I post a lot about wine here, but the fact of the matter is, I also love beer. I love sour beers, wheat beers, fruity beers. I’m willing to try them all, although I’ve certainly had some duds over the years. Recently, I was sent some samples of the new Rodenbach Fruitage from Belgium. They also sent me a trucker hat. Three guesses on which of those two things is more my style. I have seen the Rodenbach name before, and after reading up I learned that the property the brewery is on can be traced all the way back to 1380, but this was my first real encounter with their beer. Low in alcohol, only 4.2%, it’s something to drink when you’re looking to just take the slightest edge off. This one is a blend of 75% young Rodenbach and 25% two-year aged beer in standing oak casks. But who cares about that, right? The taste is the most important part.
As someone who practically inhales every incarnation of berry, I appreciated the forward flavors of elderberry and cherry, making it refreshing. This is an undeniably fruity wine, with especially noteworthy warm and summery red cherries. It’s definitely geared toward people looking for something that doesn’t taste like beer. While it may not be the one that I fill my fridge with, it is a nice, light option when it is ninety degrees outside and I’m not looking for anything to spend too much time thinking about. It’s easy to drink, it’s fun to open up with friends, and it’s just a touch tart for those of you out there who like a subtle hand. The little cans make it all the easier to enjoy. One thing I asked myself when I tried this was, was this sent to me because I am a woman and that’s the major market for a fruity low alcohol beer? I don’t have an answer to that, although I think that maybe that is true. But either way, I enjoyed it, and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters to me. I think that’s all that should matter to you, too.
These beer was kindly provided to me by the brewery listed above, but all opinions are my own.
A Famished Foodie 