Lips Of Faith - Dark Kriek - New Belgium Brewing

Crosling

Colorado

2.48/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Amber ale-like appearance. Copper colored with a thin, creamy white head. It doesn't have a pink head and sadly, it's not bottle conditioned. I can't imagine a worse overall look for a Kriek. The nose doesn't offer much. Mostly muddled, but some notes of cherry, sweat and salt. Sensations of sweet and sour upon tasting, with a juicy cherry character. Cherry pie-like character. A decent fruit beer, with a lightly soured character, but lots of sweetness as well. From the package to the beer, New Belgium isn't offering anything serious to the Belgian beer enthusiast. A brewery like New Belgium, with skilled brewing talent, is capable of producing a much better beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2009 05:25:02 | More by Crosling

meatyard

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -2%

04-01-2013 13:13:07 | More by meatyard

t0rin0

California

2.25/5  rDev -37%

11-22-2012 23:42:45 | More by t0rin0

ambruns1979

California

3.75/5  rDev +5%

08-12-2012 04:24:50 | More by ambruns1979

bthomas

Nevada

4/5  rDev +12%

03-01-2012 10:21:24 | More by bthomas

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3/5  rDev -16%

01-29-2012 09:53:28 | More by ygtbsm94

tclapper

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +26.1%

01-14-2012 05:38:54 | More by tclapper

stevefinny

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +12%

01-08-2012 05:43:25 | More by stevefinny

jophish17

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -2%

12-24-2011 00:00:19 | More by jophish17

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev +12%

11-19-2011 18:00:25 | More by imperialking

JAXSON

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2009 rate.

Bottle. Pours a clear dark cherry red with a frothy head. Nose is sweet and sour, red berries, faded hops, slightly medicinal. Collage of sweet and sour dominates this, which I like, but there's a little too much sweet and the cherry flavor is a bit strange. I can't stand the slightest bit of medicinal cherry flavor in a beer, this borders on it. Not bad, just alright, not really my thing.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2010 01:41:10 | More by JAXSON

katan

Colorado

4.15/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz into a glass. going to the cellar for one.

A - Pours a deep dark brown color with some amber highlights. Strong head formation, brownish in color - quickly breaks down to a film. Appears lightly carbonated.

S - Combination of fruits and yeast. I get quite a bit of cherry and other fresh fruits, but then it is balanced by a very earthy brett and wild yeast. Tobacco, leather come to mind.

T - Starts off lightly malty, brown ale like with some crystal malts. The brett yeast comes in big time, very wild, very earthy - deep. The cherries and the sewetness come in later, bringing the beer back into balance. Finishes with a strong sour fruit flavor and just a hint of wood tannins.

M - Moderate body, strong carbonation. Very well built for a beer of this style. Let the yeast run. Finishes somewhat cloying and sweet, but right on the center of the tongue the brett yeast brings some bitter balance.

D - A very complex ale - I can only see drinking one of them. But the flavors are so unique that in itself is very drinkable. ABV will sneak up on you. Can be filling, but thats okay for a slow sipper like this one.

A very unique beer. I enjoyed every bit of it.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 04:28:09 | More by katan

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.98/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success."

--Henry David Thoreau

Brownish russet red with orange accents along the edges of the glass. The golden beige colored crown started out looking good, but doesn't develop much visual character as it melts. Nor is it sticky enough to lay down more than a single sudsy necklace of lace. Pretty typical for a (partially in this case) barrel-aged beer.

Dark Kriek is 35% 'light, dry, tannic beer' aged two years in oak barrels, and 65% dark ale brewed with sour cherries. The aroma has a wonderful earthy cherry quality that is remiscent of the dried fruit. The darker malts aren't appreciated and the oak adds yet another layer of depth and complexity.

Sour cherries dominate the flavor profile. They taste 100% natural and the amount and quality of the fruit flavor is right on the money. Sweetness and sourness are both fairly prominent, balance one another nicely, and should please both the sweet lambic lovers and the tart lambic lovers... or neither if they're picky.

This Lips Of Faith brew does taste 'dark' in some indefinable way, although it's much more black cherry dark than roasted or chocolate malt dark. Horse blanket funkitude is minimal (if it's present at all), which makes me think that American wild ale is the wrong style. Finally, alcohol is buried exceptionally well.

It's difficult to tell what sort of mouthfeel beer like this should have. The one that has been provided is at least medium for the ABV, has a pleasant hang-on from the fruit sugars, and has nicely buried bubbles that give exactly the right amount of lift and creaminess. Well done.

Dark Kriek is the second delicious and drinkable Lips Of Faith beer to have entered my glass. New Belgium has done an admirable job of blending the two component beers, which is the secret to this fine ale's success. Here's hoping it isn't really retired.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2010 15:05:32 | More by BuckeyeNation

boomer31

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a deep copper/red with a tan head

S - Light acidic nose and big cherry with a touch of lemon zest

T - Very malt forward, cherry then a touch of tart sourness. The cherry is fantastic. A hint of sweetness from the malt melds great with the sourness

M - Rich mouthfeel, odd for the style. Highly carbed

D - Not very sour, great balance of malt and sourness.

Overall this is not what I was expecting. I figured this would be more sour with only a hint of cherry...quite the opposite.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2010 02:27:37 | More by boomer31

emmasdad

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured a dark mahogany color, with a smallish light brown head. Somewhat tart on the nose, with cherry juice, dark raisins, oak and red wine vinegar. On the palate, this one is noticeably tart, with red wine, vanilla and dark cherries. Nothing special here, but a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 01:27:13 | More by emmasdad

artcurtis

Colorado

2.75/5  rDev -23%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a Great Divide Tulip.
A: Lives up to its name. Very dark, almost black until held up to light. Backlighting reveals very clear, deep red. Very thin tan head dissipates to a ring almost immediately.
S: Not alot on the nose. Really quite bland. I was hoping for cherries to pop, but I'm getting nothing on that front. Definitely some sour notes, but not much else.
T: Should have added more cherries, they are pretty much invisible. A bit of a tart sourness, but really disappointing. The oak comes through on the back.
M: Mouthfeel is pretty much what I expected. Bubbly and thin.
D: Pretty drinkable, but not really any reason to do so. A fairly bland beer. Not bad, just bland, certainly not good enough to justify the $10 price point. The beer is now retired, so maybe it hasn't aged well and was better when fresh, but overall, not a great showing. Just a bland one.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2010 03:44:24 | More by artcurtis

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle on 12/26/09.

A - pours a deep dark chestnut brown with only a little bit of tiny bubbles on the surface

S - dark cherry aroma and hints of woodiness

T - sour cherry flavor, slightly vinegar, the oak comes through in the finish with hints of vanilla

M - smooth, good carbonation, thin to medium bodied

D - good flavor, nice to drink, not as flavorful as I was hoping, cherries are more subdued than expected.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 16:12:53 | More by mikereaser

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.3/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Who turned out the lights? Pours a darker amber color with brown hues through out. A soft off white head with limited retention and next to no lacing at all. Not much for retention either.

The nose is limited overall but some malt and cherry blend is there. The malt has a more generic backing with some light acidity behind it. The cherry reminds me more of a juice like aroma. There are some extra kickers though. A noticeable vanilla twinge and notice yeast character. Some phenolics, light plum and a touch of horse.

The taste is similar. Limited malt, limited funk and limited cherry notes. To start the malt does come out with a bit more character than the nose. Some melanodian notes with some caramel. The cherry bring a light tartness and the cherry is distinguishable, but not really there for a fruit beer. The sourness is limited and would like a bit more tartness. A bit clean in the yeast, no real lactic or sourness. Overall, if you call it a Kriek you need the funk.

The body is moderate to light. Drinkability is easy but not really a kriek. Carbonation is light as well. A easy mostly clean beer but expecting something different here.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2010 22:56:18 | More by Oxymoron

pwoody11

Delaware

4.1/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

3rd cherry beer of the night. Enjoyed this one while watching the Flyers take down the Devils in game 3.

Russet colored appearance. Creamy white head without much hang-time.

Aroma is mostly of tart cherry with a decent malt backbone.

Taste is sweet and sour with emphasis on the sweet. Mostly cherry with a little bit of an oaky funk to it.

I got this beer as a gift from my sister on her recent visit from San Diego, so thanks to her. Best cherry themed beer I had tonight. I'll have to see if I can get my sister to send out another!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 01:20:57 | More by pwoody11

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a clear, reddish brown color with creamy, light tan foam that clung to the glass. The smelll was sour and tart and fruity (cherries) with some funk and a hint of sweetness. The taste was lightly tart with the flavor of dark, tart cherries, and a bit of funk. There was a light sweetness but not overly or syrupy. There were some barrel-wood flavors, reminiscent of La Folie. The mouthfeel was lightly tart but also slightly sweet; medium body with a soft carbonation feel. Flavors of cherries and earthy notes linger. This was a very pleasant beer; very good, but not as sharp as a Belgian Kriek.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 02:31:08 | More by UncleJimbo

tai4ji2x

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bomber. no date found. obtained in trade. poured into tulip. tasted in early june 2009.

dark cherry, ruby color. clear, w/ no bottle sediment. (is this force carbonated?) 1-finger of light tan head, fading to a wispy thin layer replenished by the glass etching and with each sip. decent lacing.

aroma: lots of fresh cherries, including the skins. some hints of caramel to the acidity (notes of balsamic, malt, and red wine vinegars). hints of hay and just the slightest hints of barn funkiness and a trace of possible oak aging.

taste: tart but fruity, with fresh, sweet, ripe cherries prominent. light vinegar notes to the mild to moderate acidity. subtle wood or oak w/ reminiscences of red wine. trace of farmhouse character. hay-like notes to the hops, with faint bitterness. ever so slightly watery overall tho.

light to medium body with moments of wateriness, but with lightly acidic and astringent notes too. carbonation is moderate and almost fizzy, but fluffy at times.

not as bad as some reviewers seem to think. a bit sweet for the style, but could work as a gateway to sour beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2010 11:46:27 | More by tai4ji2x

jampics2

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle courtesy of Paul and Angelyn. Thanks, guys, nice of you to share :)

Dark brown with reddish highlights. Looks like a nice beer.

Smell is OK, cherries, wood, and malt. Nothing too extreme but smells promising.

Taste is tart then sweet. Cherries then vanilla then clean malt. It just doesn't come together as well as I think it should. I think the sweetness is throwing me off.

Mouthfeel was average and drinkability was decent. Overall, I just felt this beer lacked an identity, so it was hard to judge against a style. But it's not *bad*, just seems a little lost. Reminds me of myself when I was 17 and going to raves every weekend :D

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2010 18:42:59 | More by jampics2

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

3.7/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

GLASS: Unibroue Tulip
TEMP: Cellared @ approx 50 degrees

This pours a dark amber color with a slight ruby tint to it. The one-finger head of loose foam is tan colored and has a light pink-ish cast to it. Retention is okay and the lacing is thick, but kind of slippery.

I get oak and cherries. Both of which are pretty much 'in your face' scents. These are barely covering a nice barnyard kind of funk. I also get a light touch of yeastiness.

Okay, this is like a 'beginner' sour, I guess. There is a light cherry tartness here, which is nice, but much less than was anticipated. It does have a nice touch of oakiness, which is welcomed. A light caramel maltiness is down below the surface. The funk, from the nose, is almost non-existant in the taste. It maintains a light yeast presence.
I think that this would benefit from a good nudge in one direction or the other. It's not sweet enough to be a dessert beer, yet it's not really tart enough to truly be a sour, either.

This has a medium body and a mild level of carbonation. This gives it a 'light' feeling. Not really crisp or creamy, but easy drinking.

I could drink this one all night, if I were so inclined. The 8.0%abv is super well hidden, and the taste is nice and smooth. I was hoping for something a slight touch different than this, but it's still good.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2009 05:52:22 | More by coldmeat23

Vancer

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A very good looking brew in the mini-snifter. Dark copper with mahogany edges, topped off with an ivory cap. Subtle hints of cherry buried among the malt - duplicated with the taste. Any sour funk or musty blanket is second level, not there with the initial semi-sweet quaff. A very light touch of the cherry throughout
.
A tasty brew indeed, I could drink this all evening long, the alcohol is not a taste factor. Very glad to have the chance to sample on tap at Pi pizzeria in the east loop.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2009 21:12:28 | More by Vancer

Patrick999

Florida

2.25/5  rDev -37%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

A - Well, it looks how I think a "dark kriek" should look. It's a dark, but not opaque, red-brown. Not an astonishing amount of foam, but there's enough.

S - This isn't terribly impressive in the nose. There's a little vinegar and cherry Jolly Rancher. It's "OK," but pretty generic.

T - I'm sorry, it leaves me flat. My apologies to NB, but it tastes like a generic watery brown ale base with some cherries added. There's some sweet cherry, but I don't find this sweetness a problem at all. The whole package is just dull. Sourness is minor, the sweet/sour don't really play off each other at all. Cookie-like malts come forward as it warms, lending further support to my belief that this is just an ordinary brown ale with some attempted trimmings. 35% ale aged in barrels? I don't really get much barrel-aged character at all, if any. Basically, what I'm left with here is a brown ale with cherry juice, not much more. Kinda lame.

F - Feel is watery and weak. Here, I think bottle-conditioning would have helped.

D - I hate handing out ratings like this, especially to brewers I like, doubly so when the beer wasn't cheap (this one certainly was not). Still, I have to be honest...I like New Belgium, but this beer is a miss. Poor execution, it just seems like a lazy effort to me, a waste of a good idea. As a beer in general, throwing any style consideration or expectation out the window, it's not entirely offensive. I could *finish* the bomber, it doesn't repulse me - but there are too many other beers in my fridge I'd rather drink. Way too many.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 21:36:55 | More by Patrick999