Rodenbach Grand Cru Expiration Date

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by salozmen25, Apr 26, 2020.

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  1. salozmen25

    salozmen25 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2019

    Hi. Rodenbach is now not distributing to the USA so I decided to clean a local liquor store out of their stock so I can have it. I bought 4 bottles of the Grand Cru and 2 of their regular. 750 ML bottles, corked. Thing is that the Grand Cru has a drink by date from 2018 and the regular from 2016. Right now the year is 2020. Is this stuff still going to taste okay when I drink it now? Will it taste okay 2,3,4 years from now? I know sours are a whole different beast. Any expert advise would be awesome! Thank You!
     
    #1 salozmen25, Apr 26, 2020
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  2. Ahonky

    Ahonky Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2018 New York

    one way to answer your question would be to drink one.Start with the older one and if you're not happy with it drink the younger ones ASAP.

    you won't find a better answer, so end thread.
     
    #2 Ahonky, Apr 26, 2020
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  3. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Since when are they not sending beer to the USA?


    Enjoy
     
    #3 Giantspace, Apr 26, 2020
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  4. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    A Costco near me was blowing them out a few years ago, so we bought a LOT. The bottles don't seem to be dated, but drank one last week and it's still great. I'd say you have no worries.
     
    #4 BBThunderbolt, Apr 26, 2020
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  5. Ernest7

    Ernest7 Devotee (349) Apr 24, 2019 Belgium

    Rodenbach is a (partially?) pasteurized beer. So, it will age yet it will age more like a wine (especially the large bottles).
    I have no experience with aging the regular Rodenbach (which I find rather on the sweet side). At my local bar, I was regularly drinking Rodenbach Grand Cru (small bottles though) of 5+ years: still fresh and crisp, although a little bit softer/mellow.
    At home, I recently tasted a (small bottle of) Rodenbach Gran Cru 2017: no aging aspects whatsoever. Also I recently tasted a (large bottle of) Rodenbach Vintage 2012 (bottled in 2014): no head, mellow tast, still nicely milk sour. In my basement for further aging (another 5-10 yrs): Rodenbach Grand Cru 2016 (large bottles), Rodenbach Grand Cru 2017 (small bottles).
    No worries at all!
     
    #5 Ernest7, Apr 27, 2020
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  6. salozmen25

    salozmen25 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2019

    Thank you so much for the thorough reply! I can't wait to enjoy these for years to come!
     
    #6 salozmen25, Apr 28, 2020
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  7. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Aging any beer is a risk
     
    #7 SFACRKnight, Apr 28, 2020
  8. Ernest7

    Ernest7 Devotee (349) Apr 24, 2019 Belgium

    It is a calculated risk I wanne take after tasting aged beers since 1985.
    For 70% of my life, I am tasting aged beers. No risk.
     
    #8 Ernest7, Apr 29, 2020
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  9. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    According to this page SFB Imports USA (formerly "Latis"), Ridgefield, CT, owned by Rodenbach's parent company, Swinkels Family Brewers, is the US importer of the brand as well as the other SFB brands.

    What does "(partially) pasteurized" mean?
     
    #9 jesskidden, Apr 29, 2020
  10. Ernest7

    Ernest7 Devotee (349) Apr 24, 2019 Belgium

    Well, that is a good question.
    Part of the beer has been pasteurized, part of it wasn't. I don't know which part, though.
    Pasteurized beer can also age, but it will age rather as wine while non-pasteurized beer has a head start compared to wine since it will age for 10-12-15 yrs as beer, then the 'wine aging' process will take over.
    And what about (partially?) pasteurized beer? Well, in my experience Rodenbach Grand Cru in large bottles is very comparable to wine after 10 yrs. R'bach Grand Cru in small bottles is still beer after 10 yrs (still carbonization).
     
    #10 Ernest7, Apr 30, 2020
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