Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier

Brewed by Verhaeghe
Style: Sour Ale
Vichte, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Draft at Seattle International Beer Fest; Nose of cherries and very light tartness; Rusty red with a huge beige head; flavor of sour cherries with a balancing light sweetness; finish slightly tart.

With its swiftly dissipating head, the Verhaeghe kriekenbier is a bit of a letdown in the looks department. Body is likewise thin. However, the flavor profile is nice: a good dose of sour to wake up the mouth without falling too far along the sweet spectrum. Not super aromatic but enough so that you know what you are getting yourself into when you lift up the glass. I’d drink it again.

(Pizza Port Belgian Beer Party in Carlsbad, CA) Fruity, cherry flavor with a moderate amount of palate-cleansing tartness; Nice bit of maltiness in the background makes this very enjoyable and balanced, but perhaps too malty for a kriek; Tart, sweet finish after the malt is done; Sweet flavor, but dry and carbonated on the palate like Champagne; Malty and fruity nose; Gorgeous ruby red color with an off white head

Reddish purple color with pink lace - aroma of sweet cherry syrup, acidity and band-aids - quite dry and medium-tart - just a mild cherry presence, not overpowering - dry, mineral-like finish - decent.

The aroma is nice with cherries, port, wood, and sugar. The appearance is red/brown with a small head. The flavor is like the aroma. The palate is thin. Overall this is not bad for the style but I don’t like the style.

The beer pours an opalescent sanguineous color, the head fair in size, frothy in texture, but settles quite quickly, leaving a spindly lace behind. Nose is sweet and sour fruit, something like raspberries and ripe bananas, light hints of malt, and not unpleasant. Front is malt with a very light sweetness, but the sourness of a “Flanders Red Ale” hits the palate almost immediately. The top is cadaverous, the finish is caustic, meagerly hopped, the aftertaste bone-dry with a lingering sourness which is expected in this style. I must admit it is a bit thin, or better yet watery, but it appears the majority of raters, have never experienced a “Flanders Red Ale”. Ranks #759 on my current 1000 beer master list.

(Draught at Den Tatoerede Enke, Copenhagen, 25 July 2008) Ruby red colour with frothy, pinkish head. Fruity, slightly sourish nose with distinct cherry notes. Fruity, sourish taste with distinct cherry flavours and hints of almonds. Some sweetness, but well within balance. Very nice and drinkable.

Disappearing head on a deep amber/red body. Sweet and sour cherry aroma with a slight woodyness. Nice and mild. Flavor is vinous with wood and cherry notes and a sour end. A nice and fresh sour ale without beeing extraordinary.