Kasteel Rouge - Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

3.66/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Picked up an 11.2 oz. bottle of this a few weeks back at Top Hops, having never seen or tried this before. My experience with fruit and vegetable beers in the past wasn't the greatest but the one grew on me a bit as I made my way through the contents of my pint glass. While this may be labelled by many as a "sissy" beer, there was enough alcohol in this to remind me otherwise and keep this from going down too fast!

The pour to this was a deep garnet with a hint of brown thrown in for good measure with a nice head that sounded and settled like sea foam after I emptied the bottle out. Not a strong aroma to this and once I gave it a taste, I knew why. The cherry really strong here and on a thinner level, reminded me of a bottle of maraschino that we had in house for ice cream, when I was growing up. There's a lambic-like tartness under all of this too with a hint of dark chocolate and crystalline sugar thrown in for good measure. Thankfully, the "cough medicine" aspect of this beer is not as strong as I first thought, but it's certainly present as the mouthfeel is heavy and the carbonation is light.

Yes, this was strong but it needed the booze to give it some oomph. While not as sour as a Lambic or light as most other beers that fell under this category, this certainly was a fruit beer that was almost good enough to stand up as a dessert unto itself. It fell just a bit short because the artificial aspect was too pronounced here but even with that being said, this can be enjoyed just on its own and would pair nicely with something like a cheesecake that could add some depth and sweetness to this slightly-mild brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 08:26:10 | More by JerzDevl2000

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer was great after having a good meal. Opened a bottle of this as a dessert. The pour was a reddish brown color with a good looking head on it. The smell of the cherries were pretty impressive mixed with a little funk and some yeast. The taste of the beer is sweet and has just a bit of tartness to it from the cherries. The mouthfeel is light and pretty refreshing, has a good amount of lively carbonation. Overall I feel that this beer is quite good. Worthy of checking out.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 18:59:06 | More by Knapp85

GuzzLah

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

An 8% Cherry beer with dark malts. Smells a bit like cherry Sucrets, but not in a bad way.

The taste is dark malts and cherry with some sweetness and a little tartness. Definitely a sissy beer, but I think it tastes pretty good for what it is. Better than Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, but that isn't saying much.

My Grandma would love this.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 21:52:37 | More by GuzzLah

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

3.23/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is one of those beers that is hard for me to judge because it's just not a style I personally like.

Smells awesome as a cherry beverage, very strong with a slight undertone of extract alcohol.

Nice color dark red, very strong sweet zippy cherry burst, the feel of real cherries and that slight taste of extract mixed in. The taste overpowers any actual beer flavorings, no malt or hop character comes through.

This beer was a hit with my girlfriend that does not like beer, I gave it to her to finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 11:50:39 | More by FlatRabbitRed

bsp77

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from tap into Kasteel chalet.

Appearance: Dark ruby red with nice light pink head.

Smell: Cherries, cherries, cherries. More maraschino-like than expected. Some light spiciness.

Taste: Once again, this is about the cherries. Very sweet and maraschino at first, along with some malt depth, but the cherries have a slight tart cast at the finish. Some light spiciness at the finish as well.

Feel: Full, sticky body with low carbonation. Finish is lightly dry and tart despite the mostly sweet taste.

Overall: It delivers what was promised. Liquid dessert.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2013 19:32:26 | More by bsp77

NODAK

Tennessee

4.53/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a brilliant dark red in my appropriate Belgian glassware at an awesome beer bar here....really not much of a head to speak of, however.

Aroma? Cherries. I was actually somewhat blown away by just how much this smelled like sweet cherries. Wow. You can say dessert beer here.

The taste isn't far behind the aroma. It's quite sweet at first with the taste of bing cherries....really quite lovely to be honest, because it's not overwhelming and cloying but VERY delicious....but then some tartness comes across to help balance but not nearly to the level of the sweetness. Again, a dessert beer. You'd better love cherries here.

I saw the ABV was 8 percent just now. Didn't know that drinking it. I actually pondered while drinking it what the ABV likely was. I thought it was probably 5 percent. Pretty much imperceptible. This is 8 percent?? Good lord, it's covered well. Could have fooled me.

Absolutely delicious...I LOVE cherries and I loved this. Sweet, but not TOO sweet with just a hint of tart. Awesome.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 02:32:50 | More by NODAK

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.28/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Pretty cool ruby red and light brown appearance. The type that makes diet beer drinkers think you are drinking something wussy, even though it is about twice as strong as what they have. Almost no head though on this red liquid.

Aroma is very, very sweet cherries.

Taste just hits you over the head with cherry flavor, its very sweet, hardly, if not at all tart. Brown sugar. Hides the alcohol pretty well. Really hard to describe anything being of any malt or hop descriptor.

This one is more of a dessert beer than something you can drink a few of at the game. If you don't like cherries, this one is going to piss you off. Seriously, if the idea of a cherry lifesaver roll, melted down with 8% abv sounds gross, stay away from this beer. Me, I'm kinda in the middle, its a neat beer, but a little tiresome beyond 4oz.

On tap at Cheeky Monk, Denver, CO

Review #2300. Kind of like how when you were 18, you thought you'd be dead by the time you were 30. . .

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2013 23:05:34 | More by Beerandraiderfan

metter98

New York

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is clear yet very dark red in color (opaque when viewed from a distance) and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high pink head that gradually died down and consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: Moderately strong aromas of cherries are present in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the overall taste is dominated by flavors of cherries and has a slight bit of sweetness. It's the type of cherry flavor you get with cough medicine (but in a good way).
M: It feels nearly medium-bodied on the palate (rather thick considering the style) and has a moderate amount of carbonation. There are also some slight hints of tartness.
O: This beer can be considered one dimensional, but it's a nice one to enjoy if you like cherries. This would make for a nice selection if you want something fruity but is a lot heavier compared to a lambic.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 03:24:47 | More by metter98

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.74/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Having on draft at Jimmy the Greeks in OOB, ME.

Appearance: This beer poured a two finger pink head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a crimson/mahogany color with some clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass.

Smell: Cherry and bready malts

Taste: Super strong cherry flavor, tart, and maltiness. Some bready notes too.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, low to medium bodied, medium carbonation, and a bit chewy.

Overall: Nice sweet and tart notes. Some sour notes and oak flavors too.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2013 01:58:17 | More by Flounder57

nimrod979

Maryland

4.04/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled on 10/27/10. Poured into an oversized Stella glass.

Appearance: A murky brownish, blood red with a thin layer of pinkish bubbles. A little lacing action going on.

Aroma: CHERRIES. Sweet.

Taste: Starts outs with a sweet cherry syrupy flavor, Not really medicinal. A slight sourness pops up in the finish. Nice balance of sweet and sour. A very nice fruit beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a tight fizzy carbonation. A bit softer than soda but the flavors would make you think you were drinking one. No sight of the 8.0%. Nice flavorful fruit beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 21:03:06 | More by nimrod979

Douberd

Netherlands

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

330 ml stubby bottle,at home. Poured into a Kasteel oversized wine glass. ABV 8%

Pours a really impressive very dark red/brown colour, with a thin line of pinkish soapy head, that quickly dissipates, leaving almost no lacing on the glass, but a thin layer of foam on the beer's surface.
Very strong aroma of cherries coming from the bottle. Once poured, it becomes heavier and is mixed with a wheat and spices smell.
Very sweet taste, mostly cherries, stewed and a blend of other fruits,apricots, peaches, I can taste some pears too. Some spices on the taste too, along with a slighty acidic taste, citrus like. Indeed, aftertaste is more sour than sweet or bitter. For a fruit beer,taste is very nice.
Qite carbonated, thin to medium body. A bit tart on the palate.
Not a fun of fruity beers, unless if it's a hot day and I want something to quench my thirst, and even then most probably I will go for a lager, but anyway, this is very drinkable and made me realize there are good fruit beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 21:13:08 | More by Douberd

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

3.05/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

330ml bottle served in a Kasteel chalice.

A: Pours a dark and clear color forming a ligh rose color with small retention and very lacings left

S: Very sweet and fruity. Strong notes of cherry syrup

T: Very and too sweet upfront. Again, strong notes of red fruits and mainly cherries. Quite artificial notes of syrup. Some sourness and a mild hoppy bitter end helps to give ir some dignity

M: Medium body and carbonation. Sweet and slightly sour aftertaste

O: Too sweet and syrupy to my taste. Fruit beers, I prefer the drier ones like Cantillons or 3Fonteinens. I do not recommend this one

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 07:36:48 | More by eduardolinhalis

Bashao

Israel

3.8/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours scarlet red from bottle. Nice faom head.

Smell: Heavy cherry and sweet smells.

Taste: Starts sweet but ends sour and bitter from the cherries and hops.

Mouthfeel: Very full body. Well carbonated.

Overall: Very good beer. Goes well with meals.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 19:22:45 | More by Bashao

fearbeer0506

4.8/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This was a birthday gift from by brother in law. He knew I liked fruit beers and said I would love this one. He was right.

The poor is pretty good. A light tan head on the beer is kind of underwhelming for the sweet cherry aroma that is there. The beer itself is a dark maroon color. The taste is glorious! It's as if God picked cherries and placed them in your mouth. This is how a fruit beer should taste. It has a long finish; the goodness stays with you for the night.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:26:50 | More by fearbeer0506

confer

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours brown but has red tints when held to a light. Big tan head that never goes away entirely.
Smells faintly of cherry juice.
Taste is almost entirely cherry juice, very sweet. Just a small amount of sour in the finish.
Overall a very drinkable fruit beer. I'll get it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 21:02:15 | More by confer

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours medium brown with cloudiness and reddish tones. Semi-lacy small head. Looks okay.

Tart cherry syrup, sweet cherry juice, candi sugar, lightly chocolaty malts, nuttiness and wheat bread.

Sweet cherry syrup and cherry cola taste with some tartness that can't quite match up. Full breadth and bruised fruit ripeness. Some pomme fruit and apricot jam.

Supple and sticky. Sugary and ripe. Medium-to-heavy body with light carbonation. Alcohol is well-hidden.

Nice fruit ale with a little too much of that cough syrup flavor. Still rich, but tart. A little heavy on the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 05:16:15 | More by thecheapies

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a Leffe goblet. The pour is murky reddish-brown with low carbonation and not much head. The nose is quite nice. Lots of cherries accented by sweet bready notes and a hint of cocoa.

The beer has medium body and firm feel. Nicely balanced on the front of the palate with sweet malt and tart cherries. At mid-palate, some alcohol flavors creep in, mixing with the acidity and giving the beer a wine-like quality on the finish. The sweetness still is present as well as slight chocolate-like notes and an oakiness.

Overall, a good fruit beer, but I prefer fruit beers where the fruit flavor is stronger and isn't competing with too many other flavors. I suppose I should appreciate complexity, but for some reason I don't when it comes to fruit beers. There's something about the exact mix of flavors here that just didn't quite work for me. I'll likely revisit this one again someday.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 12:56:52 | More by deadonhisfeet

Etan

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml into a snifter.

A: Pours brownish red with a slightly pink head.

S: Thick cherry syrup and drier flesh in the nose.

T: More syrupy cherry, some very slightly tart cherry skin, light caramel and spice.

M: Medium-bodied, moderate carbonation.

O: This reminds me of NG Belgian Red, in its syrupy cherry flavor. Not my favorite, but I can appreciate the style every once in a while.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 06:32:47 | More by Etan

carlborch

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours mahogany-red. Brilliantly clear. Tan 1.5 inch head that quickly dissipates to 1/8 inch. tan. The nose has distinct sweet-cherry notes. Moderate-to-light carbonation. Very modest Belgian lace. Medium-light body. Nicely restrained fruit with bitter notes (hops and cherry pits?). The ABV is not evident on the palate. Well-balanced, delicious ale. Lingers pleasantly. Bitter, palate cleansing notes are evident in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 22:09:21 | More by carlborch

goochpunch

Texas

1.33/5  rDev -64.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

I kinda like the color of this beer: brownish red. Smell is not very pleasant. I can somewhat smell the base brown beer under it all, but the main thing I pick up is sugar and cough syrup. The taste. Where do I begin? This tastes like straight up cherry cough syrup with a hint of maraschino cherries. There's a touch of tartness in the finish, but it's not enough to fix this mess. Mouthfeel is sticky and could use more carbonation. This is so gross. Not drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 03:23:40 | More by goochpunch

rangerred

Tennessee

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle into a tulip.

Pours a clear deep ruby red with a half finger reddish-tan head. Decent head retention forming a thin cap over the beer but lacing is practically nonexistent.

Aroma is nearly all cherries. Very reminiscent of cherry Kool-Aid. There are some Belgian Lambic undertones, however, with horse blanket and barnyard letting you know this isn't a soft drink. Really a unique, inviting aroma.

Flavor carries over the characteristics of the aroma with sweet cherry juice along with tartness contributed by the cherries. However underneath the cherry is barnyard funk very typical of a Lambic. This serves to well balance out the fruit and add complexity. While this beer is on the sweet side it never gets cloying and the tartness really helps drinkability. Finish is only slightly sticky and a little drying.

Overall, I am very impressed with this beer and wish I would have opened it up over the summer when it was warmer. The alcohol is nowhere to be found and this is really a guzzler. I really need to seek out some more Krieks and see how this stacks up.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2012 01:03:15 | More by rangerred

UCLABrewN84

California

3.63/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle pour for the 4th Annual LA Beer Week Beer Festival at Union Station in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a murky dark crimson-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, and lots of dark cherry aromas. Taste is much the same with a slightly medicinal cherry flavor. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but it smells better than it tastes in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 04:17:30 | More by UCLABrewN84

Toddzillamz

4.4/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A quick story, if you find it in your hearts to give me the time to tell it. I may be a bit jaded when it comes to what I believe is a quality beer, and have succumbed to the hype of certain styles of brew over the years. I also succumbed to a 6'2" Czech, but that is another tale. Or tail. I would never in my life take a sip of a damn fruity beer, and the thought of adding fruit was a novelty meant for punier men than me. I have been proven wrong tonight my friends. For tonight I have been exposed to the greatness that is Kasteel Rouge. A cherry bomb that destroys your mouth, but in the most respectable manner. A hidden jewel in the temple that is the Belgian beer empire. This type of beer was always something foreign to me. Like a black girl. She may have beautiful features, but you think that there must be something different going on. You are hesitant to make a move. You remember what your friend once said..."they are spicy." You wonder what the heck this spicy taste thing is all about, and keep your distance, but also keep a fixation. One day, you invite the girl back to your house, and finally kiss her. She tastes the same as everybody else, but you only let her give you a handjob in the end. This is Kasteel Rouge. A gem in disguise but only good enough for hand pleasure. I came. Something you keep around for a quick fix, but not the true love you desire. The sweet pleasure of those lips may get you through the night tonight, but there always comes another day. Keep this beer handy for those quick fixes though my friends.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 03:17:33 | More by Toddzillamz

amendt

Italy

4.88/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This fine beverage has a look that is not altogether inspiring. Upon reflection, its color seems closest to menstrual blood.

However, chilled to the right temperature and guzzled on a hot day, it is a massive restorative. It is a mind-stretching pick-me-up. You will see the world through new eyes, or rather, ruby-tinted lenses.

This sweet beer (?) is a true discovery. It tastes nothing like you'd expect. Its main theme is that of sour cherries. For those who despise sweet beers -- since sweetness to them represents something emasculated, feminine, and pathetic -- this will surely fall victim to their prejudice. But for those who don't mind sweetness per se, there is a breathtaking transparency to its sweetness: it is not sickly or cloying. With the sour cherries it is bracing and utterly unique.

One overlooked aspect to this drink is that it is a MASSIVE HIT WITH THE LADIES. Again, this might disqualify it from consideration for beer graybeards-in-training. But if you want to rock your girl with a deceptive alcohol content and give her a drink that she will crave, and keep asking for more, then look no further than Kasteel Rouge. How well it masks the taste of rufies I don't know yet. But there is a significant chance that with Kasteel Rouge you won't need them at all.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2012 05:46:22 | More by amendt

tdm168

North Carolina

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

On tap at Village Draft House. Served in a chalice.

A - dark amber with a thin layer of brownish head

S - warm with a hint of alcohol, strong black cherries, some faint malt, just a hint of medicinal syrup

T - sweet cherries, a bit tart, faint medicinal notes, a hint of yeast, some dark malts, alcohol as the beer warms

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a pretty decent fruit beer. The malt provides a nice balance to the tart, sweet cherries. All of the flavors mesh quite well. The alcohol is noticeable, but adds warmth and body and doesn't take away from the flavor. The slight medicinal note is really the only off-putting part of this one and even then it's faint and almost negligible. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2012 07:59:46 | More by tdm168