Rodenbach Caractère Rouge

900 bottles of batch 1. Many more of batch 2. Batch 3 should be distributed to the US, presumably at least as many bottles as batch 2.

 

I have two bottles of the first batch. Drinking one and still considering what to do with the other. I've seen it fetch some pretty fun things, like 2 bottles of proper vintage Stormaktsporter.

It's definitely a more niche bottle though, not a whole lot of people that care out there. But if they do, I suppose they could fetch something purdy. All of these bottles are still somewhat available though.

Guy I know had the idea of simply walking into the restaurant it was originally brewed for and walked away with no less than 8 bottles of the B1. Always good to take advantage of Belgian restaurant's pet peeves to serve something that "isn't fresh". They just wanted to get rid of it because they wouldn't serve it anyway, especially with batch 3 coming at that time.

In terms of batch-to-batch variety I guess it all depends whether you like it fruity or lactic. From what I hear, the first batch is supposed to be a lot fruitier as they used more and higher-quality fruit. Then again, it is two years old by now, so I'd imagine it's a lot less fruity.

Batch 3 (and in some cases batch 2) is a shelf beer now. If you want to work something out internationally, we could try.

 

Just buy it on Etre.

 

This beer is seriously terrible (or at least Batch 2 was). More like Robitussin than any other beer I have ever tasted.

 

Everyone I was at the tasting with agreed. Really syrupy, barely any sourness. Lots of fruit flavor, but more in a cough medicine way than anything else. I have a suspicion that the rareness/hopes it would be a competent replacement for Alexander is juicing the score.

 

Damn... I had b2 when it was pretty fresh and thought it was one of/the best Rodenbach I had had (at the time at least, Vin de Cereale was a game-changer). I wonder if there's some bottle variation, because we thought the fruit/tart balance was perfect with a big malt body but none of the syrupy-ness you describe. Oh well, opinions and such.

 

Yeah, granted, I've never had Alexander, but thought Caractere Rouge (batch 2) was a seriously great beer, but with an awkward carb. situation going on, which could contribute to some perceptions of syrup/soda/robitussin.

 

Sounds like you had a bad bottle. I shared mine at a bottle share and it was a big hit. Still have two bottles.

 

I personally enjoyed b2 fresh more than b1 fresh. However, I've not had b1 in a considerable amount of time, so maybe that has changed. Also, others at the sampling events enjoyed b1, and I trust their judgements on many other beers. Seems like a preference thing, like Framboos and fresh Blabaer.

 

Well, since we were on the topic so I went ahead and opened a b3 last night. I would say less tart than b2 and way more fruit forward, but still in a very dry/dusty cherry skin sort of way. Far from syrupy or overly-sweet. Still like this beer a lot.

Oh, and fuck Manny Diaz.

 

Is anyone buying this beer off the shelf around them or all trading/buying from overseas? Not seeing it around here and no one even knows what the hell it is..(which isn't surprising at most places of course)...

 

I got a bottle at my local grocery store. Had to have the scoop from the beer guy, but I know he got at least one bottle.

 

Is there a way to tell between batch 1 or batch 2? thanks!

 

Got 2 bottles in NY, but it was pricey - $27 a piece IIRC. Haven't opened one yet, so no opinion on it's resemblance to cough syrup.

 

23.99 on shelf here is lowest price I've seen, and it's avail at multiple stores. Had one last night with friends. Fruity, complex, interesting and delicious.

Is this beer not widely distro?

 

Anyone know how to tell the batches appart? I've got a bottle that came through the shipment that went to Quebec (via Bièropholie).