Sterkens Kriek

Ha, drunken Paul cracked this baby on Friday night of BCTC (7/20/07). Early Friday night was about the only time I was somewhat sober, so I’m not going to miss out on rating this one.
Old bottle, not sure how old, but I’d guess it was at least 5 years old, if not more.
Still poured a one-finger pink-tinged-white head atop a mostly clear (protein chunk in bottom) marmalade colored beer. Head faded fairly rapidly to ring, leaving little lacing.
Medicinal phenols and band-aids in the nose are bolstered by vanilla-like oxidation of the malts and hints of cherry pit or cherry juice notes. Light black pepper, some waxiness and a bit of artificial sweetner. Still quite a strong aroma, with nips of fusel alcohol on the finish.
An odd citric acidity is still present, assumedly from the cherries. Little/no acetic acid, with lightly oxidized, but still rather enjoyable pale malts producing honey and vanilla. Some brief instances of caramel with a tangy, almost lactic or citrus-rind-like finish. Carbonation is still ample, though not exactly tight or creamy. Not bad though, considering the age.

Bottle: Poured a deep and murky orange/amber with a small diminishing white head. Lots of sour/tart cherries in the nose. Flavor was the same, stayed and finished tart, no syrupy qualities at all, smoothed over by mellower malt. Nicely carbonated mouthfeel.

33 cl bottle. Very cloudy amber brown with a nice head that settled quickly. Aromas of tart cherry, chocolate and alcohol. Taste is nice and sour with some Very crisp and refreshing.

My bottle stated that the contents were a Belgian Golden Ale. My guess is that it's a tripel. Definitely not a cherry fermented lambic... Lightly hazy golden brew. Small, swirling white head. The nose is very fruity and spicey. Yeasty. Yellow apple and pear. Flavors of white fruit and orange blossom honey. Medium-bodied with a thin, watery mouthfeel and soft carbonation. Astringent and lightly sweet finish. For around $10 per bottle (nice looking bottle), what a waste of cash. Overpriced, but not unpleasant in the least.

This beer poured a golden color and formed a nice foamy white head that acted a lot like a float and left circular lace as it slowly subsided. A heavy amount of carbonation is present. An aroma of malt, caramel and citrus. A taste of malt and caramel which gives it a bit of sweetness in the fairly astrigent finish.

An adequate kriekbier. Fairly tart and sourish, as it should be. Another quality product from Sterkens.