Special-release beers often have a short shelf life: they're made for a limited time, celebrated while they exist, and then quickly forgotten. Occasionally, though, a discontinued brew remains a whispered-about legend, squirreled away and coveted by those lucky enough to still have a bottle, yet rarely experienced by everyone else. If so few have tasted it, you couldn't blame some folks from wondering if it ever even truly existed. Hair of the Dog Dave from Oregon, dropped in 1994. Cantillon Loerik from Belgium, dropped in 2004. Midnight Sun M from Alaska, dropped in 2005.



Rodenbach Alexander is one of the most legendary of all.

Last brewed in 1999, and last released in 2000, many of the younger bucks now in the beer game have forgotten about it, if ever even heard of it, more focused on finding their Heady Toppers, Kentucky Brunch Brand Stouts, or whatever is the current flavor of the month.

Made by Belgium's Brouwerij Rodenbach, Alexander was a blended Flanders "foederbier" (aged in giant oak tanks) macerated with sour cherries—and it was considered extraordinary. Its complex, vinegary tartness was complemented by a malty, red-ale backbone and hints of almond from the cherry pits. Although not all too rare when it was initially put on shelves—first in 1986—you have to remember that this was an era before America's current craft-beer renaissance. Back then, most folks only cared whether their mass-market brewski tasted great or was less filling.

Thus, it's perhaps no surprise the few remaining bottles of Alexander can fetch upwards of $1000 on the black market. I've been trying to land a bottle of Alexander for nearly a decade and haven't come close to succeeding.

Until now.

"We were inspired to once again brew Rodenbach Alexander over two years ago, due in large part to the popular requests among beer connoisseurs, bar owners, and beer lovers throughout the United States," explains Rudi Ghequire, the current brewmaster of Rodenbach.

It's about damn time! After Rodenbach's acquisition by Palm Breweries in 1998, Alexander was sadly pushed to the side so the brewery could focus on their money-making offerings you can easily find all over the place: Rodenbach Classic and Grand Cru. World-class beers, no doubt, but not ones that have ever received the same kind of reverence that Alexander still gets to this day. I'm psyched to finally try Alexander, and even more thrilled to see a whole new generation of beer drinkers learn what every beer geek was coveting a decade-and-a-half ago.

The 5.6% ABV offering ($14.99) will come in 750 mL cork-and-caged bottles and should hit shelves in limited supply late next month. This time around, I plan to stock up.

Aaron Goldfarb Aaron Goldfarb lives in Brooklyn and is a novelist and the author of 'Hacking Whiskey.'

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