Guest tap, rotating
Tap 19
Rodenbach Grand Cru
Brouwerij Rodenbach, Roeselare
'The Burgundy of Belgium', aged two years in oak.
Taste profile
Legend has it
Roeselare has a legend about a giant. Long ago Rolarius built a fortress on the river Mandel and made every passing boatman pay toll. He married Carlotta, daughter of a Roman commander, but demanded an ever more terrible tribute from the townsfolk. In despair they turned to a hermit, who sent them to the king of the gnomes. 'You are the greatest, I am the smallest,' said the little king, and invited the giant to a feast. Rolarius drank wine until he fell senseless, and the townsfolk rolled him into the Mandel.
Beer stories travel from brewery to bar to guest, and rarely shrink on the way.
Interesting facts
- The foeders
- The brewery has 294 oak foeders, which it says is the world's largest collection for wood-aged beer, and its own coopers to build and maintain them.
- The praise
- The legendary beer writer Michael Jackson called Rodenbach the most refreshing beer in the world.
- The method
- Eugène Rodenbach, who took over in 1878, travelled to England, where he learned to mature beer in oak and blend old beer with young.
Especially good with
Steak tartare, mussels with tomato & chipotle.