Oud Beersel Oude Kriek

Cotton-candy pink colored head, tall and frothy, quickly fading but not ever even close to fully diminishing. Lacing left behind is sporadic, wispy and webbed. The body is a deep, dark orange/red blend, with a jello like oiliness that seems to encapsulate it. The aroma is absolute farmhouse funk. Notes of hay, wet grass, mold, horseblanket, leather, wood, very sour rotting cherries, sprawling vegetation. I really prefer a stronger cherry presence in a Kriek, but the traditional and funk/farmhouse aromas in this are top grade, wildly spinning around in a sensory cloud. The nose finishes each outward spout with light waves of toasted grain and a hint of wheat malt. Despite sweet tendencies this aroma is continually pulling me back for long, repeated whiffs. Absolutely stunning how backwoodsy this is. The flavor is moderately tart, with heavier pockets that breach into blasts of puckering sourness then relent to sweet malts and sugars shortly thereafter. Cherries are much more noticveable, seemingly breaking free of vinegary and funky confines with each sip. This is thoroughly enjoyable, mainly because there is a backing sweetness that mellows the entire intensity and funk level and makes this feel awesomely balanced for the still large level of traditional notes swarming the tastebuds. Acidity is medium to medium-high, lemony at points and berry-infused at others. Tartness is medium-high, medium for the style. The finish is by far the most exciting component of this beer. Tangy cherries fade quickly, making way for barnyard complexities, only to resurface with a teeth-grinding acidity later on. The mouthfeel is soft, boisterously carbonated, like liquid velvet on the tongue and on its way down the throat. Overall this is well balanced, nearly without peer within the boundaries of the style. An awesome creation from a master of the trade.

Pours a lovely, slightly hazy glowing red with a light pink head. Really nice looking. The cherry aroma was there, but not a candy-like cherry aroma which was refreshing. I am also smelling what I’m told is called barnyard. New experience with that word. The flavor was kind of like the smell, not huge candy cherry flavors, but more natural and authentic. Mild acidity, and big carbonation. I actually didnt like the aftertaste very much. Kind of like a rotting fruit flavor that didnt please me. Other than that, it was good.

[Shared with Peter and Jens at the bænk.] A real lambic fruit of oude character. True sourness and grapenotes in the kriekflavor. Hardly highdrinkable caused by the massive sourness, but it’s the best at that. You can drink it for hours, because you’ll never find it too sweet!

Quality traditional kriek. Very tart initially, but steadily gets more earthy/cherrypit-y.

This stuff isn’t for everybody. It’s wild and uncontrolled, and you have to prepare to drink it. Cherries, fizz and wild, bracing notes of lambic.

Maybe I’ve been greatly mislead, but what is this disaster? Was I spoiled by "artificially sweetened" lambics in recent tastings that I was fooled about what this style really delivers? Am I growing a pair of D cup breasts or what? Can’t say that I enjoyed this in any way.. Ended up as a drain pour.

Bottle shared with GregClow, Jerc, and Blankboy, Blankboy’s bottle. Dark rusty red, small bubbly pink head - looks great. Seriously funky aroma - garbage - then nice tart cherry. Taste - ok - mild tartness,a little watery. Acidic/vinegar - too much for my liking. Not great - can’t say I enjoyed it all that much.

My bottle (375ml) shared with GregClow, jerc & tupalev -- courtesy of SecretSanta 2006. Pours a murky dark pink-red with a fluffy light-pink head. Nice aroma of tart cherries, wood, spices and sweet malt. Dry flavour of tart cherries (though not as much as I expected), yeast, light spices and sweet malt. Medium bodied. Pretty good, not mindblowing but quite enjoyable.