Hanssens Oude Kriek

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

Orange-red appearance. Very smooth, not harsh on palate, not too sour, was expecting harsher. Sweet finsish. Nutty cherry and cidery aroma.

Undated bottle (or I just don’t know where to look). I know these 750mL bottles hit the U.S. shelves in late 2004 and it says aged 3 years on the bottle, so is this a 2000 or 2001 brewing and a 2003 or 2004 bottling? Pours a thick-looking, very vibrant auburn-pink-sour cherry, with light orange highlights and a fizzy white head, that is retained for a couple of minutes before receding to cover. The yeast in the beer is not chunky, but curiously is more of a thick liquid that produces light waves or strands in the beer, difficult to describe in words. Aroma has plenty of sour cherries, with relaxed brett character that invites a deep sniff. Cherry pie, very juicy, with notes of musty, wet socks and tart acids. Flavor begins much less sweeter than expected, though nowhere near the dryness of Cantillon Kriek. Raw, sour-cherry juice mixed with a full, lovely brett flavor, tart and juicy. Grows lightly tannic towards the end, with some sharp acidic notes for a finish and a tartness that lingers on. The cherry sugars linger on as well, however and stick to the palate quite resiliently. This isn’t even in the same ball-park as Lindemans Kriek in terms of being too sweet, but yet, towards the end of the bottle, I couldnt help but be a bit relieved to get away from the cherry flavor, which is quite heavy. A touch of syrupiness (honey mixed with cherry juice), by no means a bad thing, and less carbonation than expected (the beer is drinkable, without being too peppery, right from the popping of the cork). Assuming this is a fairly young sample, this has plenty of aging potential, as it is already drinkable and has a strong body to hold up to the cellar. Strong brett character goes side-by-side with the cherries. I’d still rather have a Cantillon. . .

Sour funky aroma. Taste is intially sweet but finishes sour- a slightly complex experience. Bit O Metallic flavors in aftertaste. Good.

Pours an amber hue with a small white head. Flavors of spice, malt and honey with a nice sour, cherry finish.

750 ML: Had this at our wedding. Nice sour cherry nose, low tight-bubbled head. Medium body that blend the beer malt and cherries really well. Moderate sour puckering effect towards the end.

Pale orangey red colour. Aroma has a strong lactic sourness. Great cherry flavour is well balanced bya near perfect level of sourness. I do enjoy my beers sour.

Bottle from 1998. Dirty brown, nice remaining head. Smooth as can be, taste is sour, but not agressively sour, qualitybrew, especially after 7 (or more?) years.

Thanks Kevin! Foggy orange body, slight rimmed white head. Aromas are sweet and sour. Floral, cherries, cider. taste is sour, sluight citrus, cherry. Very sour , leaves srtong overall burn. Not my thing!