Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier

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

Not a big fruit beer fan, I approached this with some trepidation. I just had a New Belgium Frambozen, which was just OK. I like this one a little bit better, as I enjoy the tart finish. The fruit is there but it is not overwhelming. It certainly makes the beer red, though. Sort of reminds me of the Duchesse, minus the balsamic vinegar (most of it anyway).

red tinted transparent amber with a thin sheet of big bubbles...subtle malt drenched cherries, lightly metallic, not overly sour or even really sour at all..non-sour cherry aroma. "Kriek" is misleading.

Bottle. Best before 6-7-05. Poured a large pinkish fizzy head with fine-small sized bubbles that quickly dissipated. Soft carbonation, transparent and a red hue. Cherry, sweet and alcohol aroma. Sweet, acidic, cherry and alcohol flavor from start to finish. Tingly mouthfeel.

Beautiful ruby-purple beer with a frothy pink head. Prominent cherry aroma, warm spices (nutmeg, clove, cinnamon). Tannic and lactic acidic aroma. Flavour is nicely structured, a bit of lactic and acetic acid. Vineous quality. Cherry flavour, spice, with a nice tart and fruity finish.

As I was pouring a giant pink fizzy head erupted from the glass with audible fizziness atop a dark cherry colored clear body. After the head fizzled down quickly to a coating of bubbles there was no lace left about the glass. The aroma was of slightly sweet cherries and also quite a bit of tartness. Very sweet cherry flavor here similar to cherry syrup. The finish is tart and tangy with more cherry flavor. Mouthfeel here is a bit thin and the over carbonation doesn’t help either. I can see being in the mood for one of these but not drinking one after another.

Caramel colored body with a thin, off-white head. Sour fruit aroma, some vinegar. A cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg flavor. Nice cool ending.

I did enjoy this, but it was a bit of a let down. Since this is the same brewer who creates the Duchesse I was expecting something great. When first poured, the nose was straight-up soy sauce. As it warmed up, it went from soy sauce to cherry cordials then to some black cherry aroma. The apperance was nice with a clear color, nice carbonation, deep ruby red and little head. Mouthfeel was sort of spritzy, with no harshness. It did have a lingering effect like drinking vinegar. Flavors were fairly balanced with a cherries but very, very low-key. Tart and sour levels were also present but in check. Medium bodied beer, slightly dry aftertaste. Overall an above average beer.

330ml bottle.
Clear red beer with a small pink head. Aroma is sour, woody, and vinous with a fair helping of cherry notes and some yeast. Tastes quite like cherries with a little sweet and a lot sour. Really interesting flavour. My first sour ale and I’m enjoying it. Light body, quick finish with no aftertaste. Not bad. Sip too big and it gets a little too sour for me. Good nonetheless. Cheers.