REVIEW #111: Rodenbach Grand Cru (Palm Breweries)

Poured into a large wine glass, the beer looks an attractive ruby red and retains a cream coloured head for a short time. Smells of musty oak and hints of raspberry and lemonade. An immediate, biting sweetness & sourness transforms into softly woody tea tannins, aged berries and sweet hedgerow wine finish. A gentle yeasty funk flavour (as is characteristic of the style) also lingers into the long, juicy, sticky finish becoming pronounced and imparting a near-savoury note at the end. Nice medium to firm, almost foamy mouthfeel and delicate carbonation. This is a drink that would go with most meals as its simultaneously light and refreshing, almost palate cleansing, yet so full of complex, fruity, semi-rich flavours that it would hold its own with a strong game or cheese dish; such is the beauty of a good Flemish Red (or indeed Brown) ale like this one.

Now owned by Palm Breweries, the Rodenbach range is still brewed at the original 'brouwerij' in Roeselare, West Flanders. Palm have recently reinvigorated the brand by adding an additional beer to the range so along with the original 'Classic', 'Foederbier' (not easily found in the UK) and this 'Grand Cru' there is now 'Caractere Rouge' brewed with cherries, raspberries and cranberries. All of these beers are Flemish Reds. They also produce a vintage each year, the most recent of which is the '2010 Vintage', released late 2012. I'll try to get a bottle but its going to be a struggle I fear. See the review (#8) of Duchesse de Bourgogne for comparison with another superb example of the style as well as information on how Flemish Reds are made.

• MALTS: DARK ROASTED (BUT OFTEN VIENNA OR MUNICH)
• HOPS: AGED LOW ALPHA-ACID (NOBLE)
• IBU: LOW <10
• ABV: 6%
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REVIEW #25: Steenbrugge Dubbel Bruin (Palm Breweries)

Pours a dark ruby red with a cream coloured, short-lived but easily resurrected head (just swirl!) which leaves plentiful lacing on the glass. Raisin, plum pudding and something reminiscent of a dank musty cellar (quite pleasant!) in the aroma. Delicious dark malt notes, with cinnamon and clove spiciness. A bittersweet finish; sugar can be plainly detected at the front of the tongue and bitter hop at the back. The alcohol is there too and helps to firm up the mouthfeel. A decent,  balanced, drinkable and very likeable Abbey dubbel, if not spectacular.

Palm Breweries have took over many famous names of the Belgian Brewing world and to their credit (correct me if I'm wrong), have mostly kept the original breweries running. For example Frank Boon sold his enterprise to Palm and his original brewery is still in operation in the town of Lembeek (Flemish Brabant). Granted, Palm couldn't very well move production far due to a reliance on wild yeasts endemic to the area. They also took over Rodenbach, producer of renowned Flemish Reds, and have kept that operation in the town of Roeselare in West Flanders where it began (again you could argue the reliance on local wild yeasts). The Brugge & Steenbrugge ranges are, true to their name, still brewed in Bruges. Palm also have their own brewery based in Steenhuffel (Flemish Brabant), where beers such as the Palm range and Steendonck are created. Being dark beers, I personally prefer dubbels to the lighter, paler and stronger tripels, as you might have guessed. Being a beer of an ancient, religious heritage, it suffices to say that the recipe is a closely guarded secret. Steenbrugge gained its abbey credentials in 2003 when the prior of St. Peters Abbey sanctioned the the beer to be produced to honour Saint Arnoldus, the patron saint of Belgian hop-pickers and beer producers... Here's to Arnie! (I'll be back, for another... -_-)

• MALTS: ?

• HOPS: ?
• IBU: ?
• ABV: 6.5%
• BOTTLE-CONDITIONED and brewed with spices

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