2016 Vintage Oak Aged Ale (Barrel No. 222)
Brouwerij Rodenbach N.V.

The clear dark mahogany colored beer beer pours out into a Corsondonk goblet with a 1/4” off white head that persists well but leaves no lacing on the sides of the glass as it soon recedes to a ring and a thin layer of foam on the surface of the liquid that persists until the beer is finished. Sipping creates a couple of arches and some irregular patches of lacing, many of which soon slide back down to the surface of the beer.

The aromas include some almost vinegary tart green apples and cherries, dark fruits and caramel. There are also hints of chocolate and vanilla. In addition there’s a bit of oak.

The flavors are much as expected from the nose with the green apples and cherries with their almost vinegary tartness are up front but well supported by the caramel & honey-like sweetness and dark fruit. There’s also a hint of oak, a bit of chocolate and a bit of vanilla here.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and fairly smooth with the very light carbonation that persists well. The moderately long finish begins as most of the flavors and sweetness begin to fade and leave the long, slightly tart and fruity ending to gradually disappear from the palate.

Overall I'd say this is a very well made beer and I'll be looking forward to having another pour and then to eventually opening the other 750 ml bottle in the basement. That said, it is also definitely a sipping beer and a single pour works well for one evening. As with most Rodenbach beers I had to use a single word for this beer, it would be “complex.” There is a dynamic interplay of flavors that come and go on centerstage with the others still playing a supporting role so that none of them steal the show. It’s both intense and refreshing. Well worth trying.

 

 

750 ml bottle into a tulip glass. Had 6/8/19.

Pours a garnet color that’s a little brownish, mostly clear with a two and a half inch foamy head with good retention and a good amount of foamy lacing. Aromas of cherries, raspberries, brown sugar, some vanilla, light red wine, a little vinegar. Smells lightly sour and tart. The flavor starts with some tartness and sourness up front, then cherries, raspberries, malt, brown sugar, some vanilla, light red wine. A significant amount of sweetness midway through the finish. Smooth, a very good medium body, well carbonated.

This is pretty much the standard offering from Rodenbach, starring lots of red fruit. Has a little lighter feel to it than some of their others. Really enjoyable and well worth a purchase.

 

Poured into a pint glass. A hazy amber-brown. A thin head diminishes to a ring. Fresh fruit smells with some sour notes. Tastes of fruit, wood. A little astringent A long sour finish. Fairly flat carbonation. Medium body. Overall smooth and complex.

 

Acquired at the brewery. Bottle made a good stomp, but nothing spilled over.
Brown color with a thick beige head with decent retention.
Aroma with notes of grapes, raspberries, some oak, lemon, grapefruit and a bit of spices.
Flavor with notes of grape juice, cherries, some horse funky sweat, oak, lactic acid, green apples, honey, spices and faint chocolate. Dry aftertaste with an increasing acidity.
Bordering medium body with slightly effervescent carbonation.
Flanders Red Ale with consistent fruity and sour balance with a trademark character. I believe they should release their vintages for bottling condition with whatever expiration date they feel comfortable with. This should age well.

 

 

 

 

Reviews from notes taken on 2 separate occasions in July and September 2019. Served cool/cold into a chalice each time. Lots of Comparisons with 2016 Vinatge Ale Foeder 201.

Appearance - Rich dark red colour with roan hues. A small half finger if off white head is poured with modest retention.

Smell - Vinous, woody balsamic goodness. Hard to compare this to other beers, but a slightly sharper nose than some of the other vintages and foeders.

Taste - Woodier and drier tasting with vinous and balsamic throughout. A touch of charred wood at the end adds complexity but makes it slightly less easy to drink than the others. Some fruity sweetness right at the end of the sip.

Mouthfeel - Very smooth and medium bodied, lightly carbonated with tart acidic finish. Some subtle creaminess that always seems to be inherent with Rodenbach Flanders Red Ales and it's apparent here too.

Overall - Wonderful beer as always from Rodenbach, not quite as good as the 201 Foeder in my opinion, the difference being the charred wood in the flavor here and the slightly more rich and robustness of the vinous and balsamic vinegar flavors in the other brew. Fits in greatly with the vintage ale lineup.

A: The beer is hazy brownish red in color. It poured with a short white head that left a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of vinegar, oak, and cherries are preset in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of cherries with notes of oak and hints of sweetness to counter the sourness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and tart on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I felt that this beer was "smooth" and had nice balance between the sweetness and the sourness.

Serving type: bottle

Pours ruby red with a half finger of off-white head that lingers, excellent lacing, smell and taste is plum, cherry, red currant hard candy, tannic grape skins, sake/apple juice sweetness, hints of welches grape soda, cranberry juice, and frutti di bosco, this beer is light and sticky. Deeply fruity, the way that ruby red should taste. Yum.

Interesting beer - not sure what I was expecting. A mixture of a red ale and Belgian ale? Certainly looks red - rust-red-amber color with lots of fluffy white head and some spotty lingering lacing. Smells rather tart, some acidic fresh sweet fruit, yeast, some clove and banana. Maybe a little malt. Tastes similarly, just a little too yeasty and tart for me. Fairly clean finish, mild, thin mouthfeel with decent carbonation. Not my style of beer but I can appreciate its depth and complexity.

 

One of my all time favorite series in all of beer. This entry comes in pouring closer to burgundy than ruby, with big oak, mixed berries, cherry, minerals, and honey. Taste is pretty much the same, only the berries are even stronger than the cherry, and there are some dark fruit, especially prune and plum, and floral elements in the background. Feel is more juice like this year, and not as tart. Still a good beer, but the weakest in the series to date