Drie Fonteinen Oude Kriek - Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen

smakawhat

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into a Drie Fonteinen stemware glass. Good till Jan 2014, bottled Jan 27 2012.

A slow straight pour brings a light wet sounding body it seems, but a solid deep cherry dark red almost blood purple. It produces a one finger head deep pink reddish in color, which is slightly foamy but disappears quickly, but settles to a real nice whip cream merringue pink and white collar.

Nose is a mild cherry cough drop, without the medicinal factor. Lightly tart with mild hinting acidity. Very clean, with a penny candy like sense.

A good tart acid, with an almost creamy mouthfeel gives the mouth a nice sense of mellow sour cherry. Real good malt depth on this, with just enough density to stay from being too watery and wet. Very moderate carbonation but with a hint of tight fizz, nothing detracts from the palate.

Overall a nice mellow and perhaps not as flavorful hinting kriek compared to what is sensed on the nose, but very subtle and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 00:50:19 | More by smakawhat

wethorseblanket

California

4.21/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

375ml bottle, dated 1/27/2012, shared by Andrewk. Thanks.

A: Pours a hazy cranberry hue with a trace pinkish head which fades quickly to the rim leaving no lace.

N: Juicy cherry with pits and funk, wet wood and that lovely musty, earthy, barnyard presence.

T: Tart cherries, oaky and funk just washes over.

M: Semi-moderate body and light carbonation. Dry and tart finish.

O: So very good. Must have more.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 03:45:00 | More by wethorseblanket

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle of this at Marlboro Wine & Spirits. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a clear super dark ruby hue. Much like a red wine. There was hardly a pop to the bottle, and when it was poured there was a one finger pink head that faded almost immediately to leave a super thin halo.

S - Nice Drie Fonteinen funk going on here with lighter cherry notes. Solid oak barrel notes as well and a faint flash of vinegar.

T - Mmmm...thats more like it. Very tart and sour cherries immediately assault the pallet. Past the sour is a wonderful lingering sweet cherry and oak/vanilla barrel note. Finishes almost perfumey and sour. Nice flemmy after effect as well.

M - Mouthfeel is on the thinner side with not much carbonation at all.

O - Overall a delicious beer, but thats about it. Damn tasty though and worth the money really.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 18:51:12 | More by rudzud

tewaris

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2007 vintage shared generously by Dan, thanks a lot!

Pours a dark pink-purple color and bruises the palate as well! Aroma is dominated by fruit, or rather jam. Extremely sour but with tons of cherry flavor... I don't think cherry flavor fades with time. The lambic in notable only in funky undertones. Very dry and extremely lactic, this beer is great for sharing.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 05:28:32 | More by tewaris

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bottle (dated 1/27/2012) into Ommegang wine flute

A: Dark ruby red in color burgandany like a heavy red wine. There are plenty of bubbles but not head what so ever and it is basically opaque unless you hold it to a light where it becomes cloudy.

S: Its definitely got a stinky funky smell to it and I can also smell the oak from the barrels. There is some hints of dark fruit that is not necessarily distinctively cherry, but close. Not too powerful of a smell but diverse for sure

T: it has a very powerful tart souring flavor upfront that will definitely pucker your lips for me this is enjoyable but for some it may be overpowering. After the initial sour punch there is a nice realistically sweet cherry juice flavor that lasts to make a cheesy metaphor its like a firework it starts off with a bang but fizzles out quickly leaving you wanting more.

M: It is nice and light bubbly similar to champaign but it goes down very easily. It is thin oily sweet and juicy not really a bad thing to say though not mind blowing or really great.

O: I really liked this kreik I am once again impressed by 3 font's brewing. It has a really great sour flavor while maintaining balance. It isn't the greatest beer ever, but i really like it and as far as kriek goes it is one of the best I've had.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 01:27:21 | More by Pinknuggets

ColdPoncho

Ohio

4.14/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

January 27 2012 bottling. First time

A - A nice deep red body with a lively pink head. Haven't seen many beers like this, and it's really attractive.

S - A very prominent cherry note with complements of funk, tartness, wood, and a bit of acetone.

T - Insatiably dry, woody, tart. The cherry and acetone blend together fairly well and mutually reduce each other. It seems the cherry contributes more to color and nose than taste. Still a very nice thing here.

M - Thin and light, heavily drying

O - nice beer, would age and drink again.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 03:30:24 | More by ColdPoncho

Jonada

New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

375ml bottled on Jan 27th 2012

Appearance: Dark red with hints of purple. No head or lacing. Looks fairly tepid. It actually looks like a glass of slightly hazy cranberry juice.

Smell: Sour cherry, musty basement, a little bit of barnyard funk, oak, acidic.

Taste: Sour pie cherries, oak, vinegar, funk. Medium sourness. Finishes dry.

Mouthfeel: Light, somewhat watery, with very very little carbonation.

Overall: A pretty good kriek lambic, but could done with a bit more carbonation. I was a little disappointed with this one. There are lots of better, easier to find options out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 04:21:47 | More by Jonada

magictacosinus

California

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Finally scored a bottle of one of these locally without having to pay a lot. Poured out of a 375ml bottle into a tulip glass. Label states it was bottled on 27/JAN/2012, and that it is "good for at least 10 years after bottling date."

Opens up with barely a pop, yet pours a deliriously beautiful cascade of ruby-reddish tinged liquid, complete with lots of bubbles at the initial pour. Not much of a head going on here, and, indeed, the bubbles eventually completely vanish. There is a significantly champagne-like texture to this, and it retains a syrupy and viscous look whenever moved around in the glass. A little bit of cloudiness prevails when some of the dregs are poured in, which gives it less of a jewel-like appearance, yet overall it is a beautiful, classic take on the traditional oude kriek style. Honestly, I haven't seen one this pretty since Cantillon's kriek.

The aroma is surprisingly less tarty than I initially expected. While there is an initial, half soured, half candied warmth of cherries on the nose, it quickly vanishes and is replaced by notes of lemon rind, woodiness, grassy texture, and, of course, an enormous funky backbone of wild yeasty characteristics. In a way, the aroma highly resembles a variant on pinot noir grapes, except with far more sour phenols than acidic ones. It's all very pleasant, but definitely not as explosive as I was expecting.

The flavor definitely proves to be more leaning towards the tart aspects inclusive to this style, featuring soured cherry and raspberry flavors, complete with woody notes infused with wild yeast. The fruitiness is very juicy, and the yeast creates an enormous bouquet that permeates the mouth and nostrils, and leaves a tingling sensation upon the palate. There's a little bit of a surprisingly jammy aftertaste after the initial funk and candied sourness settles down, but it is subtle enough to make this extremely easy to consume. The finish lasts for a while, and yet, just like other beers of this variety, makes you long for more to cancel out the finishing acidity with initial sweetness in a long, drinking cycle.

Far more subtle than other Lambics I've had in this style, but nevertheless retains complexity and solid flavor throughout. I do think that in the future I will try to hunt down a 750ml bottle and cellar it for a few years so that the funk starts to shine through over time. This beer is definitely a good way to introduce people to traditional Belgian sours and not make them run away screaming. Quite a masterfully crafted kriek overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 18:55:08 | More by magictacosinus

merc7186

New York

3.9/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 6/27/12. 12.7oz bottle into snifter.

A: Purplish Hue, Passes Mild Light, Pink Head, Minimal Lacing

S: Semi Tart Pie Cherry, Cranberry, Hay

T: Semi Tart Cherry, Cranberry

M: Average Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Mildly Tart

Overall, compared to the Schaerkeebse Kriek, this one is like crap but by itself, it is a pretty nice but mildly tart kriek.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 23:19:26 | More by merc7186

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.9/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled 01 APR 2011

Head sizzled off immediately leaving a hazy deep dark red body. Looks like cranberry juice.

Aromas of acidic cherry, cranberry, and band aid.

Tastes of cherry, more fruit(cranberry), more band aid, and hay funk. There is a slight sweetness in there.

Very tart. Feel it in the jaw.No head but it does have carbonation. Medium bodied. Bone dry.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 07:47:48 | More by MattSweatshirt

cosmicevan

New York

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

bottle picked up locally split with JxExM and his lady.

bottled 1/27/2012

a - brew poured a stunning red with minimal to no visible carbonation...there was some soft spotty bubbly lacing, but not much to speak of.

s - smellos of sour cherries with some cheesiness and oak.

t - nice complex sourness, but definitely young. leads with the sour cherry gets a bit cheesy and then finishes with some good vanilla oakiness.

m - not puckeringly sour, fairly balanced with a hint of eggy cheesiness (but it is fairly young).

o - overall, was extremely impressed with this beer and will be seeking out some more of this.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 03:12:20 | More by cosmicevan

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.21/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle opened on 12.25.12
Dated 27/01/2012

A - Pours a clear deep pink-red with a very small, large bubbled, light pink head with good retention.

S - Tart cherry, grapes, and some red wine. Nice.

T - Dark grapes, tart with a sour pucker, some subtle wheat and hops in the middle.

D - Low carbonation with a light body.

O - Tart a light, crisp fruit with a sour finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 06:11:14 | More by HuskyinPDX

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Drie Fonteinen Oude Kriek. Bottled 12/14/2007.

Very hazy magenta color. Translucent, but held up to light, offers a nice glow. Had to agitate to get some sudsiness to form. Carnation pink foam never really covered the surface, but is left as a thick choppy ring of huge bubbles.

Somewhat muted aroma. Oak and sour cherries. Some straw-like bretty character, but it's pretty subdued. Very light note of currant and raspberry.

Nice and funky with notes of damp basement and acetic acid sourness. Fruit notes have tart cherry, raspberry, and almost blueberry. Vinous notes are very pleasing and not overshadowing what tastes like the remains of a sturdy malt base. Quite complex and delicious.

Right about medium in the body, but the carbonation is light. Probably was lost in the aging process. Still feels soft after the tartness. The finish cleans up very nicely.

Tasted along with '10 Cantillon Kriek, '07 Boon Kriek Mariage Parfait, and '10 Drie Fonteinen Schaarbeekse Kriek. Ranked 2nd to Cantillon.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 05:11:23 | More by thecheapies

tehzachatak

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

375 mL Jan 2012 bottle poured into 3F wine glass. Almost no cork pop....

A - very, very dark red, with little to no head. a brief fizz, maybe.

S - tart cherries, a hint of almond or something that i imagine is from the pits. more wood in the nose than i've gotten from most.

T - lactic up front, into sour cherry flavor. hints of funk and a very very slight metallic note that i HATE in lambics at the end. luckily, only the tiniest hint of it. some tannic notes. not aggressively tart in comparison to many lambics.

M - low carbonation. it works! tart, dry, yum. i've had better mouthfeel in a lambic, but not many. a TINY bit too light is my only complaint.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 01:34:48 | More by tehzachatak

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice extra from evilc in a recent trade! Thanks chris!

bottle date of 01/27/12.

small pop when pulling out the cork.

poured into duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: deep red bodied beer with a thin cap composed mostly of medium and large sized bubbles that form a white head with a pink tint. Drops to a thin white ring.

Smell: Tart cherries, vinegar, oak, and a touch of dusty / musty / sweaty funk! I can just smell the tartness of this beer!

Taste: a touch of tart cherries and some berries right away. Its got just a touch of sweetness almost like jam. The funk level is pretty big in this beer. Its really oaky, tannic, and a touch vinegary as well. Not as tart as the nose leads on. Its fairly balanced Kriek, but its still more of a funky sour.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer with low carbonation. The carbonation is soft and delicate. I think its at a good carbonation level. Finishes a little on the dry side.

Overall: Really nice kriek. Not my favorite, but its very enjoyable. I normally to not gravitate towards the super funky sours, but this beer had just the right amount of funk without crossing the line by being an overly funky beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 13:22:59 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

prototypic

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oude Kriek is a very dark cherry color. It’s clouded by a thick haze. Nevertheless, plenty of light cuts through revealing an array of crimson and pink highlights. Love the color. A soft, white head caps it off. The head only rises to about a finger in height. Retention was rather short as it fell back and disappeared quickly. Lacing was extremely light. Excellent color though!

The nose good, but is a little light. Just a little more strength would drive it up a notch. It is a bit earthy and musky up front. There’s a slight funkiness to it, but it’s very subtle. Nice touch. It does feature a really nice cherry scent. I’m not the biggest cherry fan, but it smells nice…and tart! Secondary scents include oak, berries, and Belgian yeast. Alcohol is not a factor at all. It smells really good. If only it were just a little stronger….

The flavor is simply excellent! Wow! Really good stuff. It definitely starts out with a combo of musky, earthy, and funky flavors. It’s a little grainy. The funky flavor is subtle and rather mild. I really like that about it. It’s enough barnyard funkiness to liven up the flavor, but not so much that it dominates the palate. It is tart or sour. The cherry flavor is very vibrant and strong. It’s not quite mouth puckering though. Oak, berries, Belgian yeast, and even a little apple round it out. Very deep and complex. Alcohol isn’t noticeable. Finishes tart, fruity, oaky, and dry. Excellent!

Oude Kriek has a light – medium body. Carbonation is very light and restrained. It feels light, but it’s extremely soft and smooth. Goes down far too easily.

Brouwerij Drie Fonteinen makes incredible beer. While Oude Kriek is an excellent example, it’s actually not one of their best. That, in and of itself, is a testament to their skills. Oude Kriek is damn impressive. It’s very refined, complex, and sophisticated. Art in a bottle. Find some.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:49:36 | More by prototypic

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.6/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle served in a flute glass.

2006 corked bottle.

A: Pours a dark rose to purple color. Cloudy. Minimum carbonation (I guess that's due to the bottle age). Forms a very small bubbled white head with minimal retention and no lacings left

S: Fruity and woody. Cherry juice. A little bit sour. Lambic yeasts

T: The best part. Just perfect. A Slightly sweet fruity upfront, followed by a tart cherry pie taste. Oak and malt. In overall a dry but veeeery smooth taste. Not aggressively tart as a Cantillon, for example, giving a quite winy sensation in the mouth.

M: Light but slightly smooth body. Very low carbonation. Malty and tart aftertaste

O: Excellent drinkability. I would like to taste a "younger" one (this is a 6 years old bottle) to compare. Absolutely great beer. No more comments...

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 17:38:23 | More by eduardolinhalis

mltobin

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle split with a couple of friends, poured into a small tasting glass.

The appearance is a light red color with a short foamy white head. Its` nose has sour cherries, dusty cellar and hay. Tipping it back for a taste and I get some funk, a good dose of cherries and a nice tart quality to it. The mouthfeel is medium with a heavy handed sourness, where the finish was a little sharper than I like in fruit lambics. But, with all things considered, this is nonetheless a fine beer. Certainly one that is great to open with friends to celebrate and perhaps discuss the interesting qualities of it.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 14:12:36 | More by mltobin

libbey

Washington

4.58/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewed blind from Blind BIF rd. 7. Thanks again trxxpaxxs.

375ml split with Lazerlobe. Poured into a Hoppin Frog snifter

A: The beer pours a glowing cranberry red with minimal head that dissipates quickly into nothing. No lacing to speak of. 3/5

S: Giant wafts of barnyard funk, must/cobwebs. A touch of oak tannins and bright berries on the back end but this guy is dominated by the sour. It literally made my mouth water. 4.5/5

T: Jaw locking tartness, hints of tannins and berries but always the ever present sour funk. It's bright and juicy. Simply fantastic. This is what I look for in my Krieks. 4.5/5

M: The overall mouthfeel is bubbly and wonderful. Tartness and oak tannins linger on the pallet after each sip. It is literally an explosion of flavor. Perfect. 5/5

O: Overall this is a world class sour and should be pursued accordingly. A fantastic Kriek. 5/5

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 21:51:26 | More by libbey

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottled 01 APR. 2011
Served in a gueuze tumbler with the big "3" etching. I love this glass.

Appearance. Pours a nice deep magenta with a little haze and half a finger of pink head.

Smell. Sour cherries, old dank wood and a little cheezy funk. I must admit, after the 3F gueuze I had this week, I expected more.

Taste. Nice sour cherries, a little old wood and leather, and some dry musty funk.

Mouthfeel. Below medium bodied with fairly strong, fine carbonation. Very suitable for the style.

Overall. A very nice Kriek indeed, but as I mentioned, not quite on par with the gueuze I had earlier in the week. Meybe I'm just spoiled these days...

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 02:11:08 | More by Rutager

Ryan011235

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Bell's tulip on 9/7/12

Bottling date: 01 Apr. 2011

The beer pours the color of a plum wine; once in the glass it has a deep ruby appearance with crimson highlights. Very clear. Lots of fizzy, audibly crackling foam is light pink in color; though it rises to two fingers, it doesn't last long. Swirling maintains some collar foam. Absolutely no lace.

Cherries occupy an unsurprising portion of the nose; their smell is simultaneously tart and sugary. Wild yeast funk is pretty strong as well; it's reminiscent of gym clothes that have been worn many times over - stale, ripened sweat. It has something of a salty scent, too, though it comes and goes. Similarly, musty, damp oak notes move in and out of the picture.

Hmm. The taste is a bit more evolved than the aroma, but don't get me wrong - this is a tart, punchy, puckering critter. Moderate amounts of sour cherries are blended with swampy oak and barnyard funk. Deeper down and largely obscured by the tartness are faint notes of grain. Mostly, though it's wild yeast funk and cherry sourness. As the beer warms, it has a dry, wooly finish.

While the flavor isn't particularly sweet, there is a sugary presence that informs the feel. Very high, scathing carbonation is the leading physical attribute and makes the feel come across as edgy and on the thin side. However, after sipping on this for a good spell the carbonation is diminished considerably, revealing a moderate body that harkens back to the aforementioned sugary presence. Dank, cotton-coating finish.

Oude Kriek is an adventure through and through, and it's one I recommend having.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 02:12:05 | More by Ryan011235

jethrodium

California

3.9/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

375 ml bottle. Pours a clear reddish pink with a small pink head that settles to a ring and leaves some very light lacing on the glass. The aroma has lots of tart cherry, a light musty funk, a bit of lemon, raspberry, and some grape. The taste has a bit of initial sweetness with tart cherries. Then there is some lemon, lactic acit, raspberry, and some musty funk. The finish has a lingering cherry flavor and a bit of funk with some astringency. A bit sweeter than I would like. Medium body. Low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 21:39:07 | More by jethrodium

aasher

Indiana

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This bottle was courtesy of muskabeatz, thanks Evan!

2009 vintage, European release. This beer pours a light bodied, deep cherry red in color with a nice slightly pink lacing. The nose is smooth and tart. There is nice acidity and plenty of sour cherry. The flavors are as well rounded as you can find from a Kriek. It is very smooth and offers a nice amount of both sour and fresh cherry. It drinks very smoothly and the yeast isn't overbearing at all. This is a Kriek fans Kriek. I wish this was easy to find in 750mls. I like it a lot more than Schaersbeeks. This is a must try. This bottle was the best Kriek I've had yet.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 02:34:20 | More by aasher

cfrances33

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

April 2011 bottle (375ml) served at Monk's Cafe in Philly on 8/3/12. Poured into a 3F gueuze glass,

Pour: Clear deep ruby with no head to speak of.

Smell: Loads of tart cherries and a complementary barnyard funk. Really bursts out of the glass. Little bit of woodiness.

Taste: More tart cherries, that also boast a substantial amount of sweetness. A pleasant barnyard funk accompanies after the sweetness subsides.

Mouthfeel: Super refreshing and not overly sour. Tart cherries definitely coat the palate.

Overall: A really fantastic lambic, and I would love to see what more again would do to this beer's flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 04:47:01 | More by cfrances33

notchucknorris

California

4.43/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1/27/12 Bottling date

A: Pours an almost cabernet-like color. No real head to speak of.

S: A rich blend of sour cherry and a lot of oak. Some raspberry jam notes emerge as the beer warms. Definitely has a bit of a vinous characteristic to it.

T: Tons of sour cherries throughout with a slight lactic tartness. A touch of unripe raspberry with a rich jammy finish. A touch of lemon and tannins on the finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 22:27:59 | More by notchucknorris