3 Fonteinen Schaarbeekse Kriek

Brewed by 3 Fonteinen
Style: Lambic - Fruit
Beersel, Belgium

01 March 2005 Vintage; Rating 1200
Courtesy of Secret Santa
Can detect a good cherry aroma along with the fermantion aroma i get from almost all Belgium beers I’ve had. Also what stood out for me was that cherry wood aroma and wet wooden barrel aroma. Dark red body with small pink head that disipated quick. Flavor had a sharp tart bite at first. As beer warmed up tartness mellowed out and more of the cherry flavor was apparent. Somewhat sweet, tart and dry on the palate. Good beer for #1200.

01 March 2005 Vintage; Tasted December 27, 2006; Rating #2000: Dark, murky red color with a thin puffy head that disappears quickly. Strong sour cherry aroma. Definitely on the dark and earthy side. I know it’s from the oak, but I just don’t smell that in particular. It definitely stands out in the flavor though. Big hit of dry, rich cherries rounded off with oak notes. The sourness is much less pronounced when compared to other Krieks (though to be fair, I have not had 3 Fonteinen’s Kriek). There may not be a huge variety in flavor, but the flavor that is there is outstanding. A top tier in my collection for sure. I’d like to thank the Belgians for giving me my 1000 and 2000 celebratory beers. To the next grand!

750 ml bottle. Lots of cherry aromas coming off this pink poor with very little pink head. Bottle may have lost some carbonation at some point. Dated March of 2005. Still had good sour cherry flavor. Not sure what makes this any better than the regular Kriek though.

From a 750mL Bottle. Pours a deep ruby color with a pleasant layer of pink foam floating gently on the surface. Sour aroma that is completely saturated by wild dark cherry fruits. Amazing cherry dimensions that bring images of an oak barrel filled to the brim with fresh cherries before the tasty sour nectar is added. Light bodied, crisp, sour mouthfeel that’s satisfyingly tart without being overdone. The cherry flavors are simply fantastic. Out from the sour woody flavor base erupt gobs of dark cherry fruits. The fruity qualities are so real and so complex, I can taste the flesh, skins, and pits quite clearly. The flesh provides a soft berry fruit flavor thats intensely real, while the skins provide a great tannin pucker, and the pits create a fantasticly nutty complexity. Outstanding!

This is an incredible beer! Great dark red pour with a nice pink head on top. The aroma is sour and full of cherries. The mouthfeel is spot on for this style as well. Now for the good part--the taste. Cherry flavors come through with a great tartness and hints of vanilla. Wonderful and easy to drink.

Dark Cherry Coloring. Geuze Aroma. Very Tart. Very Interesting Brew. Geuze Flavor Upfront... With Background Hints of the Wild Cherries....Dry Deep Cherry Flavor in the Middle...Ends with Light Dry, Lightly Tart Cherry Flavor. Have to Take a Few Sips to Begin to Appreciate What’s in This Bottle.

Had at the Belgian Beer Fest. One of the best beers I’ve ever had. Not sweet like the most common fruity lambics in America (which I like, btw). This was really, really complex. The flavors were so funky that it’s hard to describe them.

Bottle via trade with Solan. Thanks a lot Alan. I have been looking for this brew for a while and was very happy to finally have it in my possession. And I promptly poured it down my throat. This lambic was not quite as sour as the Cantillons, but it was just so incredibly refreshing and balanced that it was such a pleasure to consume. All the typical aromas and flavors- horseblanket, leather, funk, sour cherries, some oak, and a little sweetness to balance things out. Yummy.