Lips Of Faith - Transatlantique Kriek - New Belgium Brewing

srhoadsy

Florida

3.49/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Served chilled in a tulip.

Pours a rich, clear red with half an inch of airy white head that quickly recedes leaving light surface layer and lacing.

Aromas of cherries with a slight mustiness in the background.

Flavors follow through the aromas sweet and tart cherry with a slight musty, earthy background.

Light bodied with a sweet but crisp finish. Lighter carbonation than expected.

Overall a little too light in flavor for the style. If you were just introducing someone to the style this would be okay but falls a little flat compared to other offerings.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 23:38:06 | More by srhoadsy

Kenzie

Utah

2.48/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25

I've come across quite a bit of beers brewed with cherries just in the past year, most of them highly enjoyable. I decided to give the Kriek a try, though I was worried it might be a little too cherry because the description on the bottle didn't give me much else to go by.

Upon opening and pouring the bottle, I realized the ale was just what I was afraid of. The appearance resembled more of a mead and seemed over fruity. In taste the beer was more tart then I expected, which was it's only attribute. There was not much body or other layers going on for the beer, just overly sweet cherry that resembled cough syrup. I almost felt like I was drinking cheap wine.

I have many great lambics but would not buy this beer again. I do not feel the same way about other beers on the Lips of Faith line, but this one was just not for me. I actually did not finish my beer which is rare. The only use I could make of it would be to cook with it.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 17:32:50 | More by Kenzie

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.16/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Shared by someone at Francois cellar party.

No head, pink hazy color.

Nose has wafts of light cherry barely, little tart, sweet syrupy cough syrup.

taste is pretty bland, light sour cherries, very light overall cherry profile, light sourness, cough syrup, syrupy flavors.

Mouth is med to lighter bodied, feels a bit thin, lighter carb.

Overall meh, very light for a kriek, very light sour and little cherry, some cough syrup flavors too.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 02:14:24 | More by jlindros

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

22 ounce bottle. Served in a tulip, the beer pours dark red with a half inch light pink head that fizzled away quickly. There's a good amount of lacing. Aroma is light and subtle, the brew smells like tart cherries, bready/grainy malt, and a bit of musty funk. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some red grapes and a floral flavor noticeable. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's a little watery with a decent amount of carbonation. I think it's an OK beer overall, but at $16.49 a bottle I won't be buying it again. Should have grabbed another La Folie instead!

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 21:49:46 | More by bluejacket74

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3.5

Appearance. Pours a clear red with maybe a touch of orange. Topped with a finger of pale pink head.

Smell. Fresh pie cherries including the almond-like pits, a touch of brett, and not much else.

Taste. Tart cherries again but a little thinner than the smell leads on, some dry brett, maybe just a touch of almond.

Mouthfeel. Thin and fairly watery, below medium carbonation.

Overall. I can't help comparing this with the Belle Royale I've been drinking recently. It's like a very watered down version of that beer without the barrel. I guess that's the problem with drinking lots of great beers, the standards rise. Nothing bad tasting, just not big enough flavours in a beer that could be great. I'm going to guess that profit was a factor in this one as far as the amount of ingredients goes. I could be wrong, but that's what it tastes like to me.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 02:26:42 | More by Rutager

bulldog91

Illinois

4.41/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Deep red appearance, cherry tones - no surprise. But not as much carbonation as expected.

S - Some brett/yeast.

T - The sour cherry and fizz work - they were shooting for something different and nailed it. Hints of vinegar but not overpowering. It's refreshing.

M - Fizzy. Not in the glass, but in the mouth for sure.

D - Just really digging this. Like the balance of ale and cherry and not as overpowering in the ABV, either.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:47:57 | More by bulldog91

notchucknorris

California

3.49/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a purple-ruby color with a two finger dark pink head. The head recedes pretty quickly, but this looks really good.

S: A tart cherry and rose petal aroma. Light,slightly tart, floral and fruity. A good amount of oak as well, which smells soaked in cherry juice.

T: The carbonation here feels way light, and it weighs the flavors down a lot. Thick concord grape, cherry juice and cherry skin flavors. A bit of a cranberry flavor as well. It's definitely not sour, and barely tart. There's some bitter cherry skin on the finish with a wave of smooth grain. It's not terrible, but I wouldn't say it's one of the better Krieks out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:20:07 | More by notchucknorris

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22 oz bottle into SAVOR snifter.

A: bright red, very clear. lots of carb can be seen rushing to the surface. head is bubbly and on the rose side of things.

S: a mild tart cherry aroma is rounded out by a lot of chewy, biscuity grain. slightly acidic, but nothing overwhelming. inviting.

T: tastes a lot like cherry pie. the tartness that is present is not nearly as sour or acidic as I would prefer, however the flavor itself is still rather tasty. lingers like a cherry tart pastry.

M: moderate amount of carb, slightly effervescent. medium body.

D: im really enjoying this. more cherry flavor than acidity but again, I am enjoying how this brew came out. cherry pie flavor to the max. if this brew had a bit more acidic, tart nature it would be over-the-top.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 05:35:04 | More by Jimmys

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

3.38/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip glass from a 22oz bottle.

Pours a nice bright and deep ruby color with a fluffy 1 inch pink head that is dense and recedes at a medium pace. It leaves some slight sticky lacing.

Aroma starts off with some tartness and dry fruity notes. Notes of cherry skin and apple skin. Kind off bland in the nose except for some slight dry tartness and some slight sweet cherry notes.

Flavor starts off with some sharp tart notes. Slight vinegar notes mixed in with some sour cherry notes. There is some red apple skin notes mixed in with some cherry sweetness as well. Grainy and a bit bready as well. There is a nice lactic almost yogurt like acidity to the brew as well that is actually pretty good. Mouthfeel is fluffy and light with a nice dry finish.

Overall its an average cherry beer. It doesn't have the medicinal flavors that some other Kreik's have but its not that interesting.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 22:39:32 | More by JoEBoBpr

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.1/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Cigar City snifter.

A: Glowing, crystal clear red, not too thick looking. Looked like water with red food color actually. A few white bubbles posing as a head.

S: Not much sourness in the smell... more like cherry Kool-Aide with some Band Aids. Kinda generic.

T: This one is really off, particularly on the finish, which didn't have much sourness whatsoever. Seriously, I've had Berliners that were more sour and fruity than this. It almost had sort of an (unintentional?) Belgian funk that wasn't pleasant.

M: The carbonation was fine, the sweetness was okay, but I desperately needed more sour and fruit bit. This was kinda water.

O: Not horrible, but for over $15, I expected more.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 22:17:28 | More by Chaney

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

2.8/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Shared by Jayhawk73. Thanks Jeff.

The beer is transparent and ruby hued with an inch of pinkish purple head. The aroma offers sweet cherry juice, fruit punch, Shirley Temple drinks, very subtle funk. The flavor brings cherries, cherry juice. Lack of funk, wild yeast, personality, complexity, etc. Essentially missing the characteristics that can make drinking kriek a heavenly experience. Alcohol begins to emerge more as the beer warms. While there is some cherry presence, this beer is boring and uneventful. New Belgium should stop cutting corners, mass producing a huge lineup, and get back to focusing on quality. This is the brewery that produced corked and caged La Folie. What happened?!?

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 02:26:53 | More by Huhzubendah

Jparker37

Wisconsin

2.44/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

1pt 6oz bottle poured into an oversized tulip.

S - Some faint cherry tartness. Really muted aroma altogether. Papery-oxidized.

A - Pink head full of tight bubbles holds a nice cap of foam. The color is red like cherry Koolaid and has perfect clarity. Lots of stick lacing.

T - Bland flavors. Neutral base malt early. Can detect some cherry character. Some tartness accompanied by zero sweetness. Some prickly carbonation and alcohol in the finish.

M - Thin, moderate carbonation, semi-dry.

O - Very drinkable but offers little in flavor. With a second opinion was described as Natty light with cherries. Dissapointed in the lack of aroma and flavor. Appearance and carbonation were its highlights.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 22:52:06 | More by Jparker37

teromous

Virginia

3.93/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Slightly hazy cranberry red colored body, with a pink tinted white head that drops to a small ring around the glass. It is a very interesting looking Kriek. Leaves lacing.

S: It smells like red wine (not versed enough in wines to give a specific type, just smells like red wine). There's the scent of prune juice as well. Just a tad of funk smell.

T: It tastes just like it smells. It has a red wine flavor, and a hint of prune. There's a light sourness on the sides of the mouth and it hits the back of the tongue just after drinking. The beer is very juicy, but light, and no bitterness.

M: The moutheel starts medium and finishes very light. It is semi-dry with no sweetness. Very good use of fruit for body, without muddying it up. Wine-like drinkability.

O: Overall I was very happy with this beer. It is a beer that includes cherries and does not taste like cough syrup! I keep comparing it to wine, which is the closest thing this would compare to. It is an ale, however it has enough flavor that I get way more fruit character than beer character. I highly recommend this beer to those looking for a nice mellow kriek, or wine drinkers who are wanting to make the transition to beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 22:58:28 | More by teromous

Murrhey

Montana

2.75/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Poured from a standard pressure-cap bottle into a New Belgium tulip in high elevation Libby, Mont. I don't see a best-by date. Reviewed live.

A- Inch thick pink head with low retention. Some soapy pink lacing. Deep cherry color with high clarity in the body. This beer is surprisingly red. Above average for novelty, but retention is too low to warrant anything higher, particularly with an 8.0 abv.

S- Tart cherries, oak and sour brett. Slight funkiness, not as layered and complex as I have come to be used to from good sours.

T- Cherries, some woodenness, a little tartness, but honestly nothing that wows me.

M- Thin, slightly vinous and bubbly, but not a whole lot of substantial feel.

O- Disappointed with this beer, particularly considering how good the La Folie was by New Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 04:22:32 | More by Murrhey

jibbyvonjibb

California

3.56/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Vibrant cranberry (or jolly-rancher) red, little head.
S: Aroma is subdued. Some macerated cherries come out but you have to strain your nose.
T: Not as acidic as a Kriek or Flanders ale would be. Somewhat malty. Medium in body. Candy fruitiness.
O: I wish it was had more acidity and a concentrated cherry flavor. As it stands, it's dull and uninspiring. The color is the most vibrant thing about it. Now that I think about it, it does remind me of a Boon kriek (which it is mixed in with), and has the same candy artificiality. Honestly, my homebrew attempt at a Kriek was better.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 01:07:43 | More by jibbyvonjibb

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22 oz bottle poured into a New Belgium globe.
8% ABV,

A - Transatlantique Kriek pours a stunning ruby red color with brilliant clarity! I mean, this beer is RED! A tall but fleeting cap of pastel pink foam rests on the beer, gently draping delicate lace on the signature glass.

S - Oddly, the aroma doesn't scream "kriek" with either fruit or funk; instead, Transatlantique Kriek has a subtle aroma of acidic tart cherry skins and crushed black cherry pulp. Trailing closely behind is a mild, approachable nose of wild yeast funk; just a hint of barnyard/horse blanket and a wonderful dry tartness.

T - At 8% ABV, this is a bit bigger than a standard kriek, and it shows through in the flavor and body with it's maltiness. Dry crystal sweetness peeks through with notes of toast before the shift changes to real cherry fruit and the same subtle funk the nose offers. This is no cough-syrup beer, the cherries taste fresh and real; tart and acidic, not sweet, and the mild yeast compliments the fruit well with a nod to the funkier Belgian beers.

M - A decent level of malt elevates the alcohol in this beer while keeping the body more medium but a higher level of carbonation also aids in the feel's "lightness". Very dry, there's just a touch of acidic tartness to the finish; pretty light for a kriek, though the ever-so-slight metallic hint at the end is more what bothers me.

O - New Belgium's Transatlantique Kriek is an excellent entry-level kriek that completely abandons the sugary "fruit beer" notion and focuses on engaging real cherry flavor and tartness with very subtle yeast funkiness. It's approachable and enjoyable. So when I say "entry-level", it means die-hard Belgian kriek fans may find themselves disappointed in the lack of yeast funkiness and sour bite to the finish, but by no means is this anything less than awesome.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 23:57:17 | More by BeerFMAndy

chinchill

South Carolina

3.86/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

From 22 oz bottle to nonic.
Appearance: Pours a very attractive red tone with a durable white/pink foamy head that leaves plenty of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Fruity, sour cherry aroma with a subtle lager aroma in the background.

Taste: neither too sour nor too sweet but without a satisfying amount of flavor, particularly from the cherries.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with lively, medium+ carbonation; dry finish.

Overall: Pleasant and easy drinking but still disappointing; more so after reading the back story on this collaborative kriek.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 18:22:01 | More by chinchill

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.48/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 ounce bottle into a Dogfish Head signature glass.

A: Beauteous! It pours a rich, vibrant pink, with a cotton candy coloured head. Ruby clear with nice lacing. Exciting and excellent.

S: A bit metallic. Also, acidic, but this acidity is pleasant, piquant, and reminiscent of cherries.

T: It's not bad, but it does finish rather metallic. The maintaste is fruity, full, and inoffensive. Not quite as tart as I'd hoped, but the oak is not inevident. In fact, the more I drink, the fruitier and more delicious this beer grows.

M: Smooth, with a hint of prickle, but mostly just mundane.

O: I enjoyed it, all told, but it was not the special brew for which I'd hoped. Decent lambic. Would not recommend.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 05:45:16 | More by AgentMunky

GuzzLah

Illinois

3/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

A - pours a hazy amber with a short head and no bubbles.

S - bubblegum, mild cherry, soft caramel malt, faint barnyard and faint lacto.

T - like the aroma in a relatively unimpressive way for the style, but not bad.

M - lightly bubbly with a moderately dry and tart finish.

O - I have given New Belgium several chances and they consistently brew beer that makes me say meh. In this instance, the $16 bomber makes me angry. The best thing about this beer is the aroma and the smooth 8% abv.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 01:36:13 | More by GuzzLah

lordofstarside

Nevada

3.13/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bomber to a snifter

Pretty nice bottle art, it pours a dark ruby red with purple tinged foam which has receded pretty quickly. Mild carbonation stems from the center of the glass, lacing isn't too bad. Aroma of sour cherry, oak, some grape and a sweet malt. Other dark fruits are there as well, a touch of citrus and strawberry meld well with the alcohol. There is some definite complexity to the smell, it's pretty good. The taste however really comes up short. Much of the intricacy of the scent becomes lost as the taste becomes dominated with cherry. Initially a mild sour at first, it has a very sweet malty finish, leaving the beer pretty one dimension-able. The feel is poor also, as it too is dominated by this time carbonation. Very fizzy finish, but I'll at least give it that I don't taste much of the alcohol. Overall my impression of this is that it's like drinking cherry soda spiked with cherry pucker. I'm pretty new to lambics, but based off the overall score I think I'd be assuming correctly that this is a poor representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 01:29:02 | More by lordofstarside

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.46/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

unfortunately the best feature of this beer is the bottle, damn it looks cool, but this beer is average at best. the pour is flamboyantly pink, thicker than most krieks, with airy white lacing all over the glass. the nose is overly sweet, even for the style, like canned cherries that you get on your Belgian waffle at denny's. not nice. I don't get much of that tart acidic lambic yeast character at all, just more like a sweet American syrupy fruit beer. the flavor is equally disappointing, its lacking that sharpness. especially for almost 20 bucks a bottle, this is a farce. teeth rotting sugary finish, cherries seem artificial, and the pucker is entirely absent. also the alcohol stands out a bit, which is unbecoming to a kriek. I was really let down by this, and to charge that price makes me angry at new Belgium, who hasn't done anything at all to impress me for some time now. too much body, fine carbonation, but its too late for the feel to help anything. overall save yourself some money and skip this substandard offering.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 16:11:33 | More by StonedTrippin

harrymel

Washington

3.84/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

New version, looking forward to this.

This bitch pours a lovely cherry red with a light pink loose foam that falls in a minute or so. Smells nice and earthy with plenty of cherry and sweet hints of vanilla and some butter. I keep sticking my nose in for another whiff, which usually means it's complex and I dig it. Flavor is tart, with a little bitterness, some leather, some manure, some soil and grain and cherries. Medium on thin with moderate on low carb and a nice, wet finish. I think I might like this.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 08:04:07 | More by harrymel

n2185

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a clear ruby color with three fingers of pink head that fades into a frothy ring with a little lacing.

S: Tart cherries up front with some lacto sour notes followed by sweet candy sugar, bubblegum, and lighter fruit aromas.

T: Tart and dry cherry flavors dominate here with some oaky notes as well as Champagne-like flavors. There are some sweeter candy sugar and fermented fruit flavors underneath that lead to a clean, tart finish that is just slightly boozy.

M: Medium-light body with medium carbonation, this beer isn't quite as crisp as I'd like, but avoids being too think or watery.

O: A pretty decent take on the style overall. I'd like it to be a bit more sour and tart, but it's enjoyable and drinkable for an 8% lambic.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 22:17:32 | More by n2185

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.71/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottle opened on 2.28.13

A - Pours a clear ruby red gusher with a light pink fizzy head that fades fast.

S - Dark cherries, some alcohol, and some oak. Smells nice.

T - Dark sweet cherry, wood, slight tartness in the finish.

D - Good carbonation with a light body. Pretty mild.

O -Not overly sweet or tart. Easy to drink, but I wish it had more punch. Smells much nicer than it tastes.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 05:10:31 | More by HuskyinPDX

DovaliHops

California

3.41/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2013 version. Pours a beautiful, bright red color with a small, light-pink head that goes down quickly. Scent is somewhat funky and tart, but NOTHING along the lines of a lambic or American wild ale. Definitely has more of a fruit beer aroma, which is somewhat misleading since they call this one a kriek. Anyhow, the cherry comes through in the nose, along with some grainy malt aromas. Taste is tart at first, but QUICKLY becomes a mediocre fruit beer. Flavors of cherry and cranberry are present, but they are overtaken by grainy, cereal-like flavors that make this beer a bit underwhelming. Where you would want tartness and fruit flavors, you get a strange medicinal alcohol flavor. Pretty disappointing, just like the one I had two years ago was. Mouthfeel is nice, highly carbonated, and suits the beer that this one should be. Overall, not even close to my favorite Kriek, let alone fruit beer. Considering Boon plays a part in this, they should increase the quality of this one. Not undrinkable. Not bad. Overpriced. Would not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 07:24:55 | More by DovaliHops