Cantillon Kriek

Brewed by Cantillon
Style: Lambic - Fruit
Brussels, Belgium

2001 bottle courtesy boboski. Light scarlet color with a wispy white head. Mildly sweet funk aroma that isn’t particularly strong. Feathery palate. Bludgeoning tartness, followed by some residual sweetness. Quite aggressive. It’s taking me way longer to appreciate the fruit lambics vs gueuzes.

Red translucent appearance, small white head. It is of course a very different kind of beer, but I really liked it. Very sour, less sweet than I expected. It was very nice with some chocolate. I would love to have it more often, and am very curious to try it without fruit in it.

Pours a clear red with a small pink head.the aroma knocks me over, sourness with vinegar notes.Flavor was funky , sour cherries.it will take time for me to really enjoy this.It did mellow out by the time I finished but was still sour dominant.

Let me relate a story to you about myself and lambics. About 3 months into my RB venture, I encountered a Cantillon Lou Pepe Framboise at a gathering. I had heard of it, and good things at that, so I went over and poured myself a glass. I wasn’t nearly prepared for what I was about to smell. In fact, the smell was so overpowering that I could only take one sip before I had to pour the rest out. That smell stayed with me the rest of the night, and for weeks to come. I convinced myself that I would never, ever, EVER like lambics. No sir, not me. Fast forward to the next gathering. I saw this one in the cooler, and got a bit of a knot in my stomach. However, this time I had about 2 more months and about 100 more beers on my palate. I also had about 15 beers in me to this point. I was feeling good. Brave. I was going to conquer this lambic thing, once and for all. I couldn’t fail, right?

Pours a light red body with a very small, pink head. Aroma is overpowering, but this time I was ready for it, and welcomed it. This time I was able to pick out some other notes, sure the sour cherry dominated, but also got some vanilla and spices on the nose. Now it was time to drink it. This was my personal day of reckoning, my judgment day. I took in a nice sized amount, and was immediately hit with overpowering sourness, and acidity. Rolled to the back of the tongue, prepared for the worst, and swallowed. The finish was mouth puckering, as acidic and sour as anything I have ever tasted in my life....and damn was it GOOD. So good in fact that I went back for a second pour. I had done it, I had conqured the beast. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good. Now, where’s that Lou Pepe Framboise? Him and I have some talking to do.....

Pours a light orangish red with almost no head at all. It has that unmistakable Cantillon funky acidity aroma. You get some cherry, but it is drowned out by the sourness. I know I should be expecting it, but the first sip makes my cheeks pucker up and I get a wierd look on my face. Everyone laughs..and points. The taste, as usual is of monster sourness, with mild fruity flavors. This brewery isnt for kids.

Bottle at Københavnske Øldage 2007. Unclear red - light pink head. Sour - sour, acid, cherry, vinegar, soft, juicy, citrus, high high dryness. This is again a top-good cantillon, and just what I need after some boring thin light beers !!

Bottle. Smal fizzy red head that mostly diminished. Spar lacing. Hazy red color. Very fruit with notes of cherry, vinegar, citrus, dusty barnyard. Medium bodied with a dry texture and an average carbonation. Flavor was moderated sour with good some sweet notes. Nice sour dry finish.

2005 bottle. I smelled vinegar when I popped the cap and I broke the cork opening it, so I was worried this was a bad bottle. Looks like a rose! Even a little effervescence, but no real head. Clear bright red. Horseblanket? Hay? Tangy and sharp. Lactobaccilis smells strong, with some salt. Nothing too abrasive, or cherry-like, for that matter. In the mouth this is thin but not overly watery and nicely subduedly carbonated. The flavors are the real shocker. Though this is rather tart, I’d say the first thing that comes to mind is salty! Tart lactobacillis funk. Like a sour yogurt. Lemony. A little vinegar. Hell, I even pick out some cherry in with the straw and light "barnyard". Really well balanced. Like a dry white wine, though much more astringent. The funky horseblanket comes on strong in the finish, disappearing into a straw acidic dry aftertaste. I really enjoy this and I think I may be willing to put down money for other Cantillon products now.