Tasting the world-class elegance of Rodenbach’s Vintage 2015 Flanders Red is like bumping into a past crush that was out-of-your-league -- only to realize they’ve somehow become even more attractive with age.

Enrobed in a gold bottle, this limited release wears its award-winning nature on its sleeve: It won 3 medals at the World Beer Awards, including the World’s Best of its style! The discerning judges at The Beer Connoisseur gave it a 97 score, they were so enamored by its “appley fruitiness combined with caramel, wild honey and oak with a touch of vanilla, cherry and licorice.”

For Rodenbach’s special vintage releases, the brewmaster hand-picks the “oak cask of the year” from among the brewery’s plethora of barrels. Today’s Red Ale was matured for 2 years in Foeder #195, meaning it’s a one-of-a-kind beer that can’t be recreated. And since it’s unblended this Flanders is a representation of the style in its purest form. Down to every minute detail, it’s the world-class benchmark for Sour beer, and very few bottles make it overseas from Belgium.

Bring this complex, refined Sour to your reunion and offer that missed connection a glass -- you may find that you’ve leveled the playing field by showing you know the true meaning of class.

#29 Ranked Flanders Red in the World on BeerAdvocate from early reviews

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