3 Fonteinen Schaarbeekse Kriek

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

A very quiet entrance, almost silent. The pour was still, a few large glassy bubbles, nonexistant lace. Looks dead in my glass, hazy red, Hawiian punch like in appearence. Appears dissappointing. Gotta hve some carbonation, damn it! Nose of lightly tart cherries, wet leather and some lumbery notes. Body is med/light, moderately sour, puckering and dry. Cherrys, wood and a light astringency on the palate, bone dry. All the flavors seem really bland, muddled, just laying there. Body becomes more watery as the tasting progresses. Dry, fruity finish, nicely tart though. A serious dissappointment. The base is there but i,m not sure what happened? Bad bottle? Carbonation never took? I can see theres a tastey Kriek in there, but what happened? Gotta believe the lack of carbonation killed this baby, IMHO. Bummer.

Bottle bought in Minnesota, shared with Lumpy in Texas. Lambics don’t have the punch that they did when I first discovered them a few years ago, but this was still extremely enjoyable. A slightly woody note pierces the aroma, which is otherwise simultaneously musty and fresh, with a good yeastiness. A beautiful blend of cherry and funk, not enough over the top but extremely drinkable, despite being a little thin. Hazy red/purple with very little white head. Not at all disappointing.

"Poured a red color with thin head which had a pink hue to it. Aroma was citrusy and some barnyard to it. Very tart flavor. It was after you stopped drinking it that you got an after after cherries. Was good."

Bottle shared with Nuffield. Moderately acidic tartness, light geuze sourness, light cherry. Mildly thin, but no so much so that it loses it’s lambic characteristics. Good blend of horse, barn, cherry acids, and wheat. Slight tannins from the oak. Good lingering flavors that blend together on the finish. Very well crafted.

Thanks to Tim for this. Nose has cherries, bretty oak, strawberries, lemon candy, yeast. Pinkish red body, off pink head. Cherry up front with oak, funky wheat, lemon, sour citrus candy. Funky slightly cherry soda finish.

Bottled March 1, 2005. Dark cherry red. Small, bubbly, light pink head. Nose is sour cherries, sour yeast, light sweetness, must. Simple but very nice. First taste is sweet cherry juice, that yields quickly to tartness. The sourness is not overpowering, cherries are the focus of the flavor. Sour flavor builds as it warms. Finish and aftertaste are dry and sour. Juice like body, a bit syrupy before the finish, I’d like more carbonation. Excellent kriek.

Sampled at the Milwaukee YEHa!05 courtesy of DenverLogan: Bright transparent ruby pour has a thin, lightly pink head. Tart sour cherry aroma has some funky barnyard and cheesy complexity. Body starts with a fresh, tart cherry and cranberry flavor with a nice cheesy yeasty presence and dry puckering finish. Not overly acidic, rather very drinkable and has great flavor. Big thanks to Logan for sharing and to slob for sending me a bottle!

Thanks for sharing, Kevin. Poured with a dark red body that had a pink head. The aroma is tart with and dry with vinegar, hay and barnyard. Any fruits are very subtle. The taste is tart with lemons and some hay. There is also some cherries and a little rich leather in the finish. A well made and accessible lambic.