Lips Of Faith - Transatlantique Kriek - New Belgium Brewing

nanobrew

California

2.38/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

A: The appearance of this beer is great. A beautiful ruby red color with a thin bubbly head

S: Smells like dried sweet cherries, which is good, but then also smells of cough syrup, not good.

T: The taste is very similar to the smell. It is sweet cherry syrup, similar to a medicine. The tartness is VERY faint.

M: Very thick sweetness, but finishes fairly dry

Overall, I do not like this beer. It is not a kriek at all. More like a fruit beer, and not a good one.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2011 22:11:42 | More by nanobrew

glid02

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Brick Store at an event with Lauren Salazar.

Pours a crystal-clear deep amber color with a slightly off-white head that leaves decent lacing.

Smells of light malts with good amounts of robust cherries that are both sweet and tart but lean toward the sweet side. Also present are very light hints of vanilla.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Crisp light malts up front are joined quickly by bright dark cherry flavors with hints of cough syrup, though not in a bad way. The cherries carry through to a crisp ending. Mouthfeel is very good, with grainy carbonation.

Overall I like what the lager did to this beer, it took away some of the sweetness and added a bit of complexity. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2011 03:16:21 | More by glid02

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes. Pour is bright, bright red with a lightly-pink-hued head that bubbles up and falls down without leaving anything behind. The nose is a bit sour with quite a bit of cherries. Nothing all that complex. There is some moderate funk and a bit of a cherry-pie presence. The flavor is more of the same. There is a strong cherry presence along with a bit of funky sourness. Mouthfeel is nice as it positions the tart cherries against the acidity. An okay beer, but if I'm going with a New Belgium sour, I'd prefer La Folie (preferably C&C).

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2011 10:53:07 | More by Thorpe429

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.58/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Quite pink with a tall and tight white head. Lacing is solid even though it's somewhat wispy. Clear with lots of bubbles streaming northward. Grassy and earthy aroma with plenty of cherry and raspberry notes and an underlying hard-edged alcohol note of sherry or cough syrup.

Pretty fun Kriek, a decently dry and tart version of the style. Somewhat spicy and boozy, setting it a little apart from a Belgian. Lemongrass, menthol, diacetyl, and pale malt provide the backbone. Somewhat thin on the body end, but it's buttressed by the base ale. This is a good drinker with some noticeable flaws.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2011 03:11:37 | More by BretSikkink

Duhast500

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the tap into a tasting glass.

The colro is a hazy red with a foamy pinkinh head with no lacing on the glass.

The smell is deep cherry with a funky sweet flavor. There so cough syrup flavor there that draws me off a little but is mixed with a little juicey flavor that even things a bit.

The taste is fruity and does not give off that cough syrup flavor. There is a sweetness that is a little like candy but then also has a big of sourness on it's shoulders. Nice cherry flavor with touches of a suagry flavor.

The feel of this beer is light with a sweet aftertaste. It goes down with ease and is pretty silky.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2010 19:31:59 | More by Duhast500

callmescraps

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had at the Goat. I find NB hit or miss, but I do like krieks.

Appearance- A lovely deep ruby color. Quite red. Nice pink head. Very pretty.

Smell- Lots of fruit. Sweet cherries and a touch of tart cranberry.

Taste- Ugh. Just a watered down kriek. There is some nice fruit, and a good hint of funkiness. I like the tartness, and cranberry comes through. But it's just too watery. It's like a Cap Cod where all the ice has melted. Just a shame.

Mouthfeel- Too creamy. The lager is not doing it favors. I want a lighter, more carbonated feel.

Drinkability- Goes down very easy. But that's sort of the problem.

This should be a good beer. It's got a really nice kriek in there somewhere but the mix isn't doing it any favors. They ruined a perfectly good beer by getting too creative. Disappointing.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2010 01:21:44 | More by callmescraps

SShelly

California

3.48/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours reddish amber, crystal clear, slight offwhite head.

Aroma is tart cherries and slight sweetness. Touch of more potent sour as it warms.

Light tart upfront with sweet cherry tang, kind of a weak finish, just a light tart, leaves the mouth a little dry.

Drinkable, not spectacular...

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2010 03:05:50 | More by SShelly

Chambic

California

2.68/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

02.07.10 at Toronado

A: so promising, with its pretty, clear ruby color

S: fruit-forward, mostly cherries, of course, and can sense a touch of sour

T: whoa, am I drinking carbonated grenadine?

M: fully syrup-like, but with a drier-than-expected finish

D: I could, but I probably won't

What am I going to do with the 750mL I have at home? I was expecting so much more from this, especially since I'm not in love with their Kriek, either. How long can I age something with that much fruit in it? Would that even help?

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2010 23:25:42 | More by Chambic

olympuszymurgus

Minnesota

2.45/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I was excited to see a new sour on the whiteboard at The Eastside(Oly beer mecca) last evening. After first getting a pour off the secret tap I saddled up to the bar and asked for a pour of this red goddess. It's looks like a fake Irish woman's head, red and red with no hint of realism. It rakes your nostrils with a little tart, a little cherry, a little funk, a little happiness. The smell excited me more than that fake redhead two tables down.

And then, the taste. The sour is minimal, the cherries more pronounced, the flavor flat. 2 dimensions, pedestrian, a dry Lindemans. The sparks on my tongue comes more from carbonation that sour, it's a fizzy soda with a hint of disappointment. A Kriek version of Fat Tire, the safe way to brew.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2010 18:10:34 | More by olympuszymurgus

LibraryTom

California

4.18/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This ruby red lambic is a blend of two. The nose is all cherry, with a good dose of the sourness being revealed. Cherry follows in to the taste, and dominates the palette. It is delightfully sour with a complex herbal bitterness that helps round out the beer. Although it is 8%, this one is refreshing with a lasting, slightly bitter finish.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2010 20:37:48 | More by LibraryTom

augustgarage

California

3.15/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22oz bomber into my Drie fonteinen tumbler.

Clear lava body with an active sudsy brilliant lavender head which recedes to a persistent half-pinkie of foam. Lacing is sandy and fast moving, though a few weeping willow patterns remain behind.

Smells of tart cherry with a hint of citrus (from hops?) and very mild yeast. Subdued, but inviting.

The flavor unfortunately tastes like a watered down lambic - while the fruit is still present, there are no wild flavors present whatsoever. The malt and alcohol mid-palate add some interest, but the alcohol runs over the delicate fruit flavor, making the cherry seem almost artificial, though you can tell the base kriek is pure.

Not quite medium-bodied, moderately carbonated, somewhat creamy and smooth, and surprisingly warming (though not hot).

Easy drinking and refreshing, but I can't get over the feeling that this is a waste of good kriek...as an overall beer, this might be a little underrated, but it just doesn't live up to the style.

While I applaud New Belgium's experimentation, sometimes you just can't improve upon tradition.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2010 01:53:38 | More by augustgarage

SPThirtyThree

Colorado

4.4/5  rDev +27.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The pinkest of pink beers. Crystal clear, much like a red wine, but with a frothy two-finger rose head. Carting this beer around the bar in a goblet is actually somewhat emasculating.

S: A lush explosion of authentic, semi-bitter cherry, like that of cherry pie. Faint yeasty Brette notes. Enticing.

T: Sour cherries upfront, Brettanomyces sour tastes all around. The strength of these two flavors masks any hop tastes that might also be present. Neither the cherry taste nor the Brett flavors are overpowering.

M: Smooth, soft, and pleasant. Dry and crisp like a wine.

D: Surprisingly high, considering it's both soured and 8.0% ABV.

I'm not normally much of a sour beer drinker, but this one is excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2009 05:08:16 | More by SPThirtyThree

Halcyondays

California

3.63/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a vibrant red with a nice pink head with good retention.

S: Cherries.

T: Boon Kriek is clearly evident here. Heavy cherry, like Luden's cough drops, tastes artificial at times. Some interesting funk on the back end, real light.

M: Light/moderate sourness, light-bodied, crisp acidity, astringent/bitter finish.

D: I've been wanting to try this for a long time, but wasn't really impressed by this one, intriguing idea though.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2009 20:57:00 | More by Halcyondays

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Brouwers, served in a snifter type of glass.

Pours a clear ruby red, some dark orange highlighting, thick off white head forms, settles to a solid ring, tons of lace sticks to the glass. Smell is great, fresh cherry juice, oak, quite woody, lemon acidity, charred wood, very fruity, nice sourness, blackberries, good stuff. Taste is similar, tart cherries, fresh fruit salad, lemons, charred wood, nice acidity, sour fruit/cherries near the finish, vanilla, oak, great cherry flavour. Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium to low carbonation, very drinkable stuff, ABV is not apparent at all. Seems like this is much better on tap than in bottles, because this stuff was pretty dope.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2009 17:15:26 | More by Viggo

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