Hanssens Oude Kriek

Brewed by Hanssens Artisanaal
Style: Lambic - Fruit
Dworp, Belgium

Pours a deep, cherry red, with a strong sour cherry aroma. Doesn’t produce much head. This kriek is very sour, with practically no sweetness, just a very tart and mouth puckeringly sour taste. Try this and the Lindemans Kriek to see the breadth of kriek flavor.

Clear red of color with a red head. An aroma of cherries, sour and no sweets. A flavor of cherries, nice sour and hints of sweets.

Date: 04/06/2006
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ale Atlanta

opaque light red, whispy head, big tart cherry aroma and flavor, good cherry pit character

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: **+/4

Pours a translucent deep orange/amber with deep-seeded mahogany, sparkling with sparse carbonation. A small white head fully diminishes rather quickly. The aroma is wonderful: strong black cherries, light yeast, light barnyard funk, leather, wood, light lactic acid and very intense, sour brettanomyces. The cherry scents are more like fine cherry juice than the fruit itself, but that is of no consequence, as the aroma as a whole is well-tuned and vigorous in its intentions. The first sip introduces a surprising quantity of lightly toasted bready malts but remains as sour as the nose eluded to. Astringency is medium-high and wonderfully separates the components into different puzzle pieces layed out across the tongue. Acidity is medium, sweetness very high but not cloying. Cherries have been well-blended into the funk profile during the time spent in the bottle. Light vinegar notes and horseblanket add complexity and cement this one’s place among the elite, among the kings of funk. The finish makes the lips and entire mouth pucker, sticky cherry residue left behind, funky brett lingering on. the mouthfeel is very softly carbonated, medium bodied, moderately acidic and incredibly velvety. In fact, the velvety texture is the most exciting thing about this beer. This doesn’t have the mind-boggling complexity or the heart-wrenching acidity of some of the more notable Kriek offerings, but it is very sour, very easy to quaff and one that has warranted multiple visits in the past, as it will in the future. A mainstay in my cellar. Very old samples have more than doubled in complexity and drinkability, possibly quadrupling enjoyment. This beer only gets better with age, a testament to the quality at hand.

Even worse experience than the past lambic I tried. This one was almost vomit inducing.

Bottle. Pours hazy red with minimal white head. Lactic, earthy, sour cherry aroma; perhaps some cork. Dry and lactic at first, then gives way to some cherry. They fruit definitely takes a backseat, which is fine with me. Finishes dry and lactic. Nice.

Bottle - Pours a hazy/cloudy amber reddish with no head and very slight lacing. Smell is very phenolic/acidic with hints of subtle cherries and/or grapes in a vinous manner, honestly it doesn’t smell nearly as good as it tastes. Taste is incredibly acidic and dry - very sour - but still has subtle fruit tones showing through. This is delicious and tastes much more authentic than "Lindeman’s," which I also like - but not as much as this.

Bottle. (Taste comparison with Lindemans Kriek Lambic.) The pour is amber with no head and virtually no visible carbonation. The aroma is intensely sour and citrusy. It’s almost wine-like. It smells of cherries and grapes. The taste is incredibly tart... a mixture of apples, cherries, and grapes. It’s so sour it causes a temporary soreness in my jaw as a few sour fruits do. Usually that soreness only happens on the first bite of a sour fruit or the first drink of a sour beverage. This soreness happened four or five times. The carbonation seems to become subtly apparent to the tongue. As the kriek passes the throat, it creates somewhat of a burning sensation such as a lemon juice would. It’s so dry it leaves me a bit parched afterwards. (It’s a good thing I bought some Lindemans cherry soda to quench my thirst.) This was a very, very enjoyable and unique experience.