Verhaeghe Echte Kriekenbier

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

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.

Blood-red appearance. Strong, cranberry-currant taste. Pleasant and sour. I’ve never managed to develop a taste for currants, but this was an interesting drink. Complex, slightly woody finish.

Full aroma with cherries (of course) and also some tender maltiness. The appearance is dark ruby and even the head is a light pink. Sour and tart, as I expected, but it seems slightly off-balanced: it needs something other than the fruit to distinguish it from other fruit beers, it isn’t quite malty/sweet enough, and the sourness itself just isn’t enough to carry the flemish sour ale title, IMHO.

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.

Beautiful red color, can’t stress red with a pink fluffy head. The aroma is very vinous, gueuze-like and sour, barny. Taste also has lots of vinagar and sharp sour notes with the cherry sweetness coming through. Finish isn’t cloying, fairly balanced between the tart and the sweet. The only negative I see here is a planty metallic tinge. Seemed to get better as it warmed but that off taste was still there. Woo! 100!

(Bottle) Pours a deep red body with a large pink head. Aroma of cherries and candy sugar. Flavor of cherry pie filling. Carbonated mouthfeel.

Pours red with slight pink head. Nose is quite tart and cherrylike. Flavor is also tart-like with a smooth underlying sweetness. Nice sipping beer.

Sample courtesy of Pailhead. Pours dark ruby color with only ring of bubbles. Sour vinegar and tart cherry aroma and flavor. Leaves long aftertaste, but dry at the smae time if that makes any sense.