Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier

[little bottle like in the picture] Balsamic vinegar that was aged with cherries in the nose. Clear red with a brownish tint and no lasting head. Sour cherry first, followed by a woody aged character that contains some bitterness. A pleasant malt flavour comes in late to round off things and not leave the mouth puckered. Excellent beer that to me is the perfect Flemish red: not cloyingly sweet and not crazy full of acid either. I prefer this to the Duchesse de Burgoyne or whatever it’s called. High carbonation and light to medium body.

Pours a three finger, fizzy red/brown head that fades to a thin layer leaving no lace. Deep red/amber color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Sour cherry nose. Starts and finishes as sour cherries, there is some sweetness part way through. You have to like krieks to really appreciate this. Pricey at $3.49 for a 330ml bottle from John’s Grocery Iowa City, IA. Best by Feb 15, 2007.

Bottle: Pours a lightly rosy mahogany color with light head and no lacing. The nose is toasty with sweet alcohol, light cherry and a rich sour cherry pop tart type note. The flavor is a bit sweet with a light thin body and a lingering tart note. A bit apple ciderish and vague, light vinegar and wood too. It’s not bad, but nothing is really talking to me like a good flemish sour ale would.

Bottle 25cl at Carlsens "Skvatter", Odense: Dark ruby red with white head. Cherrie & malty feel. Some sourness - vinegar. Then sweetness. Little alcohol appears. OK pleasant finish. Very allround!

Bottle, 25 cl, Taste this more times this weekend. Dark red colour. Aroma cherries and malt. Not bad for a kriek with brown beer. Verhaeghe is good.

Dark ruby brown, with little head. Light cherry aroma with some vinegar. Tart, clean cherry flavour.

Totally good beer, the taste, the aroma, the look, the foam, the aftertaste, everything was good. Cannot complain.

Draught at the GBBF, Earl’s Court 02/08/2006 Sour fruit aroma. Red strong in alcohol and fruity with a hint of whisky. Some dryness in the finish.