Leireken Wild Berries Belgian Ale
Brasserie De Silenrieux S.A. (Chez L'Père Sarrasin)

Leireken Wild Berries Belgian AleLeireken Wild Berries Belgian Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Brasserie De Silenrieux S.A. (Chez L'Père Sarrasin)
 
Belgium
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.39 | pDev: 22.71%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
20
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 26, 2021
Added:
May 25, 2010
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
As a positive outlier for Leireken, I'm seconding BA's review from 2011. To do otherwise, I will have to read lots of reviews and, then, probably not agree with them. To me, this is a fine ale; brewed by a crafter I want more from.

Leireken's Wild Berries Looks well above the average of fruit beers; decent foam sticks around as lace for the length of this cylindrical glass. Smells are sweet: a medley of six berries (including the healthful elderberry) and malts (including the ancient spelt.) Those ingredients from the label creates Tastes that are somehow balanced without the use of hops. Mouth is full and refreshing. Yet, I had this with a pesto pasta salad and it cut right through the oils and made it all better. OA, I find it amazing what a good yeast can do to make fruit into beer.

Curiously, Lee's Discount Liquor in Las Vegas' sprawl is where I found my first from Silenrieux. (Low probability since I root out Belgians throughout the U.S.) Obliged to my routine, I went on Silenrieux's website and found the English button and read the description of their ales. I am glad I found Wild Berries and can't wait for more from Silenrieux. Because they are so remote, they won't make it on my BBBL (Belgian Brewers Bucket List.) But I, at least, can hope to get lucky and find a few of their other offerings.
Feb 26, 2021
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.32/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Pours a light red and pink color, I'm digging it. Lighter pink head, 1.25" deep. Aroma of berry juice. Was hoping for more of a tart berry thing, but this ain't no wild ale or lambic.

Taste has a slight humidity to it, but overall its a fruit beer, berries, non descript berries, red in color, not black or blueberries I guess. High carbonation. Some sweetness, but not sugary overload. Somewhat dry finish.

Expensive format. Would not repeat, but wasn't a total disappointment either.
Dec 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.36 by ryannosaurus from Arizona

Oct 03, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by largadeer from California

Nov 26, 2013
Photo of Philousa
Reviewed by Philousa from California

1.62/5  rDev -52.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 1.25
Pours a clear, fiery red with pink spritzy head, two fingers thick. I can get some light grain with a swirl, but this is aroma mostly berry juice, some yeast tartness, and some muskiness. That muskiness and tartness transfers to the flavor and its not pleasant. I get some berry flavor, but the bitterness kicks in and it makes me think more of turned fruit juice. The feel is watery and finish is somewhat dry.

Don't want again. Pretty goss, but then again, it's not my style either.
May 13, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by bluerabbit from Massachusetts

Sep 10, 2012
 
Rated: 2.75 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 31, 2012
Photo of RblWthACoz
Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +29.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
This is as good a fruit beer as you are going to find anywhere. It has a bit of a chalky thing to it that seems to be the only detractor, but the overall smooth berry tones really stand out well. It seems very fresh and vibrant. I have had a few fruit beers that have really stood out, and this one joins those, but it stands on its own and in its own unique way. For fruit beer lovers, this is a must try. For all others, it wouldn't hurt you to give it a shot either. (Yep. High scores from a biased berry lover.)
Jul 30, 2012
Photo of TaySuth
Reviewed by TaySuth from California

3.31/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Very light, rosy pink in color. Enormous head. Seriously, over five fingers and long lasting with major lacing.

Smell: The aroma is a mix of floral and sweet berries. Nice but not overly impressive.

Taste: Smell really carries over to the taste with floral notes and berries. Not overly sweet. Bitterness is nonexistent. Once again, tasty but not overly impressive.

Mouthfeel: Light body and lots of carbonation.

Overall: Enjoyable but not something that I would go out of my way to purchase again.
Apr 16, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by mdaschaf from Indiana

Feb 19, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Exiled from Texas

Nov 24, 2011
Photo of BeerAdvocate
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

3.7/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #53 (June 2011):

Come on, beer geeks—not all Belgian fruit beers have to be Lambics. A whole lot of head going on here, as popping the cork was sort of a telltale sign that the carbonation was up there. Cloudy amber, almost rosy color. Rose water, potpourri, and mild but substantial tart fruit that sticks around in the nose. Bone-dry palate; fruity but botanical at the same time. Not soapy but certainly complex. Maltiness is dry with a mild cracker flavor. Hops? They did not even need to show. Some juicy fruit and a bit of tartness within. Dry finish with not much lingering around.
Aug 25, 2011
Photo of avaldivia
Reviewed by avaldivia from California

3.53/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from bottle into a Belgian tulip glass.

A: Bright pink reddish color with a decent size head with little to no retention.

S: You definitely smell berries. Right away you can tell this is going to be a sweet beer.

T: This is very sweet. The fruit is completely upfront. I taste raspberries and strawberries. The spelt flavors is there but not overpowering. Finishes a bit dry.

M: Very high carbonation and very light bodied.

O: I thought that, while very sweet, this was a solid beer. I would not be against picking this up again.
Aug 03, 2011
Photo of SilentBob2u2
Reviewed by SilentBob2u2 from California

4.8/5  rDev +41.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
A - copper and amber color, slightly reddish w/ an orange hue

S - fresh fruit and jalapeño membrane, slightly acidic but very fruity

M - solid mouthfeel, slightly easy or light, doesn't finish as strong as expected

T - starts strong on fruitiness ( immediately) but slight heat follows as the beer finishes, then finishes w/ a fruit Tarty-ness

D - not a session beer but definitely worth seeking out. Very unique and very well done. The pepper flavor kicks in so mildly but makes its presence known. Incredibly good and very much on par with Dogfish Theobrama but different, only saying Dogfish because of the pepper aftertaste which is mild but incredibly well done for a peppery beer
Jun 20, 2011
Photo of pixieskid
Reviewed by pixieskid from Germany

3.8/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer should categorized under the fruit/veg. beer as it is in no way a lambic.

med thin body, crisp and juicy, good carbonation.

Nice fruity notes upfront with strong presence of berries. Finishes with a light grassy note and solid juiciness.

Simple and easy drinking, this is what a fruit beer should taste like; great example of the style.
Mar 21, 2011
Photo of GRG1313
Reviewed by GRG1313 from California

3.03/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Brewed with Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Cherry, Pomegranate and Elderberry fruit juices. "01/01/12" on the top of the caged cap. A rather expensive bottle of beer at $24 for the 750 bottle. Unknown if this a "best before" or a "best after" date. Other numbers on metal cap rubbed off. Wow. The cork popped out loudly and hit the ceiling but the bottle did not gush.

Beautiful clear deep orange amber with a giant pillowing egg white peak head that is long lasting.

Nose is full of esters followed by a red berry sweet/sour notes. A strawberry character predominates but has that "car wax smell" character.

Mouthfeel is clean and fresh with a nice balance, nice carbonation and overall decent mouthfeel. Flavors become the "issue" with this one. Almost sour, almost bitter, almost sweet, almost soda pop.

Flavors can't make up their mind. There is a dull bitter sweet berry soda pop character that can't be overlooked. There is a light citric/light sour character but with a green herb tone. With some air and near room temperature more and more of the pomegranate and strawberry/raspberry tones kick in. This one actually can grow on you. However, when all is said and done, the soda pop nature dominates. Tons of potential here.

A bit more extreme and this one could have been dynamite. As it is, it misses terribly, especially at the price point which usually doesn't bother me. This time, a giant over payment. I might consider aging a bottle but I don't get the sour, funk or complexities that would lead me to believe it will sour or get better. Interesting but that's it.
Mar 20, 2011
Photo of Rhettroactive
Reviewed by Rhettroactive from Virginia

3.33/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
From tap to snifter at ChurchKey on 2/21/11
*From notes

A: Slightly golden, cloudy haze. No head or lacing.

S: Sweet fruit snacks and grape juice. Funky notes of grilled asparagus.

T: Mild red fruit up front. Some funk on the back, though it's not sour. Slightly peppery and quite yeasty.

M: Like a million bucks. It feels slightly chamagney and unforced.

O: I found this one to be out of the norm and well worth trying.
Feb 24, 2011
Photo of chickencoop
Reviewed by chickencoop from California

2.35/5  rDev -30.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1
I tried, really I did. I'm all, this is from Belgium, there is no way they let crap out of that country because they are so proud of their beer...well not so much. I'm a huge lambic fan, drank this and now question everything that is right in the world. Bad beer, Flinstone vitamin like, and to play off the mojo of being from belgium sucks...now i know they have flaws. Beer looked good, but that was it, flavor was bad and seriously all lambics are drinkable, but this was basically a bad over-powdered kool-aid mix with booze, very sad.
Aug 15, 2010
Photo of Zaplt
Reviewed by Zaplt from California

2.3/5  rDev -32.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Appearance - Pours a massive white head with little to no retention. The brew is a hazy pink grapefruit juice color. minimal lacing.

Aroma - very sweet berry flavors with hints of strange nuttiness.

Taste - woah, didn't realize this beer was brewed with spelt! I must admit that the fruit juice is the only thing saving this beer, the spelt is overwhelming and unpleasant with a strange flavors of hay or nut.

Mouthfeel - high carbonation and very thin and slightly dry.

Overall - unpleasant beer, I will not purchase again. ew.
Jun 26, 2010
Photo of DaveHS
Reviewed by DaveHS from California

3.43/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From the back label:
"Our Wild Fruits beer starts with our refreshing white spelt brew, and then adds an adventurous combination of six juices of red fruits: raspberry, strawberry, elderberry, pomegranite,wild cherry,and blueberry, resulting in a lively fruit beer for serious beer lovers."

A: Pale and hazy with a pink hue, like a witbier with juice in it. Off white head that faded quickly, very little lacing.

S: Main aroma is spelt. There is a pleasant grainy sweetness. Some indistinct fruit character. Smells like it's going to be sweet.

T: Not as sweet as the nose lead me to believe. Spelt dominates the flavor profile, followed closely by the fruit juice. It's blended together in a way that makes it hard to distinguish the individual fruit characteristics. An easy drinker.

M: Gentle carbonation, light bodied.

D; I went into this expecting the worst, and was pleasantly surprised. It's appealing for the spelt flavor, and the fruit is more subdued than I expected. Not bad.
May 25, 2010
Leireken Wild Berries Belgian Ale from Brasserie De Silenrieux S.A. (Chez L'Père Sarrasin)
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 20 ratings