Lindemans Kriek Cuvée René - Brouwerij Lindemans

scottfrie

California

4.49/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a thick dark pink color similar to what I would picture raspberry juice to look like. Fizzy white/light pink head was short-lived and faded into nothingness almost instantly.
S: Super sweet cherry and raspberry fruit notes with a good dose of funky earth and sweat. Not cloying smelling but candied sugar is noticeable.
T: Tastes sweeter than the nose let on. The sweetness is almost candy-like, but there is thankful a good deal of earthy, must, dirt, and sweaty funk to help balance it. Fruit flavors boarder on syrup, and I can’t get the thought of Jolly Ranchers dropped in the dirt on a farm out of my head.
M: Lots of carbonation dances on my tongue over the medium body and sweet mouthfeel.
O: Despite my description everything that was described was in a good way. This was better than I expected. I knew it was going to be sweet due to the brand, but despite its sugariness I’d say this is the least sweet and most funky and most sour Lindeman’s I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 01:34:47 | More by scottfrie

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Momar42 for the unavailable in 'Murrca surprise! Part of a 750mL bottle poured into a Cantillon tulip. Notes from last night's Skins/Cowboys game.

A: Pours a dark plum color with a shit ton of ugly sediment floating about. The head is an awful looking lavender film floating on top of the brew with big bubbles and general ugliness.

S: Very earthy, to the point of being 'dirty' smelling, almost even fungal. Light cherries and acetic tartness comes through in a timid manner.

T: It's far more tart in the flavor profile. This one starts with cherries briefly - then BOOM! Acetic, vinegary sourness bombards the palate - I'd reckon the balance is 85% tart, 15% sweet cherries. More of the earthy qualities from the aroma appear later on to finish the brew off. Shame it came after three excellent gueuzes, because this one really spoke to my sour tastebuds very well. It just couldn't measure up regardless.

But compared to the fruity, Arbor Mist-esque (artificial) sugar bombs Lindemans is wont to creating, this is a damn godsend.

M: Not as dry as the gueuzes I just sampled - but just as tannic, if not moreso. As such, it comes across a little harshly. If anything, aging this should give it a more delicate subtlety to the palate qualities.

O: I love the sourness this is providing. If I didn't just have a trio of quality gueuzes, this would probably score a little higher, as unfair as it sounds. A year of age should round out some of its rough edges a touch.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 17:45:36 | More by ThisWangsChung

mdaschaf

Washington

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a very deep red color with a pink fizzy head on top that reduces rather quickly and leaves behind no lacing whatsoever.

S: A lot more barnyard/musty aroma than I expected. This is mixed with a good amount of sweet cherries along with a faint tartness.

T: Very similar to the aroma, plenty of barnyard flavor along with cherries, oak, and a slight acetic/vinegar flavor.

M: Light to medium bodied with high carbonation, bubbles tend to pop on the tongue.

O: The best beer I have had from Lindemans, a bit mustier than most Krieks I have had, but it is easy drinking with a good flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 04:16:59 | More by mdaschaf

spdyfire83

Ireland

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

255th Review
75cl bottle poured into stemmed Cantillon tulip
Vintage: 2009
Bottle No.: 22686

A: Pours a deep cherry burgundy. Quarter (foamy white) fingernail head on gentle pour.

S: Smells of dark cherry, funk, and touch of sweetness. Oak notes as well, but mostly cherry here.

T: Mostly cherry here with touch of oak. Nice balance of sweet and funk sour along with appropiate acidity. Enjoyable!

M: Medium bodied with appropriate (soft) carbonation.

O: A very well rounded and complete kriek lambic. Tasty and thoroughly enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 09:02:53 | More by spdyfire83

HopHead84

California

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

6/23/2012

2008 vintage poured into a snifter. Thanks!

Deep magenta with a big pink head. Great looking beer. Strong woody aroma with killer flesh and pit cherry notes. Smells great, not unlike cherry pie. Restrained barnyard and leather notes with evident oak. The fruit is the main attraction here. The flavor is tart and tannic with a moderate lactic sourness and an authentic and strong cherry skin presence. Dry, tannic, piquant finish with a mild acetic acidity. The beer is lower medium in body with upper medium carbonation. Overall, a really nice Kriek.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 20:48:32 | More by HopHead84

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pour is a dark redish orange with a skummy bubbly white head. Very old dry musky funk strong up front, a bit dusty and some light cherry notes balancing in back. The taste is much sweeter than the nose. The funk is light and what is there is dusty. The cherries are much stronger, there is a light hop bittereness in the finish and fairly sour. Light body, a bit syrupy, lighter carb than I'd like.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 15:25:48 | More by cpetrone84

woosterbill

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into a 25cl Duvel tulip. Big thanks to Knifestyles for sharing this Europe-only treat.

A: Pours a deep, deep crimson body with an inch of frothy pink head that disappears quickly and completely. Big points for the deep, rich color, but I wish the head weren't so transient.

S: Intensely deep black cherry - far more tannic and bittersweet than the cherry aroma seems in most Krieks. Juicy, yet not as sweet; more skin. There's a touch of grassy funk and straight acidity complimenting the fruity, but the juicy dark cherry is the star. Terrific.

T: Sour and bitter, with tannic cherry skin dominating everything else. Some tart grapefruity citrus toward the long, bitter finish. Ok, but disappointing compared to the aroma.

M: Prickly, lively, a little sticky. Ok.

O: I've been wanting to try this one for a long time, but somehow didn't get around to it on either of my trips to Belgium. It didn't disappoint, especially in the aroma department - I've never experienced a Kriek that displayed quite this depth of cherry essence. Many have been more intense, more juicy, more ripe - but never as deep and dark and mysterious. The flavor didn't quite measure up, but overall it was still an extremely enjoyable Lambic. I wish they exported it!

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 00:38:34 | More by woosterbill

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.53/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased from Plonk in Canberra. Shared with @tobeerornottobe.

Pours a deep curranty red colour, with a sudsy, but ultimately rather filmy head of pinkish foam. Body is light, but supports what it's going for. It's not a huge looking beer, but it's solid for the style.

Nose tends towards the sweet fruit, with some crushed berry character mixing with the tart cherry aroma, but very little actual lambic acidity. Overall, it's a little flat and dead, with the lambic notes only providing a reprovatory hint rather than the basis of the beer.

Taste is similar, in that it feels flatter than it would have had it gone all out. There's still a pronounced and rather crisp cherry tartness on the palate, but there's not a lot of genuine lambic acidity, or else an acquiescent sweetness. It's a shame, because as a result it feels sort of half way—it can't be bothered throwing its cap in with the true lambics, but it also can't accept its true calling as a pseudo alco-pop.

I'm disappointed in this brew overall. I feel as though it doesn't go the full distance either way. It genuinely has the fundamentals to be a good kriek, but it holds back on fully expressing itself, and ends up a middle-of-the-road curiosity.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 11:20:45 | More by lacqueredmouse

ShanePB

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Vintage 2010, 750 ml bottle
Served into a tulip glass

A: Deep ruby red with a soft pink fluffy, soapy head. No lacing on the glass, though there was a nice retention cap and a few quick swirls brought back the highly effervescent nature of the beer. Really nice for a Kriek.

S: Big cherry, funk, sweet ripened red fruit and fruit juice. It doesn't smell "artificial" most likely because this is not sweetened like their regular Kriek is. Very natural and classic.

T: Mmm, delicious. Big red cherries, oak, balanced tartness with a slight acidic component. A bit of funk and strawberry perhaps towards the back end. It's not really sweet per se, but the cherries definitely give the beer a natural sweetness, though the tartness balances it out nicely.

M: Highly carbonated (the cork rocketed out of the bottle), with a smooth feel from all the bubbles. Not sticky or dry like some can be, really well done.

This was simply wonderful. By far my favorite beer Lindemans puts out, and it's a shame this is unavailable here in the USA. I would buy and drink this all the time if I could, but when I order from Belgium, this will always be in my shipment. Great stuff here.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 19:51:32 | More by ShanePB

megahurts4

Louisiana

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Lindemans Kriek Cuvee Rene

Appearance: purple-red, small dissipating head, and no lace.

Smell: funky lambic and cherries.

Taste: tart fresh cherries and a malty lambic tone.

Mouthfeel: medium and tart.

Overall:
This is a very nice kriek. The lambic flavor in the undertone is wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 03:59:42 | More by megahurts4

ThaCreep

Belgium

3.73/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Red blood. Pronounced nose of sweet cherries and juicy. On the palate, this key and vinous acid at a time - characteristic of good lambics - continues to be accompanied by many tannins.

Unfortunately, cherries seem a little too present and the acidity of lambic has a slightly too strong - too much to stomach - which prevents it from reaching the heights occupied by models more balanced and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 22:14:04 | More by ThaCreep

TheGordianKnot

Tennessee

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2009 vintage shared by Lee at Atl beer tasting...

A- Pink and bright red liquid with a few noticeable bubbles. Sits with a nice large foamy head, more pink in the glass from the residing head now. Not much lacing, but does look pretty.

S- Wood, tart cherries, funk- that sums it up best for me. Some plastic, but complex and has an overall very different aroma profile.

T- Maraschino and Bing cherries- a nice mix of the sweet and tart aspects this fruit has to offer. Sour first, then bitter on middle of palate, ends dry with a fleeting acidic tartness to keep the palate salivating and wanting more. The funk its played down a bit, but it does have a woody, nutty, almost musty aspect. Light, carbonated, mouth puckering, awesome!

O- Hands down the best Lindemans I have had, obviously only the gueze can compete though. Really really wish we could get this in the states. Has a nice balance of sour and sweet with a great body to keep it lively.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 15:04:23 | More by TheGordianKnot

sweemzander

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750mL corked and caged bottle poured into a stemmed glass. Oct 2010.

(A)- Pours a deep plum color. Produced a good pink head that dissipated to a cap of froth. Some lace. Very dark, rich color.

(S)- A nice ripe and juicy cherry pie oak. Bits of currants or something too. A nice acidic tartness. Very clean smelling.

(T)- Oh, nice and acidic sourness with some dry oak up front. The fruit is there, but in the background with a hefty acidity attached to them. Not very funky, but there's some lactic bits in there.

(M)- A great carbonation level and balance. A great balance of sour acidity, oak, and ripe fruits; awesome!

(D)- Regular Cuvee Renee is a good gueuze for the money, but this definitely has that beat and is an excellent kriek. I cannot believe this is not imported over here in the states! A big acidity, but has good fruits and oak to back it up. Perhaps Lindeman's best beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 16:28:57 | More by sweemzander

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to beeruser for sharing this one with myself and funkydelic at one of our weekly tastings. 2009 Vintage, Bottle in 2010. Served from bottle into a Mikkeller stemmed tulip. Poured blood red with a two finger pink head that subsided to a very minimal amount quickly. There was no lacing evident throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, tart, cherry, raspberry, and funk. The flavor was of sweet malt, sour, tart, cherry, raspberry, and funk. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was an excellent brew. One of the best offerings from Lindemans I have had thus far. The berry aspect of this one mixed REALLY well with the sour/tart/funk notes in this one making it enjoyable. With the low ABV it was very easy drinking, but I could see it getting old after a little while however. I would love to have this one again however to test the previous theory though.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 18:04:06 | More by thagr81us

MasterSki

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle courtesy of Sean - didn't catch the vintage. Served in a Jester King snifter.

A - A finger-plus of pinkish foam settles to a thick collar and partial cap, leaving minimal lace. Dark reddish pink body.

S - Tart cherries, funk, pie crust malt, some lactic sourness, and more farmy and musty funk. Definitely a rotting overripe fruit character than an acidic sour one.

T - Taste has significantly more acetobacter and balsamic vinegar character. Tart cherries are again at the forefront, and there's a lemon and light oak finish. Not as funky as the aroma, but good in a different way.

M - Tart, dry, medium-light body, and medium-low carbonation that seems a tad low for the style. Lots of residual tooth-coating resins.

D - This stuff is quite good. I would purchase it if it were available in the US at Cuvée René prices. I was sad that the bottle was split three ways.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 16:01:33 | More by MasterSki

Sean9689

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle shared with friends into Bruery tulip.

A - Pours ruby red, thick collar, thin filmy cap.

S - Huge sour cherries, huge funk, sour, tart. Lots of sour cherries and big on the sour and tart notes. Very very funky with lots of barn. Very musty and funky, feet, socks. Whew, so good!

T - Big funk barnyard, sour cherries, big fruity tartness. Really mouth-puckering and dry fruity notes. Very acetic, huge tart, lots of sour.

M - Light, spritzy carbonation, dry cherry finish.

O - A wonderful kriek that I'd rank up top amongst Cantillon and Drie Fonteinen. Would love to have again, although not being distributed to the US hurts this chance. Def give a try!

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 23:57:19 | More by Sean9689

AgentZero

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - A ruby red colored beer with a small white head that left some spots on the sides.

S - Really funky smelling beer with some nice tart cherries and some horseblanket and hay.

T - Really nice and super tart cherry taste. Pretty mouth puckering with awesome funk. Great rating and not too sweet.

M - Smooth, dry finish, soft carbonation.

O - Really nice beer that was great for sour lovers. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2011 23:44:52 | More by AgentZero

ArrogantB

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Jerriko for trading me this, I've wanted this forever! Poured into two belgian tumblers this was bright reddish-pink with a good foamy head. Smell is cherries and a little old lambic, definitely not your average Lindeman's but you knew that didn't you? I was expecting the flavor to be Cuvee Rene Gueuze plus cherries but this is slightly different. The cherries were full and the beer was sour but very easy to drink. This was probably one of the better krieks I've had right behind Lou Pepe.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 01:04:06 | More by ArrogantB

johnbjaeger

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

So I got this in a particularly generous box from Mr. Doopiedoopiedoo. Not a ton of carbonation here, but I'm okay with that. It looks like something I want to drink and smells like a sweaty ballsack. Now, to be perfectly fair, I think a lot of higher end lambics from the Belgium smell somewhere between sweaty ballsack and infected foot. I get past it pretty easily because this thing is tasty business. Nice and tickly on the tongue, this has a musty old cherry taste with a fair amount of sour. It really sounds like I hate this, but I really really enjoy it and I wouldn't say no to another bottle. Really. In fact, I may have to go searching for another one.

While I drink this I am watching House Hunters International and thinking, "yeah, I could probably find something to do in Belgium..."

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2011 02:50:06 | More by johnbjaeger

rarbring

Sweden

3.58/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A hazy ruby red brew, a pale pink head, very small and quickly disappearing.

The smell is interesting, stable, earth, cherries, yeast and wet wood.

Tasting fruity, bitter cherries and sour rhubarbs. Not sweet at all.

Medium carbonation, small bubbles, a coarse feeling, a small body but a sour freshness.

Not dull at all, a bit uneven, but feels authentic

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2011 22:49:57 | More by rarbring

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle opened and poured into two glasses in my hotel room in Brussels. Enjoyed as my wife and I walked around the Grand Place on a mild March evening.

A: Blood red body. Minimal fizzy pink head. Dissipates quickly.

S: Assertive tart cherries. A little oak. Nice but a bit simplistic.

T: Like the nose, there are a ton of tart cherries packed in here. Again some oak. Tasty, but lacking the complexity from the funk and must in the better krieks.

M: Lively carbonation. Perhaps a bit more than I’d like. Nice tart finish.

O: A nice offering. Similar to the Cuvee Rene Gueuze in that its probably a good intro beer to authentic kriek flavors but toned down from the complexity that the style can offer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 22:34:03 | More by callmemickey

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured in a chalice.

Forget about Lindemans Kriek or the Pecheresse, Cuvée René is a real Lambic-Kriek. It's not sweet, first of all, actually, this is acid and dry. When poured, at first time, it has a medium rose head with small retention and no lacings. Subsequent doses have not much head anymore. The color is a dark red. Quite cloudy. Reminds wine. The smell is reeeeally Lambic. Fruity and acid as it should. Reminds grapes but it's probably only cherry. The taste is also acid close to vinegar. Again, very fruity with this metallic end left by Lambics. Again, this is dry. Body is light and drinkability too. Good stuff to people that like wild acid beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 18:17:03 | More by eduardolinhalis

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks to Kramer for sharing this at a recent tasting.

Poured into a mini snifter, this brew appears freakishly similar to red kook aid only with some haze to it. Pinkish in color with no head formation. A swirl hardly stirs some bubbles out of solution, what does appear fizzes away quickly.

The smell of this brew is freakishly similar to cuvee rene which is still fresh in my mind after sharing one recently with a friend. It smells wild and funky with a blend of sulfur and poopy notes. There is a cherry-like sweetness evident marking the only distinct difference along with grassy notes and deep pitty and earthy qualities.

The taste is similar to the flavor of cherry pits, earthy and surprisingly not all that medicinal like one might expect. The flavor is real, natural cherry but it is subtle and well included in the base qualities of funk, sourness and sulfur. It has a drying finish which urges you to drink more. Not bad.

This is a light bodied brew that at times seemed watery in the feel despite its modest level of carbonation. Overall easy drinking and a unique experience. Thanks again for sharing Kramer!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2011 18:15:31 | More by stakem

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed some of this at a recent tasting. poured close to cellar temp in a snifter.

A medium red cough syrup color with decent clarity and faint pink hue in the foam. The smell is very fruity with some sour elements and mild cherry odor with a light yeasty lactic element. The feel is very acidic and dry, yet highly carbonated and puckering with some of that cherry skin astringency.

The tast is very good with dry malt and yeast giving the sourness with a acidic cherry juice element complimenting but the overall flavor is crisp with the carbonation it seem almost spicy with lasting sour and astringent qualities lingering on the palate. I am not sure I could drink much of this, but I was impressed that Lindemans can deliver a quality Lambic like this especially since most of us only know them for the overly sweet fruit lambics.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 14:17:29 | More by Slatetank

Overlord

California

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to Jerz for hosting an awesome tasting, and for so many generous beer connoisseurs who made the event possible.

Pours a purplish bright red color with a pink, frothy head. Interesting. This is Lindemans?

Smells like raw tart sour cherries. Wow, what a bracingly fresh aroma. Not a hint of sweetness in here, just cherry skins and acid cherry slurry. This is Lindemans?

Tastes like raw acetic fruit cherry acid mixed with a bit of oak/wood and a hint, just a hint, of light funk. Not a particularly funky brew, but that little bit of musty barnyard-ness does make it more complex than expected. This is Lindemans?

Very nice lively mouthfeel. Well carbonated. A bit palate wearying. This is Lindemans?

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 01:39:23 | More by Overlord