Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier

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

11.2 oz bottle, best by 02-06-10. Lightly hazed ruby with a pink tinged head. Funky cherry pit nose, somewhat astringent, with a mild woody note. Tart cherry flavors, woody and a mild lemony note. Finished pretty clean.

Draught at the Great British Beer Festival, Kensington Olympia, London. (Thursday Session). Very, very nice kriek, woody, and well balanced with enough sweetness to counteract the sourness. Very good beer.

Pours with a frothy head that disappears rather quickly, and elicits a fruity aroma. There is a full cherry flavor with noticeable carbonation. I found the combination of strong kriek and sour brown flavors to be unique and quite satisfying. Overall, an outstanding beer.

Best Before 31-10-05     Pours a deep cranberry color with an amber glow. A fast, pinkish-gray head is quickly a thin skin and halo. Mouthwateringly tart and acidic aromas showcase Belgian yeast strains. Leather, cheese, tannins and of course a fruity dollop of cherries that does not overwhelm. Sharp, astringent sourness in the mouth reeks of cherry pie filling. This flavor lingers on a dry finish, rather like a mousse. Mild acidity is not upsetting."Flemish Sour" or "Fruit Beer"... who cares... it’s rather decadent and enjoyable.

<font size=-4>Puchased at <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/frankf Liquors, Frankfort, IL 60423</font>

Sparkling clear ruby body topped by a foamy small pink head. The aroma is sour cherries and light nuty malt. Sour cherry with a fakish cherry flavor, cherry syrup I guess. Really not very good, tastes kind of off to me, a bad funk rather than the good funk that I enjoy so much. Very stringent finish. Not very good. I am dissapointed as the others from this brewery are quite good.

Pours a clean sharp cherry skin red with a fizzy pink tinged head. Nose shows a cherry skin tartness with some sweetness and spice. Mild woody notes. Not a lot of distinctive character. Flavor is much the same. Sweet cherry flavor with some tartness and a mild earthy character. Mild carbonation on the palate and a residual cherry sweetness.

11.2oz, Best before 15-02-07. Pours a clear brownish red with a one and a half finger fading light pink head. Aroma of oak, sour fruits (in addition to the cherries), barnyard funk, a little bit of dust and cobwebs. The taste reminds me of their other beer I tried and the beer couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be sweet or acidic--this one wants to be a little too sweet for me. The flavors are otherwise pretty much the same with the oak and funk up front. I got a little cardboard as well. Dry finish. Medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation. Not too bad.

Draught at The Rake at London Bridge (London), a deep ruby red with a large pillowy pink head. Cherries (of course) in the aroma, but not too strong, but with a very good lambic-like sourness. A beautifully sour palate, though maybe a little bit sugary int he finish. The cherry isn;t too strong again, with a tannin-like feeling left in the mouth. Didn’t quite live up to the look and the smell, but still very nice.