Liefmans Gluhkriek

Brewed by Liefmans (Moortgat)
Style: Fruit Beer
Oudenaarde, Belgium

Keerstbierfestival in Essen ’03: [Warm draught] The aroma is of cloves, orange and cinnamon and probably other spices i did not recognize. The flavour is like Glögg at first, then a sour, fresh, sweet and mild feeling spread in the mouth. It is really fantastic! The red colour is beautyful. It has no head, nor carbonation, but the flavour is marvellous!

1995 version, served chilled: Once the wire fitting was removed the cork pop sounded like a pistol firing without ANY help from me. This was unvelievably frightening, yet delightful. I know of only one beer to do this and it was Allagash Triple drunk by Garret Oliver. This remains to be so alive. Bountiful foam with great clinginess. The aroma if full of teabag. It shows undertones of cherry pie, root, rust, and oh so slightly lambic-esque. Extremely soft and delicate as tiny bubbles massage the palate, as do the bubbles in Speedway Stout. Oh so deliciously mellow. Flavors are very complex; medicinal and smokey roundness. Dry, perfectly puckering. Mulled: Spices and alcohol become unmasked which resemble spiced tea. Licorice-like pungeancy. The mulled version makes me thankful that cold weather is right around the corner. Althougfh I have not tried Quelque Chose in a few years, this leaves me with identical memories. Both merit a nearly perfect rating. Subjectively, of course. ANY beer fan needs to seek this gem. Trust me.

for a warmable sour cherry lambic, dis is da bomb. Brownish red mahogony, light head, had it both warmed and chilled. Thinking of very plump ripe cross of eating and pie cherries. Warmed and you pick up the cinnamon, and maybe allspice? Earthy aromas, a little oak and leather. Some tanin like flavor. Great for an after dinner digestif.

I find this beer to be one of my best beer experiences. The spice notes both warm and cold were wonderful. Not overpowering, but enough to tantilize my brain. The cherry notes are highlihgted by a sherry-like quality. Very low carbonation, but that did not bother me due to it’s wine characteristics. I found that heating in a bath of tepid water worked wonders for the flavor over the microwave. A truly remarkable beer!

I jammed this in the microwave for a minute on HIGH, and I was amazed. I had left a little of my 250 ml bottle for tasting at room temperature, but it was sooooo good warmed that I didn’t want to ruin it by tasting a lesser experience. I thought it looked pretty good, but nothing special beyond normal kriek. Then the aroma. Obvious krieky cherry, but subtle spicing. Nutmeg? I could have spent an hour smelling it, but I didn’t want to nuke it a second time. The flavour was stupendous. Ever sip was different, with sweetness, sourness, lambicy-ness, all mixed it, as well as spice. man oh man oh man. Smooth, warming. I may have to try this again another 20 times.

'95.Yes!!!Room temp.and mulled.Room temp:Cork explosion has heart beating as fast as it was when the aroma hit my nose.Aroma of the sour cherry tart,light sweet malts,mustyness,and oak.WHOOOA!Creamy,spritzy,syrupy,palte perfect.Mellow sweet front,then acidic tartness,are followed by a Candyish,herbal,&earthy finish. Mulled the spices and warm fruit are perfectly balanced!Tastes liked spiced tea.Very medicinal and warming.Too bad it is August not December.

Fridge temp. Yet another beer that has a lovely ruby shade (turbid), but no head here...just like my wife (I love you, honey!). Big cherry, malt, and chardonnay aroma, with tastes hints of BIG cherries and a finishing blast of more berries, orange, some malt and hops, and Concord grapes. Some cinnamon and nutmeg in the finish. This one is very sweet, which is not a negative, and very full-palated, and just delicious. Less tart and more sweet than the regular Liefman’s kriek. This one is up there with the New Glarus Red and Raspy Tart as my favorite krieks of all time. Just a fruit explosion, and a marvelous beer. My wife even loves this one.

Served this gem up at room temperature, not game enough to heat it up, and poured it into a Gouden Carolus stem-glass. The body, a deep hazy and congealed looking orangey-brown, with yeast particles dropping swiftly to the base of the glass. Little to no head, due to the very light carbonation. Strong, almost overwhelming cherry, plum and vinous aroma with an underlying peppery spice. Aroma continues to waft from the glass as you down it. Treacly thick across the palate, little carbonation at all gives it a port feel, and it has a similar warming, long port-like swallow that belies it’s ABV. Very fruity in the mouth, lightly acidic (lactic), medicinal and quite tart in the back. Big whack of cherries on the tongue, fresh and aged, concentrated and dessert-style sweet. Balanced throughout, mellowing and pleasantly, well rounded in it’s strong aroma and flavour. I think this is as close to wine as a beer will ever get. Turned out to be an absolute treat and another classic for the Liefman’s range. Lovely!!!