to the light. Less than a finger of frothy, off white-coloured head fizzles within ninety seconds or so, soon reduced to a sickly thin collar and an islet of film on the surface. The aroma is a fragrant blend of balsamic, red wine vinegar, sour cherries, oak and mild barnyard funk, with further suggestions of cherry juice, cranberry and vanilla.

Fruity at the forefront, with black cherry sweetness giving way to red wine, balsamic vinegar and sour cherries by mid-sip. Notes of vanilla, oak, cherry juice and mild funk develop on the tail end, with mild wine vinegar acidity, cherry pit and sour cherries lingering into the aftertaste. Not particularly funky, at least not by Rodenbach standards. Light-medium in body, with average carbonation that rolls across the tongue, supplying a light frothiness to this brew's smooth, soft mouthfeel. Regular imbibers of Rodenbach, as well as kriek enthusiasts, should be able to finish this bottle themselves without too much trouble, but it's always better to share.

Final Grade: 4.22, an A-. Alexander strikes me as a mellower, lighter, less complex version of their Caractère Rouge, which is clearly the superior product IMO. On the other hand, Alexander's cherry flavours do pop quite nicely, making for a surprisingly refreshing pick on this cool, late summer evening. A poor cellaring candidate, especially compared to most of Rodenbach's other beers, but it does seem to hold up OK in the short-term (i.e. 3 years or less). A genuinely solid red ale - much like Caractère Rouge, I think this would serve quite well as an introduction to Flemish reds.
Sep 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.56 by QueenSac from Colorado

Aug 21, 2023
Photo of journey-of-beer
Reviewed by journey-of-beer

4.65/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Look: Moderately hazy reddish-brown hue with a thick, cream-colored head with just a hint of pinkish red. Fairly significant lacing and a very slow dissipation to the head.

Smell: It has that red wine-esque aroma that all of the truly great Flanders red ales have. There's a minor hint of fruit, but the aroma is dominated by the ale itself.

Taste: The excellent quality Flanders red ale dominates up-front. Taste of malt, oak, red wine vinegar, plus that distinctive Flanders red taste that is hard to pin down in words. The sour cherry starts to become apparent next, with a lingering sweet cherry on the aftertaste. The lingering sweet cherry is surprising and pushes right up to the edge of being too much like cough syrup, but it never quite crosses the line and gives this a truly unique and distinctive taste. Both the sour and sweet cherry become more apparent as the beer warms.

Feel: fairly highly carbonated, light body overall.

Overall: There's a reason this is a world-class beer. The ale itself is truly top notch, but what pushes this over the edge is the unique blend of sour and sweet cherry that I have never encountered in any other beer I've tried.
Jul 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.38 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Jul 06, 2023
Photo of kitch
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

4.47/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A 750ml corked and caged bottle. Poured into a Tilquin stemmed glass.

Appearance: A nice clear maroon red colour with a half finger beige head that dissipated fairly quickly white leaving only sparse lacing.

Aroma: Tart, cherry, strawberry, oak, with notes of vanilla and fruit vinegar.

Taste: Lightly sour, sweet, cherry, strawberry, oak, and fruit vinegar.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall: Good enjoyable aroma and flavours that is balanced and very fruity. My preference is still Caractère Rouge though.
May 30, 2023
Photo of BJB13
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland

4.15/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
330 ml bottle poured into a Tulip.

L: Hazy, red-hued brown, 2 finger pink head, fizzy foam has moderate retention, lively pour.
S: Nose is mild but pleasant, light berry, rainwater and spicy hop aromas.
T: Medium-high lactic sweetness, no bitterness, notes of red fruit (cherries/berries), hint of oak, finishes sour with the sweetness drying quite a bit.
F: Light bodied, smooth and slightly soft, hardens a bit toward the finish, no bite, somewhat chewy.
O: Good, never gets too sour for my palate and remains easy to drink, seems similar to a Fruit Lambic.
May 08, 2023
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Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota

4.37/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 2.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
Rodenbach Alexander pours a reddish/brownish color with lots of bubbles and not much head. The aroma is the tart cherry. The flavor is big tart and prominent sweet cherry notes, almost candy-like, that linger just a bit on the palate. Great feeling. Overall, a sweeter Flanders red with a tart kick. Lots of cherry flavors.
May 04, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by myterpsr1 from Maryland

Apr 10, 2023
Rodenbach Alexander from Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.
Beer rating: 98 out of 100 with 948 ratings