Krekling - HaandBryggeriet

msmezher

California

4.4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Krekling is the second beer from the Norwegian HaandBryggeriet I've had (The first being Hesjeol, a smoked beer, the third Odin's Tipple an Imperial Stout). Krekling is made with crowberries, which I'd never heard of before I had this, but they're apparently supposed to have thirst quenching properties. My thirst was quenched. I absolutely loved this beer. It poured dark with a reddish hue without any head to speak of, just a lip around the glass. It was sour and tart, with a nice body and sharp taste that carried the beer all the way through.
I would highly recommend this beer to anyone who loves sour/tart flavor profiles.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2010 05:21:06 | More by msmezher

patrick802

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

06-03-2013 21:32:42 | More by patrick802

kscaldef

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

A minor mishap while unloading my bag from the store lead to slightly uncapping this beer. Uh oh, guess I'll have to drink it now...

A: Big, gushing pink head. Did I mention this just got dropped on the floor? Really pretty red color, with medium clarity.

S: Smells like crowberries, I guess? Herbal, earth, sour. Perhaps most similar to blueberry, among common fruits, but distinctly something else. Some definitely funk in there too... mushrooms, wet hay

T: Somewhat similar to blueberry and cranberry. Intensely earthy with a mild bitter finish. Bready malt character in the mid-palate.

M: Medium-full body. Carbonation is a bit low, but that may be due to the traumatic circumstances of this pour.

O: At $10, a bit of a let down, although certainly a unique beer. What's a crowberry?!?!

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 21:32:34 | More by kscaldef

Mamoswined

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1.8%

05-28-2013 02:41:17 | More by Mamoswined

Dactrius

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%

02-23-2013 13:27:02 | More by Dactrius

beerhawk41

Illinois

3/5  rDev -23.7%

02-15-2013 22:29:44 | More by beerhawk41

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%

01-21-2013 18:04:37 | More by CliffBrake

MoFro

Norway

4/5  rDev +1.8%

03-25-2012 16:59:26 | More by MoFro

NilsFrisk

Norway

4/5  rDev +1.8%

11-29-2011 09:19:06 | More by NilsFrisk

ludachris

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes - Norway 2011

The colour of the body is what makes its appearance being a beautiful and lush cranberry red. It's quite hazy with small amounts of carbonation creeping up the sides of the glass. Just over a finger's worth of off-white fizzy head rests on top. It has good staying power but leaves next to no lace as it sinks.

The first couple of whiffs bring a Berliner Weisse to mind. Spritzy, alive, tart, and sour. Slightly wheaty and slightly sweet. I've never had crowberries and that's why the beer's sweetness seems ambiguous to me. The best way I could describe it would be candied and berry-like.

Not nearly as tart as I had expected in the taste, but the tartness is still there nonetheless. A bit of sweetness is placed on the middle of the tongue, most likely from the crowberries. There's also a faint bready layer in the back. Its tartness is refreshing and perfect for a warm July day on the Oslofjord. The finish is slightly off-putting with a strange astringent bitterness left on the tongue. The overall flavour profile is quite simple.

I'm surprised on how light the body is for 7.4%. A spritzy and refreshing level of carbonation takes my mind off the body being a tad watery. Decently balanced with no sign of the ABV.

This is my first offering from Haandbryggeriet and it was interesting and quite refreshing but not one I'd buy again. I'm still open to trying more of their offerings and look forward to doing so.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 18:20:21 | More by ludachris

dgilks

Australia

3.65/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy, orange-red colour with a small, short-lasted white head.

Light tart and fruity aroma with mild berry notes. Could be more intense.

Clean and crisp malt flavour with mild tartness and a hint of fruit. It seems a little subdued and wonder if it needs to be 7%.

Medium-light body with moderately-high carbonation. Crisp.

An interesting and easy drinking beer but the high alcohol seems pointless in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 06:52:07 | More by dgilks

Halcyondays

California

4.25/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ, a beer brewed with crowberries,

A: Pours an amber red with a light whitish pink head, solid lace.

S: Very cranberry/red currant like notes, some tannin, but a pleasing berry scent.

T: For me it starts of a bit like a dark Belgian, hint of fig, but the crowberries come out fairly quickly. The taste is quite similar to cranberries with a hint of blueberry thrown in. Real nice flavour and blends real well with the malt.

M: Smooth, medium-bodied, lightly tannic, soft carbonation.

D: This is a really good fruit beer, for me what SA Cranberry lambic should taste like. I've never heard of the crowberry before, but if you like cranberries, you'll like this.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2010 07:00:04 | More by Halcyondays