Another of the private label beers from the ‘Proef’ brewery.
The title ‘Grand Cru’ is historically associated with wine, and translates to something like ‘great growth’. It was used to reference a particularly good batch or year of production, and was reserved for the highest standard of wine.
In brewing terms, there is no official designation, but in general is used by brewers to denote a beer they are most proud of.
The Reinaert Grand Cru pours a reddish-brown colour. It smells strongly of sweet fruits and malts.
A lively mouthfeel sharpens the tastebuds to the caramel malt backbone. It is quite heavily hopped, and the bitterness offsets the sweetness almost straight away. There is a pleasant lingering finish, with just a little warmth from the alcohol.