Hanssens Oude Kriek

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

The master of a craft acquires his title through toil and strain. He probably sacrificed a finger or two in the process, alongside a few hits to his pride. But in the end, after years of dedication, he gains recognition for his superior skill in an art. At that crowning, glorious time he is probably the only one who remembers the nadirs of his career – the few blemishes that can mar a well earned reputation. Well, I remember one slip-up by Hanssens, and it’s their Oude Kriek. I acknowledge them as a skilled brewery with many devotees who’d quickly see my criticism effaced from this site, but I cannot agree with the predominant opinion of this liquid laceration. Let me begin by bemoaning the terrible palate; no foam, hardly any carbonation, simply nothing for your tongue to bed around. A drink with a pungent pucker should seek balance in a full and frothy mouth feel. Not here. Your tongue is left defenseless, thrashed by the tart, and your tonsils (if you still have them) are veritably dissolved. Perhaps I could forgive the Oude Kriek if there was a good flavor to temper the bladed sourness, but all I can find are unripe cherries. Sour cherries are one flavor, unripe ones are another. It’s a travesty that such an engaging drink would engage me in a minatory manner, and that the complexity and distinct traits of a Lambic would be simplified to a monotonous barrage of tart, but that seems to be the case. I’ll await the next generation from Hanssens, because every good artisan improves from his shortcomings. That’s part of the job.

Bottle. Light almandine body-as if the colors red and brown were perfectly mixed. No head whatsoever. Nose-beautiful funk and sour. Taste-perfect sourness, tartness that is very sharp, very light on the fruit flavor, spicy, peppery, a very small amount of wood. Hanssens Kriek has the sourness that the regular Oude Geuze lacks. Very sour and tart in all the right ways. Good dusty funkiness. Nearly perfectly done. A masterpiece. Loses a few points because it is just slightly thin.

75cl bottle Aroma: burnt, chemically sour, gall, bitter and musty, berryishly fruity, almond and cherries, acrid, liquorice. Red like candy w/ a white-beige small head. Yellow tone. Taste is sour, bitter and acrid. Light carbonation, majestic and smooth.

(Bottle 37,5cl) Beautiful copper/amber color, with a white non-stable head. Plesant sourness, with notes of vinegar and cherries. Very enjoyable..

Bottle from Beers of Europe. Pinkish amber with dissipating head. Aroma of cherry, wood, horseblanket, barnyard. Lovely tart & sweetish taste. Acidic finish with slightly sweetish note. Excellent.

Bottled 750ml. POurs a burnt red/ copper color with no head. Aroma is of cherries, horse blanket and straw. Thick mouth feel. Flavors are cherry, sour and sweet. Soft, dry aftertaste. I enjoy this much more than the Oude Geueze.

Bottled. Deep red colour with small brownish hints. Small head. Cherry in aroma, kind of bitterish. Dry bitter cherry in flavour. A bit alcohol in flavour too, very dry aftertaste.

Bottled
Deep cherry red, small white head. Sour, fruity nose, not cherry found here. Sourish, but same time quite sweet cherry flavor. Big difference to other Hanssens I’ve sampled is lack of barnyard notes. Balanced kriek.