3 Fonteinen Oude Kriek

Primary red with a small pinkish-white head. Foams with movement and deliciously heterogeneous upon swirling. Nose is predominantly dust, stable, and leather with some minor sweet, creamy cherry to balance it out. The result is refreshingly spritzy despite such heavy brett elements. Flavor is quite acidic and dusty, yet the leather and long sour cherries give it a pleasent roundness. There’s a fruity bitterness too, like grape skins. Medium-bodied and quite dry, yet also a little watery. It becomes one dimensional with the fruit as it warms, but it is still a good beer.

750 mL bottle poured into a St. Bernardus goblet. Body is the color of black cherry skin, with a creamy pink-tan head. Aroma is black cherry yogurt/jam with an acetic sharpness. Flavor is very similar: jammy fruitiness like the chunks of cherry in Yoplait, and an even gueuze sourness for balance. Notes of maple syrup and citric acid. Medium-thin body with medium carbonation. Finish is sour and semi-dry. A nice kriek but probably not worth the $28 price tag.

Bottle. Very strong smell of cherries, sweet and moderate acidic, very refreshing. Very small sparkling rose-colored head, dark red body. Heavy acidic start, later on a hint of sweetness shines through, average duration. Flat carbonation, very dry texture, medium body and a heavy astringent finish. A nice Oude Kriek.

750ml bottled February 2005. 3.5 years old. The cork comes out with quite a pop, always a good sign. The pour is a candy apple red with a quickly diminishing head of pink tight foam. The initial aroma is potent. It tickles the nose and makes me cough. But it settles and becomes tolerable. Sticking my nose in the flute reveals obvious sour cherry smell but also a bright acidity. I’m desperate to detect some level of funk, but I almost feel like I’m imagining things. The flavor is much the same, with the acidity being a bit stronger. Simpler than I had hoped but obvious quality is what this drink screams. For the sourness and high level of acidity it is incredibly easy to drink. A pleasure.

Green bottle, 375 ml, bottled on December 23 2003, Old Stock Tasting VIII at Dum’s on June 28 2008; eye: caramel with a pinkish hue, no effervescence, lightly hazy; nose: cherry, acidity; mouth: cherry, finale in cherry with a hint of caramel, average carbonation, mildly fruity, medium body; overall: fine FRANÇAIS Bouteille verte, 375 ml, embouteillé le 23 décembre 2003, dégustation Vieux Stock VIII chez Dum le 28 juin 2008; œil : caramel avec une petite teinte rosée, pas d’effervescence, légèrement voilée; nez : cerise, acidité; bouche : cerise, finale en cerise avec une pointe de caramel, carbonatation moyenne, moyennement fruitée, corps moyen; en résumé : bien