New Belgium Old Cherry

Brewed by New Belgium Brewing Company
Style: Fruit Beer
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Serve in Flute, Shaker

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Reddish orange color with small off white head. Moderate lacing. Aroma of cherries surprisingly enough with some malty caramel. Some cherry wheats that I’ve sampled seem to have an artificial cherry flavor but this seems more authentic. In it’s favor it’s not overly sweet or sour. Not bad-just not exceptional. I bet girls will really dig this beer though. A chick beer.

12oz bottle bought in Bellingham, WA. Pours a cloudy brownish-red color, minimal head. The sweetness of the cherries is evident from the first sip, but I was a little disappointed with the lack of sourness. Smooth malty taste with barely any hop character. Mellow and sessionable, but not what I had hoped for.

Clean reddish/orange color. Fast fading head. Smells of cherry and weak malt. This is malty with some cherry thrown in. Not overdone, but a little sour. Fast fading slight hop aftertaste. I could be worse but I think it’s done pretty well.

Draught. Low off-white and quickly disappearing head. Clear good looking red brown body. Weak sweet cherries aroma. Flavor of sweet sugary cherries plus caramel and butter as well as just a bit of lemon. Hich carbonation, short aftertaste.

Draught at the brewery. Clear orange coloured with a red gleam and a small white head. Sweet aroma of caramel and cherry stones. Fruity flavour of cherry and cheery stones with notes of marzipan. Fruity finish.

This is way better than Sam Adams Cherry Beer offering which is too much... Actually you have to search this brew taste to find the cherry...

UPDATED: OCT 17, 2008 Not retired anymore had this at NB with head brewer Peter Bouckaert not over the top cherry and more of ale with cherry tartness. Only 148 of MJ’s 500 Classic Brews to go.

Pour is clear apple juice colored with white thin head. Aroma is very very weak with oak and whiskey. Flavor is red wine grapes. Thin bodied, finishes alcoholic. Where are the cherries?

12oz bottle(courtesy of RSRIZZO)-Pours a clear amber body with a nice slightly off white head and an aroma of cherry, malt, and breadiness. Taste of cheries, malt, sourness, and slight sourness. This medium bodied brew finsihes with a little tartness. Not a bad fruit beer but New Belgium can do better.

I enjoy fruit beers quite a bit, and while this one doesn’t have the big fruit flavor, it has an authentic fruity quality. That is, the aroma and tasting doesn’t give you that big "cherry candy" or flavoring-esque fruitiness that you so often find in fruit beers. However, in the palate and the late finish there is a sour and slightly tangy wooden edge, that reminds me of the flavor of eating real cherries (which I don’t really care for, precisely because they aren’t as flavorful as cherry pie filling). That authenticity make this rewarding, and in its basic qualities as an ale it is perfectly drinkable. Reasonably attractive, though again, not boldly fake-color red. Real, authentic, decent brewing, worth trying and maybe even liking. Thanks to Mac for buying this for the party.