Rodenbach and Rodenbach Grand Cru from Belgium

ベルギーのレッドビールと言えば、ローデンバッハでしょう。

ドイツのコブレンツ出身のアレクサンダー・ローデンバッハが1820年にベルギーのローズレアで小さな醸造所を開設したのが始まりです。

ローデンバッハはオーク樽で6週間醸造された後、若いビールとブレンドして瓶詰めされるに対し、ローデンバッハ・グランクリュは樽から直詰めですので、より酸味と香りが強いのが特徴です。樽の中で微生物で熟成が進み、その独特の風味になります。

ビールは赤黒い色をしていますが、これはオーク樽によるもので、上塗りしていないオーク樽に成分として含まれているタンニンとカラメルがビールを赤く染めます。

Talking of Red beer, it is Rodenbach of Roeselare, Belgium.

The Rodenbachs came from Koblentz, Germany. Mr. Alexander Rodenbach bought a small brewery in Roeselare in 1820 and started brewing with support of The St. George's Brewery, supplying brewing water from under-ground springs.

Rodenbach is bottled after 6 weeks and is a blend of young and mature beers.

Beer destined for ageing is stored in tall oak tuns for a minimum of 18 months and as long as 2 years.

As the beer matures in the wood, lactobacilli and acetobacters add a sour and lactic flavour to the beer. (That's why I thought the beer is kind of lambic as commented the below.)

Grand Cru, bottled straight from the tuns, is bigger in body and flavour than the blended beer.

The brewery was acquired by Palm in 1998.

Country Belgium

Brewer N.V. Brouwerij S.A. in Roeselare

URL www.rodenbach.be www.palmbreweries.com

Foundation 1821

Rodenbach

Alcohol 5.0%

Comments

It is good balanced black colour beer with acidity. It is called Red beer.

Rodenbach Grand Cru

Alcohol 6.0%

Comments

It is mahogany colour beer but no foam. Strong acidity. It may be from something berry.