Lindemans Kriek

Brewed by Brouwerij Lindemans
Style: Lambic - Fruit
St Pieters Leeuw-Vlezenbeek, Belgium

Appearance is like a cherry soda; an opaque candy - reddish beer with a pink/red head. The aroma is cherries, pure cherries. The flavor is more or less the same: mostly cherries, a little tart on occasion, but mostly sweet. The finish is more tart than sweet, and slighly sour as time passes. This is purely a dessert beer. Not bad, but not something I would actively seek out in the future.

Pours a dark blood red color with a big fluffy pink head in a flute like glass. Smell is dark juicy cherry juice. Smells a bit tart, but mostly sweet. Taste is strongly of sweet and tart cherry juice up front and then it finishes a bit dry to keep from being overly sweet. Still comes off more like a slightly dry and rich black cherry soda than a lambic, with only very faint malt and wheat notes, but I can’t say it doesn’t taste good. Slightly syrupy, full body with a bubbly mouthfeel. Fairly enjoyable despite not being what I think a real lambic is supposed to be.

She pours a dark cherry red into my glass and a large cotton-candy pink head rises to at least two fingers thick. She is in no rush to go anywhere, and as she fades, little trails of brussels lace mark her path back to the liquid delight in my glass. A slight swirl stirs her waters and further pink foam coats and lingers. Not one to fear pink, I lift my glass for a whiff of her nose and am greeted by a warm cherry pie in my glass, or so it would seem. First impressions can be misleading, so I savor her nose a few more times. Mingling amidst the fresh cherry pie flavors and warm crust are hints of vanilla and cream. Already my tastebuds are watering in anticipation. My first sip is an explosion of sour and then sweet dark cherries. The body is super light and airy so much so it practically floats in my mouth. Subtle notes of vanilla whisper in the background as more tartness hints of a citric nip in the aftertaste. Her body coats my mouth and as I delve further into her diminishing depths, a veritable network of brussels lace has adorned my glass. From start to finish, a very well-balanced palate of succulent and tart dark cherries, cream and vanilla, and a lightness in her step.
A great introductory Kriek Lambic and a great desert beer. Anyone who doesn’t like beer but enjoys wine should try a Lambic. It very well may be the key which opens the door to a world of limitless variety in flavor and styles: beer. A bit more sweet than I would like in my sour ales, but Lindeman’s accomplishes with aplomb the very example of traditional Belgian Lambic, Kriek style.

Bottle pours ruby red with off white/red head. Has some tart and sweet cherry aroma. Has a thin to medium body with a lot of carbonation. Is more sweet than tart at first, then goes back and forth between overly sweet and tart. Overall this is too sweet.

12oz bottle. Pours a murky, deep, ruby / red raspberry color; bright, creamy medium pink head with good retention and fine-bubbled lacing. Intense, juicy cherry notes in the aroma; lightly tart, citrus, and sweet cherry syrup without being overly sticky. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: loads of sweet cherry juice, red berry syrup, and lightly tart citrus notes; slightly medicinal, with a bit of minerals at the perimeter; lots of cherries, raspberries, and juicy apples throughout; a decent dessert beer, but a bit too sweet and syrupy and medicinal. Medium finish: sweet cherries, red fruit syrup, and lingering sugar at the far end.

Small bottle shared at a friend’s house. So sweet, so cherry, so sweet. Wow, this was sweet. Cherry all the way from nose to finish. And sweet.

Small bottle purchased at the Davis Food Co-Op. Cork lets out a nice pop when it is opened. Aroma is straight forward with lots of sweet, sugary cherry notes. There is a light mustiness, but this is predominantly cherry candy sugar in the nose. Very aromatic and pleasant. I know that it isn’t to style or whatever, but I don’t really care. Moderately hazy amber-hued red body with a medium pink head that has moderate dissipation. The start is dominated by very sweet cherry flavors. Some light, spritzy carbonation tickles the tongue as well. The finish does have a very lightly astringency, but not overly acetic. Pretty drinkable. I think this is enjoyable for what it is. It is obviously not a true kriek lambic, but I still find this enjoyable, even if it is not authentic or whatever.

Bottle from Dranken Geers. Probably one of the sweetest krieks I’ve had. Like cough syrup or cherry sweets for kids. Just too much artificial fruit and sweetness. Drinkable enough, but I doubt I’ll ever buy it again.