Van Diest Früli Strawberry Beer - Brouwerij Huyghe

monique

3.95/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Max's Taphouse in Baltimore.

The looks like your average beer until you smell it. Smells like a spring strawberry field!

Tastes like a strawberry soda with a kick.

The favor lingers.

If I closed my eyes & turned off the noise in the bar, I wold swear I was in a meadow, drinking a strawberry soda plus (a bow to a line in Escape from the Planet of the Apes).

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2012 21:22:32 | More by monique

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

I'd seen this beer on tap for so long at Capone's, and I figured it was one of those beers that no one likes, therefore it sits in the lines forever. But soon after it was taken off, it came back on again. Then I started seeing it pop up elsewhere, so I figured I'd give it a try. Well, actually the wife ordered it. She probably subliminally knew I wanted to try it but also wanted to retain my macho exterior in the process.

Served in a snifter, a orange-salmon color, slightly cloudy, with a small pink-white head that actually retained rather well for the style. Aroma was pretty much straight up strawberry candy. Flavor of strawberry (obviously) and watermelon Jolly Ranchers, slight bready malt sensation. No surprises here; delivered what it promised. Light-medium body, and pretty easily drinkable...unless you don't like fruit beers, in which case, meh, it's probably still worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2012 00:30:51 | More by Rifugium

cosmo4u

New York

3.98/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at lazyboy saloon white plains ny 8/17/11

a cranberry body with a white head. Sweet sugar and strawberries are the essence of this brew. Delicious aroma but how does it hold up. Chewy and sweet with a soft strawberry flavor. Well if this is what was set out to be done its a hell of a sugar sweet brew with a lingering sweetness. its honestly delicious, it tastes like a sweetened fruit juice, but with alcohol. im not sure i could really drink more than one of these, as far as beer goes it hardly seems as such but whatever it tastes dam good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2011 04:47:33 | More by cosmo4u

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.68/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On draft at Capone's in Philadelphia.

The beer looks like strawberry juice - fresh squeezed. Pink grapefruit juice with little head. The aroma brings sweet strawberry juice...and...well...that's about it (Cartman impression). The flavor is one dimensional, but honestly, it's well done and I have no issues. A strawberry spritzer beer. Really delicious and easy to drink. Low alcohol and refreshing on a hot day. I'm a fan.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2011 23:05:16 | More by Huhzubendah

nickthetick

Maryland

2/5  rDev -41.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: This is not an aesthetically pleasing as far as beer goes, but it would make a pretty candle. It pours a cloudy, opaque pink-red with a thin layer of pinkish bubbles that dissipate quickly and leave no semblance of lacing. The least I can say is that it is interesting.

S: strawberry, they hit hard and they hit fast and leave no room for other smells to mingle in. It’s a nice smell, but not appetizing for a beer; even a fruit beer.

T: Once again there is an overpowering strawberry flavor that is actually cloying and a bit too much. And once again, this is just too fruity for a fruit beer; I detect no hops, malt, or anything beer like about this.

MF: no surprises here: syrupy, little carbonation, diabetes inducing and chewy. I expect a fruit beer to be more light and enjoyable on a hot day, but this is just too filling.

O: This seems like it should be classified as a strawberry cider. It would be ok as strawberry cider; but as far as this goes for being a “fruit beer,” no way. To sweet and heavy and I would most likely turn this down even if offered it for free. I will say that if I can get my girlfriend (who adamantly hates beer) to Johansson’s to try this and she liked it I would get a bottle on some special occasions just for her.

Serving type: on-tap

06-30-2011 14:58:21 | More by nickthetick

kojevergas

California

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on draught in the Porterhouse by Grafton street. Reviewed from notes.

A: A one finger lovely cream head. Poor retention. Hazy weissbier strawberry grapefruit red. Lovely.

Sm: Remarkable berry. Very strong scent of strawberry ester. Wonderful.

T: Lovely strawberry build but too strong on the finish. I'd like it to start strong and deteriorate by the finish.

Mf: Far too fizzy. Very chewy. The wetness suits the style, but should dry up just a bit by the finish.

Dr: You may not want to be seen drinking it by the lads, but for what it is, it's delightful. Too syrupy. Too expensive in Dublin.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2011 00:38:07 | More by kojevergas

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance. Pours a murky, red-orange with a fluffy, bubbly white head.

Smell. You guessed it, strawberries!! Reminds me of Strawberry marshmallow candies. Sweet and yummy.

Taste. Sweet, strawberry candy. Just a hint of tartness and alcohol. Maybe a little funky belgian yeast in there too. Different and yummy.

Mouthfeel. Full bodied with medium-light carbonation. A little syrupy.

Overall. Nice for dessert but wouldn't want to drink a bunch. Will try again if I'm in the mood for something sweet.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2011 01:51:10 | More by Rutager

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.65/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from tap into a sampler tumbler. Poured a massively hazy orange with a slight pink hue with a minimal off-white head. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, pastry, strawberry, and cream. The flavor was of sweet malt, strawberry, cream, and reminded me of strawberry shortcake. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a very nice dessert brew. If you enjoy dessert beers or strawberry shortcake, you will feel right at home with this one. Unfortunately for this brew, I wasn't in the mood for either. It was good for what they were shooting for, but just not my style.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 17:43:54 | More by thagr81us

cooch69

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this beer on tap while at a food show in a casino. It poured a pastel reddish with a one finger head that lasted for a while and then faded into oblivion.
This beer smelled so much like strawberies it was rediculious.
The taste was even more so. I could barely tell that I was drinking beer. It was so fruity that I barely picked up anything else exept for a bready maltiness in the aftertaste. There was no hops within ten miles of this beer.
It was however very refreshing. This beer would be a great substitute for orange juice at 9 A.M.
Mouthfeel was light to medium with a pretty vibrant carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2010 04:11:52 | More by cooch69

bundy462

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pink with a creamy white head.

S: Like a strawberry daiquiri, no beer character at all.

T: Again, like a strawberry daiquiri. Really sweet, no bitterness or real beer character at all. Very much like a spiked punch.

M: Thin bodied, pretty highly carbonated.

O: Too sweet to be sessionable, but a nice treat.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2010 21:07:41 | More by bundy462

scott451

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap. Served in a Fruli stang style glass. A hazy dark rose with minimal head. Lots of lacing to the end. Smells strongly of strawberries.
Tastes of strawberries. Notable lack of beer flavours. Fairly sweet, but not overly so. Medium light body. Medium carbonation. Drinkability is good. Refreshing. Only the sweetness might impair a long session.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2010 17:54:11 | More by scott451

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured ontap, a hazy dull red in appearance with some pink colored foam.

The beer smells quite fruity, strawberries fill the nostrils.

Taste is more akin to a strawberry soda than a true beer. Dull lambic qualities and over the top fruit and sweetness dominate the palate. It succeeds fairly well with the strawberry taste, the only downfall being the lack of beer qualities. Malt body is faint. If strawberry soda is a favorite of yours, you must try this beer.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a lingering sweetness.

Drinkability: A sweet strawberry beer sure to please the ladies and non-beer drinking friends.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2010 00:22:39 | More by Stinkypuss

rawhydes1

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had this beer on tap while out to dinner with my wife at Season's restaurant, in Tunkhannock, Pa.

Was skeptical about ordering such an obviously fruity beer. Bartender gave us a sample, and my wife fell in love.

Served ON THE ROCKS!!!. First time having a beer on the rocks for me.

Pink, and bubbly with a nice white head. Quite carbonated.

Smelled like fresh strawberries, and tasted the same, with virtually no hop bitterness.

Reminded me of a beer-sangria. I was surprised that the alcohol content was over 4%, as I would have guessed this to be more in line with a "Shandy" at 2%.

A nice surprise, for what it is. For the style... delightful (a word I have never used to describe a beer).

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2010 17:20:42 | More by rawhydes1

Westsidebuddha

California

4.47/5  rDev +31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Belgian Beer Fest Lucky Baldwin's, Pasadena Calif.

Poured a light red color into glass. Had the look of Framboise as I glazed into the glass. The smell was very fruity. Kool-Aid like smell. The taste was very fruity. Like fruit juice with beer taste. Nice mellow mouthfeel. The drinkability was very good. This was a beer you could drink all night and not feel to buzz off. Overall, this beer took me by surprise. Didn't expect it would be this good. First sip was like wow! This is what I would drink after having a quadruple beer. Very nice!

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2010 11:57:08 | More by Westsidebuddha

SpeedwayJim

New York

2.03/5  rDev -40.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Had this one on-tap at RattlenHum served out of a Delerium Tremens snifter.

A: Served with a quarter finger white, wispy, fine head. Brew is light, semi-cloudy pinkish red. Lacing is lightly stringy with no stick.

S: Ever have Minute-Maid strawberry kiwi juice? EXACTLY like that.

T: Starts off with strawberry and perhaps some other unidentified ripe red fruit. Extremely sweet and this flavor kind of just fades, getting less and less sweet as the experience continues. I keep hoping I get something else but that's it. Plain ole' strawberry.

M: Light bodied and rather carbonated. Extremely wet in the mouth and finishes like water. Near no aftertaste.

D: Thanks but no thanks on this one. I want a beer not carbonated minute-maid juice, which is what this is. In fact... in retrospect, I'd probably rather have the juice instead.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2009 04:11:27 | More by SpeedwayJim

asabreed

New York

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Abbey in Baltimore.

Appearance: As you can imagine, a Strawberry color. Some nice haze and not entirely clear.

Smell: Strawberry and malty fruit flavors. Seems legit and without extract, but who knows.

Taste: A nice balance between sweetness and tartness with the strawberries and malty flavors. Lingering fruity finish.

Mouthfeel: Champagne-like and sparkling carbonation that works really well.

Drinkability: A solid fruit beer, and certainly one I'd drink again. This was my first strawberry beer too I think.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2009 18:58:36 | More by asabreed

atsprings

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On-tap at Flying Saucer served in a flute glass a pinkish red with a thin diminishing head that leaves slight lacing. Aroma is strawberries, that is all. The taste is loads of strawberries with a slight amount of witbier flavor poking through. The beer is quite light and crisp, but the sweetness dominates. This one seems like nothing more than a gimmick beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2009 02:55:25 | More by atsprings

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.45/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours an amber peach color with really pretty damn good head retention and lacing. This beer really looks pretty impressive. The nose on this beer is likewise impressive, with a huge nose of sweet strawberry and honey. If you like strawberries, the aroma on this beer is nothing short of amazing. On the palate, this beer is likewise amazing. Yes, it's pretty sweet, but the amount of strawberry flavor the brewer managed to get in this beer is incredible. The beer has sort of a honey, strawberry, strawberry tea flavor. It's fairly sweet, but the sweetness plays well with the flavor profile IMHO. Moutfeel is fairly light, but that's what I would expect with a beer having this abv. Drinkability is exceptional. Granted, it's hard to think of this as a beer, but whatever you want to call it, it's delicious.

I don't know. I really don't understand the low scores with this beer. I guess it's a bit sweet and fruity, but there is so much flavor and the strawberry flavor is so pure. Granted, I wouldn't want it all the time, but I'd order it from time to time. This beer is flat out delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2009 19:56:00 | More by johnmichaelsen

perfectkaos

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

If you ever wanted to drink a beer that tastes like strawberry milk, Fruli is the beer for you

pours a pinkish red color with a creamy head that is a few shades lighter than the beer.

the beer tastes like strawberries. extreme strawberries, and not just super sweetness like you find in most fruit beers. its a smooth drinker.

this is an excellent desert beer. i dont know if i could have more than one, simply because its more strawberry than beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2009 15:45:33 | More by perfectkaos

mjw06

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

wow. amazed at how red this beer actually was. looks like a slightly cloudy shirley temple. really. with a small white head on top.

smells like strawberry syrup. really. with maybe just a hint of hop somewhere if you look for it.

taste like strawberry pop, straight up. you can slightly still tell that its a beer.

if this had a tad bit more carbonation, it would be strawberry pop. but the mouthfeel is fine, a nice medium body. left a sweet stickiness on the lips, thats how sweet it is.

heres where this beer fails, i simply didnt find it drinkable. had it at a pub in dublin our of curiousity. had a great taste, but the novelty soon wore off, and by the time i got midway through, i was ready to get rid of it. way too sweet to drink a whole pint of this. and nothing that anybody would order another of, im certain.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2009 00:41:54 | More by mjw06

Shadman

Alberta (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

beleive it or not...a bar in the heart of redneck Alberta has this on tap. Just had to..nuff said

Partly because serving a beer with head is a sacrilidge..there wasn't much head to observed. Unfiltered, looked a lot like a very hazy, very heavy on the clam clam-eye that is so popular in these parts. Gobs upon gobs of lacing.

Smells surprisingly of tart strawberries. I like them so hence the score.

Tasted of tart strawberry, but with a hint of malt and hop to make it more than fruit juice with fizz.

Smoother than I expected, with a med-to-full bodied mouthfeel that bordered on slick.

I'll have another.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2007 00:30:53 | More by Shadman

jspruit

Denmark

3.13/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Drank on a Saturday night at the Porterhouse Temple Bar location -it was on tap as part of their Belgian Beer Festival.

Poured a hazy light copper-nice for a wheat beer with a small head that lasted about a minute or so.

Smelled strongly of strawberries-but I guess that was the idea in the first place.

The strawberries hit your tongue and mouth right away and the carbonation is light and bubbly-almost like an apple juice or something. There isnt much wheat beer taste really as the berry taste is strong almost artificial.

This is a light going down beer and there isnt too much to it so I could see how some people could drink plenty of these-but it isnt really for me. Overall it is an interesting take on a fruit beer, but I think that I will try something different next time.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2007 21:28:30 | More by jspruit

baiser

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the biermarkt. Review is based on drinking some of my gf's drink. Poured a cloudy pink, with almost no head but good amounts of lacing clinging to the glass. Nose was primarily super sweet strawberries and sugar. There must've been some sorta fruit juice added.

Taste is strawberries, sweet and tart finish. Points were knocked off all around because this just wasn't much of a 'beer' at all. Tasted more like a strawberry wine/cider. Not a beer, but delicious nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2004 22:10:52 | More by baiser

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

1.73/5  rDev -49.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Hmmmm, strawberry frozen yoghurt, strawberry Starburst, really sweet and candy-ish, way too sweet to be taken seriously, but not a total loss, some tartness, but its too sweet, like Belle-vues sweetened fruit beers. Too much of a candied cheery flavour, too sweet.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2003 00:50:59 | More by rastaman

kristenspaintings

California

4.63/5  rDev +36.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

The beer presents very little resemblance to what people would traditionally consider a “beer”, but that should not be held in consideration as it is unique. Just opening the bottle, you get a tremendous fruit smell. Upon drinking you honesty can easily taste the berries and citrus, something I thought would be faint or impossible. This beer is light, refreshing and goes great with cheeses. It might be a little more difficult to pair with foods than a traditional ale or pils, but a bit of creativity can let this beer really shine. I did not think I would like it, but boy was I ever wrong.

My thoughts on pairing: Don't drink this with salad as the sidebar says. Whose suggestion was that?

Because this is a strawberry-flavored beer I wouldn't drink it with anything fruit or vegetable related, especially strawberries. You should try cheese & crackers or maybe something savory on the less- spicy side. If course Belgian food but also Northern European/ Scandinavian food comes to mind. Just having the one bottle on its own (and loving it) more research in this area is definitely warranted.

Would someone please update the pairing suggestion for this beer? What you eat with it could wildly influence your opinion of it.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 14:40:48 | More by kristenspaintings