 puzzl (1731), New York, New York, USA
Apr 8, 2008 Updated: Apr 9, 2008
Bottled. Old. Really old. Hell, I’m not even sure this is the right beer. But let’s start from the beginning.
Last October, my girlfriend and I took a trip to Belgium, and met up with a certain esteemed and very generous RBian. We’d agreed to an in person trade, but little did I know the bonuses I’d be getting. He presented me two bottles, both label-less: one which he believed to be a Cantillon Gueze from the late 70s, and another -- this bottle -- which he believed to be a Drie Fonteinen Gueuze from the early 80s. The cork was old and withered, sitting nearly a centimeter away from the rusty cage that once held it tight. The neck around the cork was crusty and broken, and the bottle was clearly not a quite familiar shape. The indentation in the bottom was rather huge, and the bottle a hefty weight.
Tonight, after waiting for a long while, I decided to have at the mystery beer. As I poured, it was immediately obvious it was not a gueuze. The color is very red and the aroma is very much that of cherries. Most obviously a kriek, I for now am going to guess that the beer may be this. For some reason I don’t have a rating under here already so this one is a little bootleg, but it will be amended with a proper rating of a more current version of the beer when I get another bottle. For now I just want some notes down on this fantastic lambic I am currently drinking.
For a beer that’s supposed to be this old, it still has a lively carbonation, foam sitting amongst the top, and bubbles rising. The cork, when extracted (which was no easy task) was still damp. The side of the bottle is stained from laying down for so long, and the neck smells musky and rather nice. Of the beer the aroma is pitty, pithy, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sour cherries. Full bodied -- the yeast particulate floats in this very unfiltered beer -- with a piercing sourness amongst the cherry patches. Absolutely perfectly completely delicious, dangerously drinkable, I’d kill to have this easily available so I could drink it without worry from a traditional lambic tumbler. This beer is frighteningly good.
I spoke with the trader recently and told him I couldn’t bear to open either of the old bottles he gave me. He responded: "About the old bottles, man, it’s only beer. Cosy evening with your partner, open the bottle, and enjoy!" 8 hours later, that is exactly what I have done. Thank you!
update: after consulting with the trader and deciphering the cork, it turns out that the 3F Kriek is indeed the beer I was drinking, at around 25 years old.
illidurit (398), Santa Cruz, California, USA
Aug 25, 2008 750 mL bottle poured into a St. Bernardus goblet. Body is the color of black cherry skin, with a creamy pink-tan head. Aroma is black cherry yogurt/jam with an acetic sharpness. Flavor is very similar: jammy fruitiness like the chunks of cherry in Yoplait, and an even gueuze sourness for balance. Notes of maple syrup and citric acid. Medium-thin body with medium carbonation. Finish is sour and semi-dry. A nice kriek but probably not worth the $28 price tag.
TaxiDriver (480), Stadland, Germany
Aug 11, 2008 Bottle. Very strong smell of cherries, sweet and moderate acidic, very refreshing. Very small sparkling rose-colored head, dark red body. Heavy acidic start, later on a hint of sweetness shines through, average duration. Flat carbonation, very dry texture, medium body and a heavy astringent finish.
A nice Oude Kriek.
shadey (1327), Rochester, New York, USA
Aug 5, 2008 750ml bottled February 2005. 3.5 years old. The cork comes out with quite a pop, always a good sign. The pour is a candy apple red with a quickly diminishing head of pink tight foam. The initial aroma is potent. It tickles the nose and makes me cough. But it settles and becomes tolerable. Sticking my nose in the flute reveals obvious sour cherry smell but also a bright acidity. I’m desperate to detect some level of funk, but I almost feel like I’m imagining things. The flavor is much the same, with the acidity being a bit stronger. Simpler than I had hoped but obvious quality is what this drink screams. For the sourness and high level of acidity it is incredibly easy to drink. A pleasure.
GRM (829), Aylmer, Quebec, Canada
Aug 2, 2008 Green bottle, 375 ml, bottled on December 23 2003, Old Stock Tasting VIII at Dum’s on June 28 2008; eye: caramel with a pinkish hue, no effervescence, lightly hazy; nose: cherry, acidity; mouth: cherry, finale in cherry with a hint of caramel, average carbonation, mildly fruity, medium body; overall: fine
FRANÇAIS
Bouteille verte, 375 ml, embouteillé le 23 décembre 2003, dégustation Vieux Stock VIII chez Dum le 28 juin 2008; œil : caramel avec une petite teinte rosée, pas d’effervescence, légèrement voilée; nez : cerise, acidité; bouche : cerise, finale en cerise avec une pointe de caramel, carbonatation moyenne, moyennement fruitée, corps moyen; en résumé : bien
illinismitty (1418), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Aug 2, 2008 Sampled on the RBSG bus (I think this is the one we drank. Pours a murkey dark amber read with a pale pink head. Wonderful tart funky and cherry aroma. Flavor of malt, cherries, and rhubarb pie. Finish has the perfect amount of tartness and acidity. Excellent.
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