Archive for the 'Rodenbach' category
Krait Prestige Champagne Lager
This is a very special day here at Sevenpack! On this, the 14th day of June in the year of 2007 we are officially reviewing our 500th beer. We’ve come a long way since February of ’06 and enjoyed many beers in the process. As with any true celebration; i.e. weddings, graduations, boat launchings…a champagne varietal is quite appropriate. And thus Ben, Jay, and I bring you our take of the Krait Prestige on this momentous occasion.
We are enjoying this brew out of a champagne flute as per the recommendation on the bottle. It pours with a bubbly white head but is surprisingly less effervescent than I would have thought. Granted it is ultimately a beer but, come on, if you are going to call it a champagne it should bubble – a lot. Anyway, it smells malty sweet with a little bit of nut; nothing outstanding or captivating. If you strain your “olfactory glands” you might experience a subtle apple juice quality. It has a rich mouthfeel as the liquid seems to cling to the tongue and inside of the cheeks. There is some semblance of a champagne quality in that the carbonation and a sour, bitter flavor bite the back of the throat as it is swallowed. Again there is nothing earth shattering about the taste which leaves me a little disappointed on this, our 500th review. If you are going to call your beer the Prestige and categorize it as a champagne you better come with something big and delicious while also maintaining an aire of sophistication. This beer is liar to a people much like its cousin Miller High Life. They are both descent enough beers but their self-proclaimed champagne status is a bit of a reach. –Matt
Well, I think Matty might be being a bit harsh on our champagne lager. While his aroma and flavor impressions are quite accurate, I have grown to enjoy this beer quite a bit over the last couple of flutes. It is, by most estimations, little more than a lager. However, there is a spry fruitiness to the beer that stems from the Belgian yeast they use in the double fermentation of this beer. As Matt indicates, it could use a bit more effervescence to be a true ‘champagne’ lager. However, it is certainly more sprightly and refreshing than a standard lager. In my opinion, you’d be much better served to reach for the Bosteels Deus if you want a ‘true’ champagne beer. However, that beer is 2-3 times more expensive than the Krait, so your wallet may not agree. Regardless, the Deus is a much bigger experience, and a much more inspiring beer. Nevertheless, it seems fitting that we enjoy a celebratory beer on our 500th review. I always figured we’d get to this point, but I honestly didn’t think we’d do it so damn quickly. At this rate, we’ll hit 1,000 before the end of 2009, and I think that’d be quite an accomplishment. Here at SevenPack, we’re quite proud of the fact that we can keep a steady stream of reviews coming out of a relatively small group of people, and we feel that the consistency that this provides is a valuable trait in something so subjective as taste. So, here’s to the continued good times that come with drinking a lot of great beer, and here’s to hoping that SevenPack sees continued success for the next 500! –Ben
Rodenbach Redbach
So, I feel a bit guilty about this one. Any beverage on whose label I see “Kissed by Cherries” I must feel a tad guilty about drinking. However, I was influenced to try this brew due to the fact that it is manufactured by Rodenbach, a fairly reputable brewer of Belgian ales. It is quite apparent by the packaging that this is meant to be a breakout product for the young crowd. It’s packaged in 12 oz. bottles with black stylized labels with a twist cap and a promise of fruity goodness. Basically, they’re trying to be the refined person’s Smirnoff Ice. And, they pull it off.
The beer pours a ruby red color and instantly smells of sugar-fruitness (yeah, it’s not a word). The aroma is sugary sweet and smells heavy of cherry. This makes sense because, according to the label, this beer is a mixture of a Rodenbach Flemish Ale and pure cherry juice. In the mouth – no surprise. It tastes like a cherry drink that would be right at home alongside a Smirnoff Ice or a Bacardi Breezer. Admittedly, this tastes perhaps a bit more refined, as the juice tastes more natural and less contrived, and the beer does peek it’s head out just a tad. Nevertheless, it’s a very simple and sweet brew with a sour kick in the background. No doubt, the ladies will like this, and it is pallatable for just about anyone who enjoys sweet drinks. This might even be a good stepping stone to someone who is trying to segue into more complicated Belgian beers.
