Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier

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

Very clear deep ruby body topped off with a pink head. The aroma is sour, wood and cherries. The flavor has a large oak aspect. The cherry is there, but something in this one is very medicinal. It’s not bad and actually fairly refreshing, but that medicinal quality to the aroma and flavor is annoying. A sweet beer, but sweet like juice (especially with the fairly light body) instead of rich or cloying sweet.

11.2 ounce bottle from Wine Warehouse in Charlottesville, VA. Best by 02-06-10. Pours a clear ruby color with a medium pinkish head. Fair head retention and lacing. Normally would rate lower on appearance but I just love the color. Aroma of tart cherries and quite a bit of musty funk. Light citrus and sugary notes as well. Taste is tart cherries, vanilla, citrus and apple. Very lively carbonation. Medium-full bodied. I like this one a lot and I think it’s become apparent that a low-key unassuming kriek is one of my favorite styles.

Bottle: Poured a deep red color ale with a rather large pink color foamy head with average retention and no lacing. Aroma consists of a load of cherries with some notes of oak. Taste is also a mix between loads of cherries that are sour but also lightly sweet but some light sour and tart notes with some oak presence also noticeable. Full body with some great carbonation and no appearance of alcohol. Very well done and definitely something I wish I could get more often.

On tap at Stone. Clear red/gold color with no head. Sour fruity aroma. Tart tangy cherry taste with a mild sourness and some oak notes showing through in the finish.

11.2oz bottle. pours red with white head. nose is earthy and syrupy cherries. flavor is earthy, too sweet, cough syrup like cherry flavor. watery mouth feel. refreshing.

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

6/19/2008: Echt Kriekenbier has an aroma containing cherry and very slight Balsamic vinegar. The beer is a red-brown color and has a thin but frothy pinkish head. Tart cherry and some slightly sour-sweet vinegar comprise most of the flavor. There are hints of chocolate in this medium-light beer as well. It is airy which helps to really open up the flavors and aromas. This is a very good kriek.

0.33 l bottle (13-10-06; 6% Alc./Vol.). Rating #388 for this beer.

On tap at Beachwood. Color was a reddish amber. Aroma of sweet cherries and vinegar, not very sour per se. Flavor was the same; cherry, vinegar, cinnamon and spice; reminded me of Christmas, but not too sour.