Kasteel Rouge - Brouwerij Van Honsebrouck N.V.

metter98

New York

3.78/5  rDev 0%
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

mporter249

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +19%

06-19-2013 08:27:57 | More by mporter249

RyanLigeia

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a dark dark burgundy color, like a red wine. Semi clear when held to a light, yields a pinkish head that fizzles away quite quickly leaving nothing behind.

Smells like a cherry liquor. Slight hint of alcohol, but the cherries/cherry juice are what completely dominate here. Very faint, way underneath Im getting a hint of chocolate as well which is a nice touch. Smells very sweet and only slightly bitter. I only wish there was some belgian yeast in the nose.

The taste is dominated by a sour cherry flavor. That and some malts deep underneath. Both bitter/sour and sweet at the same time. You can tell this ones got a little kick to it as well but I wouldnt have guessed 8%.
Very very rich. I definitely enjoy it but Im glad it comes in small servings.

A little more carbonation than I would have normally liked but it balances out the syrupy sweetness. Very rich, slight warmth on the way down from the booze.

This is a great dessert beer. I couldnt drink more than one of these, or drink them very often but I really enjoyed it with some dark chocolates.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 02:16:38 | More by RyanLigeia

bostonpat6172

California

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

06-17-2013 01:23:55 | More by bostonpat6172

cw13

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

06-16-2013 02:54:17 | More by cw13

mjh0527

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +19%

06-13-2013 21:14:49 | More by mjh0527

freebirdbm14

New York

4/5  rDev +5.8%

06-11-2013 18:51:49 | More by freebirdbm14

AnitaBrewski

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

06-07-2013 03:34:32 | More by AnitaBrewski

gr0g

New Jersey

3.71/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Deep reddish-brown in color, capped with one finger of slightly pink foam. Sparse, spotty lacing. Cherry liqueur is prominent on the nose, and I'm not surprised to see the brewery's description stating that it was used. It's a bit artificial and syrupy, but I like it nonetheless. Ripe, sweet cherry aroma through and through.

Flavor is also very cherry-forward, but that doesn't play as well as it does on the aroma. Complexities that may be present in the base Belgian brown ale are masked. Pretty sweet overall but stops short of cloying, and becomes more tart and dry on the finish. As much of a one trick pony this is, I have to give it a slight flavor bump just because it works quite well as a cherry beer. Soda-like mouthfeel, though not nearly as sticky as a cola. It works well with the flavor profile.

Very straightforward cherry beer. Recommended if you're willing to accept that this is in no way close to a traditional Kriek and just want a cherry bomb.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 00:43:06 | More by gr0g

acurtis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

06-02-2013 19:21:51 | More by acurtis

Ogre

Oregon

2.25/5  rDev -40.5%

06-01-2013 23:24:57 | More by Ogre

D_Unzicker

New Mexico

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This was my first fruit lambic. I poured this out of a pint capped bottle into a pub tumbler with Kris Angel on it, which I got as a souvenir from a show in Las Vegas.

Appearance: It is very dark red, like a wine, but not transparent. The head is pink, almost burgundy. I was very impressed with the appearance.

Smell: Cherries,caramel, skotch, malt.

Taste:At first I really liked the maltiness and cherries, but I found it too rich to finish. I think an 8 ounce glass would be enough, Very sweet, Cherries, Alcohol (skotchy).

Overall: I may drink this beer again, but only in limited quantities. I would compare it to dessert wine, because it is good in small quantities, but too rich to drink it all.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 03:53:18 | More by D_Unzicker

Shemmy

Thailand

3.84/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4

Before I get going here, I'd like to say at the outset that I am in no way a fruit beer head, so take my review as that, a review from someone with probably less than three bottles of any of it chalked up on my beer wall.

Upon opening, I was immediately impressed by both the color and smell. Nice rich red hue underpinning the overall brown, mostly clear brew. The color enticed me to immediately have a smell as soon as it was poured and it had quite a presence, undoubtedly the smell of real cherries . Lovely smell, not too candy-like, and beckoning the drinker to taste what will be a very real cherry experience and not sugared up and by no means artificial. After 15 minutes, I thought I'd love to have another whiff but the second time around the smell was hardly there. I don't know, maybe I was a bit over-excited at first and imagined the full blown aroma on the first go.

The taste, which admitedly I was a bit apprehensive about, was a real nice suprise. The aroma gives you a clear indication of the taste that is to follow. I think what I liked best is that there are several clear levels to the taste. The first is the quite sweet and flowery/fruity cherry juice flavor, the second being a very meaty, real cherry fruit taste, the kind you taste when you eat fresh cherries, and the the third seemed to be from the cherry skins and pits themselves, a very unique bitter, almost cologne like taste, very interesting.

The overall effect in the hot Thai climate in which I enjoyed this was quite refreshing, something that most Belgians are not able to do. There's a bit of fizz and a light feel to the beer overall which works for hot weather. I am not sure that this would be a good session drink, seemed to me this is great as a one off, but I am not inclined to write it off as such. I am intrigued and will be indulging again soon, for sure.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2013 15:07:03 | More by Shemmy

anhigdon

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

05-27-2013 22:31:52 | More by anhigdon

pin

Australia

3/5  rDev -20.6%

05-27-2013 01:28:26 | More by pin

Waveoff

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%

05-26-2013 05:20:54 | More by Waveoff

desint

Belgium

3.25/5  rDev -14%

05-24-2013 11:09:57 | More by desint

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

05-21-2013 19:24:47 | More by InspectorBob

johntfox

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

05-21-2013 17:44:27 | More by johntfox

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev +5.8%

05-19-2013 14:55:47 | More by drgonzo2k2

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev +5.8%

05-18-2013 22:47:56 | More by Photekut

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%

05-16-2013 23:11:46 | More by Slatetank

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3/5  rDev -20.6%

05-13-2013 22:55:45 | More by ThisWangsChung

Stugotzo

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%

05-10-2013 22:23:07 | More by Stugotzo

beernads

Florida

2.5/5  rDev -33.9%

05-08-2013 08:12:44 | More by beernads