Days of the Beer, July 11

The beer for today is Rodenbach Grand Cru.

The Battle of the Golden Spurs was fought on July 11, 1302, in Flanders. There was an uprising against the French in 1302 by the Flanders's's. On May 18, the residents of Bruges, who had earlier been evicted, went back to their town and killed every Frenchman they could find. They identified the French by asking them to pronouse a Dutch phrase schielt ende vriend (shield and friend) everyone who pronounced it wrong was killed (See Judges 12).

So the French were pissed, and they sent a force of about 8000 people (2,500 cavalry) verses about 9000 Flemish. The battle ground was covered with ditches and streams, which made it difficult for the cavalry, so the French initially sent their 3,500 infantry into the battle. It was gonig well for them, so the commander recalled the infantry to send in the cavalry (so they could get the win) at which point, they got pretty much slaughtered due to the terrain. The French fled and were hunted down over 6 miles by the Flemish.

The battle got its name from the number of "golden spurs" that were collected off the French knights. The spurs were hung in the Church of Our Lady in Kortrijk to commemorate the victory and were taken back by the French after the Battle of Mons-en-Pevele, two years later.

Flanders is an area the overlaps parts of Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Vlaanderen means Flooded Land.

Flanders red ale (or brown, or sour brown) is a style of sour ale, usually brewed in the Flanders region (New Belgium La Folie is brewed in Colorado). The beer appears deep red to brown and smells of fruit and sometimes smells sour. It gets it's tartness from Lactobacillus (lactic acid).

Rodenbach is in Roeselare Belgium, in West Flanders. It was founded in 1821 and was family owned until it was purchased by Palm Breweries in 1998.

Rodenbach produces 3 varieties of their beer. Original, which is a blend of their older and younger beer; Redbach which is a blend of the Original and cherry juice. And the Rodenbach Grand Cru, with is just the aged beer.

Rodenbach Grand Cru is currently available on draft from the Blind Pig in Champaign. I had it there on April 18. It was tart, as is to be expected, almost like drinking a sour patch kid.

So, in honor of the Flemish beating the crap out of thousands of French, pop open a Rodenbach Grand Cru, or have one on draft. While you are enjoying it, if you see a Frenchy, ask him to say shield and friend, then just punch him in the mouth for fun anyway.