Cascade Kriek Ale - Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

jrallen34

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I drank this from a tasting glass at NotB.

The beer is dark brown with some red highligts and light red head that rises a finger. The retention and lacing are ok.

The aroma is light with some notes of oak, cherry and some tartness.

The taste is very complex and balanced with lots of oak, cherry and a nice sour finish. It brings a lot to the table and allows you to enjoy this whether your like sour or oaky beers.

The feel is nice and incredibly drinkable.

A notb highlight.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2010 22:55:34 | More by jrallen34

ibbjamin

California

3.68/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Paid $21.99 for a 750ml bottle from Perry's Liquor in Livermore, CA. Split a bottle with one other and poured my portion into a small snifter to review. This is the 2008 vintage.

Yields a small, bubbly white head after an aggressive pour which dissipates quickly. Very cloudy and reddish brown in color.

Aroma is rather sour with cherries and oak dominating. Some grape/vinous qualities as well.

Taste is not as sour as I was expecting, but still there nonetheless.

Mild astringency; was expecting more. Lively mouthfeel with nice carbonation. Light to medium body.

Certainly not worth the price that I paid. A good beer, but not quite great.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2010 05:10:01 | More by ibbjamin

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Reddish copper with a thin tan head that reduced to a spotty veil and left spotty lace.

S-Light Bing Cherries a touch of oak and some sweetness. Not overly aromatic.

T-Good sour zip initially with complimenting blast of cherry and then a dry, oak finish.

M-Medium-light bodied, fairly tart and crisp with a semi-dry finish.

D-Good--not a crazy sour brew--but solid. Nice tartness and a very real Bing Cherry flavour. Quite nice but it didn't blow me away.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2010 11:55:53 | More by Deuane

Ek0nomik

Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured In: Snifter
Ordered directly from the brewery.

Bottle reads 2008 bottling.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy auburn color with some dark cherry tints. Two fingers of head sit on top of the beer, but it disappears quickly. Upon opening the bottle there was a nice pop; the carbonation wanted out. A few swirls in the snifter doesn't produce any lace. Just a nice clean glass with a mouth drooling beer sitting inside.

Smell: The nose smells nice and lactic. A small dash of vinegar, sour cherry skin, and a little bit of vanilla make up the nose. Wonderful.

Taste: As the beer goes across the palate my tongue starts to squirm. No, it's not a bad thing. The acid is just making me pucker a bit, but it's definitely not out of line. In fact, there's enough room for some more souring in here. The flavor that's presented is similar to the nose: a little acid, a healthy portion of cherries, a drop of vanilla, and once my mouth becomes more oxidated once the beer leaves my mouth there are some oak flavors shining through.

Mouthfeel: When the beer first splashes across the palate it feels like the feel is completely spot on. Although once the carbonation dies down and the beer slides down the back of the throat it does get quite on the thin side. The beer could use just a little more body to it.

Drinkability: A wonderful flavor and an even better nose. This is a great beer. I think the beer could have used just a little more malt on the backbone to raise the body, although I personally wouldn't want any more malt flavor in it. The alcohol didn't show itself during a single sip of this.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 03:09:04 | More by Ek0nomik

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into Southern Tier tulip

Pours 1/4 finger of off white head. Good retention leaving some splattered lace. Color is a hazed cherry hued dark raspberry red. Pretty nice looking beer.

Aroma: oak, dark cherries, some vinegar. Kind of sour, but not a lot of flavors here.

Taste: Sour cherries, some very light funk, light oak flavors. It is good, but there is not a lot of flavors going on with this beer.

Mouthfeel: Very dry, light sourness an light tartness. The bodied is light with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends slightly dry.

Overall, this beer wasn't as sour/good as I was expecting it to be. Not to the style as I wanted it to be. Good, but just not great because it lacks flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2009 17:52:27 | More by mothman

GRG1313

California

3.98/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 bottling.

Pours a dark copper red with a thin white head.

Nose is cherry lactic-smells like sour red cherries and is pleasant.

Mouthfeel is rich, creamy and full, with a light and "elegant" carbonation.

Flavors are a bit subdued, perhaps it's the extra year (2008 bottle tasted). Flavors are very well integrated and the beer is well balanced; sour cherries, some fruit and with a lactic flavor and finish.

Lightly sour and pleasant. Very drinkable and elegant, although could be more sour and flavors could be a bit brighter for my personal taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2009 03:23:53 | More by GRG1313

HopHead84

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage consumed at our Cascade tasting on 12/11/2009 and poured into a snifter. The beer appears crimson with a creamy beige head.

The nose is of ripe, vibrant, and succulent cherries. There's no funk and there's just a touch of tartness. Lactic character and wood are noticeable, and sweetness is at a low level. Beautiful cherry aroma.

The taste, too, is focused on cherries. They're slightly sweet and lightly tart with a dash of unripe cherry skins. Wood notes are faint in the background, and acetic character is at an upper low level. With no Brettanomyces, and with Lactobacillus as the only bacteria, the sourness is clean and there's no funk to speak of. The resulting flavor is pretty straight forward, but the quality of the fruit makes this immensely enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 05:52:38 | More by HopHead84

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 vintage. The cherries on this bottle make me think of Pacman.

Thin, red-tinted head over a burgundy body. Skim swirl retention with some lacey blobs. Aroma is of cherries, funk, and oak. My friend says it smells like moldy cheese but I'll stick with "funk."

Tart and crisp with and airy freshness. Cherries, of course, and some nutmeg/clove spice. Definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 15:57:41 | More by donkeyrunner

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue I:

Wow, the Northwest seems to be booming with Belgian-inspired beers. This one has more head retention than expected and decent clarity in the chestnut-colored brew. Such a wonderful aroma of fresh cherries and a faint tartness with suggestions of nutmeg and baked pie crust. Think cherry pie. The unsurpassed smoothness feigns a bigger body for a second. Lots of cherry flavor up front with an ample tartness and deserving sweetness, hints of oak and bready grain are noticeable. Hops are laidback. The lactic twang is there but not overpowering at all. Very faint char from the barrel, or is it the grain?

Yet another American brewer that gets it when it comes to Belgian beer. You have to wonder what a few years of cellaring will do to this beer. Either way, its good while it lasts. Seek this one out.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 16:48:57 | More by BeerAdvocate

brownbeer

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

08 vintage corked and caged.

pours a dark cherry color.

Aroma lets you know it's going to be awesomely sour with tart cherry and vinous oaky notes.

Quite acidic cherry with a light refreshing mouthfeel. A real treat, I could drink alot of this despite the 8%. Wish I had some, this truely is one of the best kriek's out there.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2009 22:54:55 | More by brownbeer

rye726

Colorado

4.68/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

'08

Pours a dark, hazy cranberry with a creamy tan head. Nice lacing and retention.

Nose has lots of ripe cherries, red wine, oak, barnyard funk and Brett.

Taste has fresh cherries, cabernet grapes, wood, musty funk and sour berries.

Medium body has a delicate carbonation. Nice acidic finish. Great Flanders Red from Cascade.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2009 05:04:22 | More by rye726

Docer

Washington

4.08/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Just snagged a bottle up at The BeerMongers recently...

- Nice fluffy and bubbly reddish mocha head... clear red/brown... cherry coke-like color... interesting tones...

- Pleasant sour oak woodiness... a lot more wood in this than others.... creates a thick scent, with embedded cherries... sweet honey, and tart apples....

- Oh man... this stuff is tart in the final flavor... cherry coke-like up front... and smooth sailing apple cidar with a pleasant creamer approach.... very hard to explain, but it is very light... and packs a great robust oaky cherry taste...

- Not at all dry, nor chewy... just tart and palate watering...

- Another fantastic sour from Cascade... this one is a big drinkable among the others... much like the Apricot, but even better in drinkablility. Doesn't touch the Sang Royal though...

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2009 02:18:37 | More by Docer

BenZ

Virginia

4.55/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

All kinds of funk and nice and tart. It's not as sour as RGC, but still great! Highly carbonated. The cherry is there, but not overwhelming - perfect, IMO. The aroma is unbelievably complex. I love the cheesy/cherry taste! If you want tear-bringing sourness, look elsewhere. This is not a "fruit beer" this is a beer with some fruit.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2009 23:16:03 | More by BenZ

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from Boston town. A well done Flanders Red, sourish with good cherry taste, always well malted. Good to share, as even a third of the bottle is a bunch of sourness. Dark reddish colour and spider lacey Above average mouthfeel. Good nose. A tad funky sweaty taste in there.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2009 21:34:36 | More by northyorksammy

Hojaminbag

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 Version.

The body is a fairly bright red with a ton of very fast movign carbonation bubbles. A big, off-white head springs up quickly, but has pretty good retention after it dies down a bit. Only one or two spots of lacing left behind.

The aroma is quite good. All kinds of sour and tart aromas dominate the aroma, with cherry and a touch of malt in the background.

The flavor resembles the aroma, but it isn't quite as powerful. Puckeringly sour with what tastes like multiple strands of yeast. After that is a very nice cherry flavor that is both tart and sweet. The cherry in the flavor is more powerful than the cherry in the aroma, but in a positive way. Just a touch of sweet malt in the background.

A moderate to light body, but with a lot of carbonation.

This is the first Cascade sour I've tried, but I have a few in my basement still, and after trying this one I'm looking forward to trying the others also. Pretty drinkable; a good beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2009 22:25:50 | More by Hojaminbag

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: Poured a murky red color ale with a rather large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of sour cherries with some lightly sweet notes and some tannin and oak notes are also discernible. Taste is a very well balance mix between some tart notes, sour cherries with underlying sweetness and some light tannin and oak notes. Body is about average with good carbonation and no alcohol was apparent. Very well done and wouldn't pale in comparison of some good Belgian fruit lambic.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2009 03:00:37 | More by Phyl21ca

emerge077

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to EehaiCJ for sharing this one, finally found my notes.

Frothy pour, with some nested larger bubbles on the surface. Murky, rusty orange scarlet color. Some spotty lace inside the glass. Mild berry nose, cherry candy, too clean with very little funk present. Clean and dry tartness, lactobacillius, seedy cherry pit, stonefruit essence. Very effervescent. Dry with a clean finish that disappears quickly. Tartness is maybe a 4/10 scale. Refreshing fruit beer that is nice in warm weather. Not a lambic in the traditional sense, but it was enjoyable regardless. Thanks again Chris!

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2009 06:02:13 | More by emerge077

Overlord

California

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

With every beer I have from this brewery, other than The Vine, I get more impressed.

Pours a murky, ruddy red brown. Long lasting inch or two of tan head that dies down to a long lasting semi-thick crust of tan foam.

Smells ... like Red Poppy mixed with a Belgian Kriek. Vinegar, whiff of lemon zest, and a sour cherry. Ooooo ... I sense sour.

Yeah, it's sour. Puckering cherries, big vinegar/vinous/oaky base, and just a whiff of curdling sweetness to take the edge off. Really quite nice, and underrated. If this had a Cantillon, Russian River, Drie Fonteinein, or Lost Abbey label on it, I sense it would be more widely known.

Nice bubbling carbonation, quite drinkable considering the sourness.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2009 08:39:07 | More by Overlord

tai4ji2x

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage

750ml brown bottle with cork and cage. tasted in early/mid may 2009. poured into tulip.

very slow gusher, so not a problem for me, but do watch out just in case.

VERY dark, reddish brown. hazy, almost murky. 1-finger creamy and bubbly tan head with pink tint. fades to thin layer, constantly replenished by the laser etching of my duvel tulip. very good lacing, webby at times.

aroma: tart, fresh and dried cherries, rich malt and cider vinegars. wood, trace vanilla, and hint of vinous character. robust yet constrained funk. very fragrant overall.

taste: great combination of cherry fruitiness and tartness, with malty vinegar and cider tones. woody oak notes. trace of dried, hay-like hops with mild bitterness, matching very well with the crisp acidity, and melding with the richness of flavor overall. faint tobacco and spice notes?

medium body, very smooth and creamy in the middle. crisp, mildly puckering acidity and astringent tannins in the finish. moderate carbonation gives prickle upfront, and helps with creaminess.

when i first tried samples of this at julio's during the week of the craft brewers conference, i kept wanting more and more and MORE. and so did everyone else there. sometimes small sample sizes give vastly different impressions from the full serving size, but luckily that was not the case here. it was as tremendous as i remembered it the first time.

the most amazing thing about this is how the 8.1% ABV is undetectable. that said, the traditional krieks of belgium manage a comparable level of flavor with much lower gravity. so whether this should be a boost to the score or not is arguably subject to debate.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
2007 vintage

750ml green glass bottle with cap (no cork), and sealed in red wax. no date indicated other than a store- or distributor-added UPC sticker indicating it is the '07 vintage.

tasted in early may 2009.

gusher. tried to pour cleanly into a duvel tulip.

dark reddish brown. murky. 1.5-finger, tan head w red tint, fades slowly, replenished by the vigorous gushy carbonation and the etching at the bottom of the duvel glass. great lacing.

aroma: malt vinegar w/ vinous red wine and sour cherry tones. fruity, with both fresh and fermented characters. notes of wood and oak with trace of vanilla. grassy hay and very faint farmhouse character. more fresh cherry fruit and vinegar in back.

taste: malt, cider and red wine vinegars, meeting a subdued fruitiness. oak note. moderate fruity acidity and very faint bitterness. more wood, tannins and dried hay. the lower gravity and ABV, makes this almost seem "watery" in comparison to the richer, higher-ABV '08 vintage. essentially different beers. that said, this is still nice, though obviously the traditional belgian versions manage to get more flavor with much less.

light to medium body, mild acidic and tannic textures. crisp, mild, sometimes creamy texture from the carbonation, despite the gushy activity.

A-4.5
S-4.0
T-4.0
M-4.0
D-4.0

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2009 19:14:12 | More by tai4ji2x

aerozeppl

New York

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to me for picking this up for dmeadows.

A: Nice deep reddish brown color. Minimal white head with a touch of lacing.

S: Fresh cherries right up front. A touch of tartness after that. The cherries smell like they were just picked. Really impressive.

T: Tart cherries up front. Quite a bit of sweetness. Overripe cherries describes this beer best.

M: A little syrupy. Very subtle carbonation than let this beer beer very smooth.

D: Very drinkable for 8.1% I was really impressed by their beers at our sour tasting. No hint of the ABV at all.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2009 22:55:31 | More by aerozeppl

Floydster

California

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml corked and caged bottle purchased over the phone from the brewery about a year ago, had this along with the Apricot, Cuvee, and Blackberry with four friends a few nights ago, reviewed from notes, poured into my Dogfish Head snifter, color is a deep amber with some pink edges, 1/2 inch bubbly white head, decent retention, some light lacing, aroma consists of cherries, funkiness, dark malts, lacto, bit of whiskey-like booze, oak, and tobacco, flavor begins with various cherry flavors, both black and fresh cherries you would find on the top of a sundae, more sweet than anything in the middle with more fruit flavors, finish has lots of oak and bit of vinegar to go with the cherry flavors, oaky, tart,and sweet mouthfeel, full bodied, lightly carbonated compared to their other bottles, could drink a lot of this, alcohol is hidden well, fairly easy drinking for its style, this beer cellars pretty well and I wish I had more to try it out for longer periods of time, worth checking out

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2009 19:32:02 | More by Floydster

illidurit

California

3.5/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Strawberry guava color, totally opaque with a pinkish ecru head that sticks around well. Aroma is part black cherries and part maraschino cherries. Slightly tart with some strawberry notes. Flavor is not really that robust or characterful. Sort of boring cherry taste with a little tartness. Kinda like eating a cherry that's not very ripe yet. Semidry mouthfeel, cherry pit finish, easy to drink but I doubt I could drink an entire 750.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2009 06:13:35 | More by illidurit

magictrokini

California

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This may be Portland's answer to Alpine Chez Monieux. Pours a murky orange-red with a mahogany center. Short-lived white head with no lacing. Impressive sour cherry aroma with a graham cracker crust. Basically a cherry cobbler without the brown sugar. Sharp, bitter taste with an acidic mouthfeel. Carbonated with a dry mouthfeel. Warm cherry and sherry taste. Delicious cherry preserves follow with a bitter bite. No medicine, Nyquil, or cherry candy flavors, which is a HUGE plus. Just a simple, great lambic.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2009 07:43:30 | More by magictrokini

tpd975

Florida

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to SeaBass for bringing this one to a weekly tasting.

A: Pours a muddy red hue. The head is nice and creamy with okay retention and very good lace for the style.

S: Good dose of sour packed into this one without being overthetop. Black cherries are there along with some vinegar.

T: Great level of sour. Nice dark berries up front, real fresh tasting. The sour comes in the middle and it is very balanced. A touch of wood and a hint of vinegar in the finish. Damn drinkable.

M: Medium in body, light carbonation, dry finish.

D: Good, I would say very good for the style. Not the most sour, but very sessionable.

Glad Kersta sent me a bottle of this. I won't be sharing mine!

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2009 17:01:38 | More by tpd975

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into fluted goblet on 5/29/09. Thanks to mughugger for sharing!

A - Poured a hazy burgundy color with crimson hues and one-finger beige head that settled into a thin ring of retention and left scant lacing.

S - Pretty muted nose for a kriek overall with some cherry tartness, mild sour notes and a hint of crusty, grainy malt.

T - Initial flavor is cherry pie filling with tart, sour notes and mild spices. Some oaky, woody notes emerge in the middle, followed by a combination of spicy yeast and a distinct caramel/toffee sweetness.

M - Medium body with a smooth yet syrupy texture and moderate carbonation. Finishes with a mild sourness on the palate.

D - Pretty good kriek overall, although not a lot of sourness compared to other krieks I've had. Still, this one offers a pleasant cherry flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2009 23:09:14 | More by ffejherb