De Troch Kriek

Formerly brewed at Brouwerij De Troch
Style: Lambic - Fruit
Ternat-Wambeek, Belgium

33cL bottle from Joris’ cellar dated 1986. The cork came out in a few pieces but it was in large enough pieces to easily pull out of the glass. It was brownish-red with very little head and it was quite clear. The aroma was absolutely incredible with sour cherries coming through with some sweetness, also. It just took over your senses like some of the great lambics in the world. The taste was almost a letdown after the aroma (haha!). It had medium to strong tartness with delicious cherry, earthy, and leathery notes. It was delicious. Thank you Joris!

Just like the real gueuze Josh and myself seemed to have shared intercontinentally, De Troch used to make real kriek. AFAIK it is not made anymore. However - beerbars as Kulminator will still have it in stock. Similar label to the gueuze, red lettering. Mind you - only commercialism prevents Jos Raes to start tomorrow with this thing again. Brown-red-orange, clear beer (yeast all sticking to the bottle). Pink-brownish head, fast gone. Outspoken acidy nose. Fruity, but not outspoken cherries. Wood and woodstripper, esters too. Slight (decaying)cork smell. Restrained, but honest fruittaste, more openly cherry, but also strawberry, green apples, lemon, even pink grapefruit. Very woody, tannine-rich base. Strangely enough, the sourness is subdued and very agreable, like redcurrant lagered on oak. Slight smokey flavour retronasal - I suspect saccharine. Mouthfeel reasonably (fruit)chewy. Extremely refreshing. The first times I went around the brewery, I had to beg for this thing, kept in the most remote cellar, sold only locally and to some beerpubs. Only after long negations, they got convinced I really wanted the stuff. Madness! it is a GREAT kriek, immensely complex.

33 cl. bottle from Joris’ celler dated 1986. It took a while to dig the demolished cork out of the bottle. It poured a pretty clear ruby red with no corbonation. My wife noticed the nose was similar to a brew store. A lot of everything: malt, hops, dirt with funky cherry notes. The flavor was a little more focused: Cherry, leather and earthy. Very nice beer. Thanks to the Dewberrys for sharing this rare treasure

After the Gueuze, myself and Sebastian (DerDoppelbock) gave De Troch’s Kriek a try. Again the bottle was from Joris’ cellar, around 20 years of age, unlabeled and sealed with a crumbling cork that had seemingly begun rotting from the inside. Though not a single bubble formed, the aspect of the liquid itself glinted of a beautiful clear copper red shade. An herbal fragrance reminiscent of cherry tea subtly filled the nose, accompanied by thyme, rosemary and a sweet pipe tobacco blend. Luscious Charentais melon dominates followed by attenuated vanilla and brown sugar scents. The herbal tea and tobacco duo proceeds onto the palate with a medicinal but not unpleasant tonality. Sweet cherry and strawberry flavors are paired with lavender, rosemary, straw and a light coffee finish. Sourness is noticeable but far from emphasized, especially as the nearly uncarbonated texture favors a candy-like wet cherry slickness. Once more, an impressive beer that has aged with grace, though I must admit I wouldn’t hang on to these gems much longer as my example seemed noticeably downhill from its peak.

Bottle at WSF. Clear orange-amber. Honeyed aroma is unique, the cherries are buried and emerge only at the end of the inhale. Has wood, resin, and some cherry. Flat, nice palate and dry flavors. Good balance of yogurt, acid, and fruit. Some lactic acid in the finish follows an acidic but smooth and mellow beer. More gueze-like in character than kriek-like, more so given the color, but nice. Not bad at all.

1987 bottle, courtesy of Joris Pattyn. Thanks, friend! Red brownish brick colour with no head. Lightly acid with flower perfume in nose. Smooth acid, with almost herbal qualities and light resinous illicit qualities, fungal. Smooth and blended, with perfect marriage of flavours. Wow!

(375ml bottle) Pours a clear reddish orange body with a small white head. Aroma of wood, cherry, and light horseblanket. Flavor of cherries, funky, light green apple, and some citrus with a dry wood finish.

Bottle @ W.O.S.F. Salmon coloured with a small white head. Aromas of macaroon, wet wood and berries. Flavour of balsamic vinegar, wood and tartness. Dry finish. Very nice.