Friek - Odell Brewing Company

julian

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Copper and crimson with medium light darkness and perfect clarity. Very little head, but an aggressive pour yields some sparse bubbles that fade quickly

S: Nice lambic style funk, wood and must and brett and fruity cherry aroma.

T: Lots of cherry flavor, not so much raspberry. Cherry is a pretty dominant flavor here at least where the fruit is concerned. Some vanilla oak sweetness, mild fruity tartness, and funk. Very well crafted. Major like.

M: Nicely carbonated, on the high end but apropos for the style. Dry, light, and very crisp.

O: Was not expecting this to be as good as it is. Although Belgian inspired, it's also very Belgian in every aspect. The fruit flavor tastes a bit artificial, and unlike that of traditional Belgian lambic brewers, but the funk/tart/oak in the nose and taste is definitely very similar. Very drinkable and very delicious. Need more!

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 07:10:53 | More by julian

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

05-13-2013 05:27:30 | More by Bonko_the_sane

cocoapuph

California

4/5  rDev -1.5%

05-05-2013 16:07:35 | More by cocoapuph

grittybrews

Washington

4/5  rDev -1.5%

04-28-2013 15:05:41 | More by grittybrews

schoenfelderr

South Dakota

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

04-22-2013 06:55:07 | More by schoenfelderr

drgonzo2k2

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

04-21-2013 18:06:10 | More by drgonzo2k2

VonZipper

New York

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

04-21-2013 04:56:00 | More by VonZipper

prlykens

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

04-16-2013 03:10:23 | More by prlykens

dsaudio

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

04-14-2013 13:43:52 | More by dsaudio

SHODriver

California

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: pours a deep red that is almost brown with burgundy highlights with a small white head that fades quickly into a duel tulip
S: smells fruity, funky and sour with raspberries being prominent in the aroma
T: tart raspberry up front mingles with some sour cherry and a slight funk with hints of oak. nice sourness throughout the drink with the swallow bringing a nice blast of funky vanilla and oak.
M: lighter side of medium with soft carbonation from bottle condition that is perfect for the style
O: A very well crafted and tasty beer. fantastic complexity and oh so good. the sourness is there without being overbearing and the fruit flavors are nice without being overpowering

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 03:00:11 | More by SHODriver

edhaaslovesbacon

Colorado

4/5  rDev -1.5%

04-03-2013 21:24:39 | More by edhaaslovesbacon

EyePeeAyBryan

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

03-31-2013 02:39:30 | More by EyePeeAyBryan

ralphw56

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

03-29-2013 03:04:03 | More by ralphw56

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.26/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottle to Ommegang flute wine glass

A: ruby red in color it has lots of bubbles but very little white head with no lacing. It is completely translucent and looks extremely clean could almost past as soda or juice.

S: The nose definitely has a nice light funk to it. There are fruity notes but they are not necessarily desirable as cherry or raspberry. Also there is a noticeable scent from the oak barrels that is more powerful then the fruity sweetness. overall fairly good balance

T: Its got a sour flavor upfront that is strong but not overpowering and it lasts. Though once the initial sour flavor fades and there is as a bunch of fruity juicy flavors the cherries definitely has a stronger flavor but the raspberries are there in the finish to add a little more sweetness. There are also wine flavors in there with other dry flavors like grape must. The sour flavor does come through again in the finish to cap things off.

M: It is nice, light, and very juicy making it so it goes down easily and cleanly, which is pretty impressive. The carbonation is right on point as well it is delicate on the tongue and brings out the fruity notes as well as the wood from the barrels.

O: This is a solid sour it is really fruity and juicy while maintaining a nice sour flavor though I wish it was more powerful or tart. This was the first I've tried from odell's and I'm impressed/will be back.I wish I was able to get two bottles so I could taste it in a few years but nonetheless I definitely recommend this beer

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 01:31:55 | More by Pinknuggets

MNBeer1017

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

03-27-2013 02:26:30 | More by MNBeer1017

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

03-26-2013 13:17:33 | More by DarthGuitarHero

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

03-12-2013 04:25:29 | More by oldp0rt

G-Hawk

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

03-10-2013 23:04:19 | More by G-Hawk

elcrawl

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

03-10-2013 00:30:42 | More by elcrawl

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

Props to my in-laws for grabbing a bottle of this on a recent trip to the US, super pumped to take it for a spin.

A - Pours a light ruby red, finger of head which quickly dissipates and leaves no real lacing.

S - Nose is dominated by tart raspberries, wild yeast funk, grassy notes, toasted crackers and a white wine vineous scent.

T - Much like the nose, with the vineous white wine dominating alongside sour grapes, sour apple and sweet tart candies. The cherry and raspberry notes come through and linger on the finish.

M - Lighter bodied, with heavy body carbonation, and a touch of dryness on the finish.

O - Overall this is a stand-out sample of the style that I really enjoyed. Loads of flavour and a nice balance between sweet and sour, with the fruit notes coming through on the finish making for a memorable brew. Highly recommended and really glad I had the opportunity to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 23:21:55 | More by andrenaline

SaxmanRick

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -1.5%

03-07-2013 18:56:28 | More by SaxmanRick

notscenerob

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%

03-04-2013 21:03:49 | More by notscenerob

Ristaccia

Nebraska

3.75/5  rDev -7.6%

03-01-2013 04:26:19 | More by Ristaccia

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.31/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Tart cherries, berries, oranges, and apples garner a complete "sour patch" taste with light fruit sweetness and dry malts for a sour ale that is all about the fruit.

Pouring the color of blood orange pulp, but with riper red grapefruit highlights, the beer appears to be as much of a fruit juice as it does a beer. But its loosely knit head becomes disjointed and falls back into the beer when the champagne-like carbonation dissipates. This happens nearly half way through the glass, leaving the beer with its fruit juice appearance.

Juicy, ripe and tart fruits abound in the nose, bringing out the scent of fresh-crushed cherries, raspberries, blackberries, apples, oranges, and white grape. Tartness of wine must smolders just beneath the fruit and take the form of cidery vinegar with alternating whiffs. A thin malt aroma is lightly spice and subtly robust and reminds the senses of graham crackers.

And in taste, the beer behaves as predicted. The tongue piercing flavor of sour fruit is lead by cherries but also offers up a complementary white grape, apple, orange, and berry medley. Its dry taste allows for the exposure of white wine vinegar and musty vine-dried fruit. Light oak draws in the malt influences of dry graham crackers that, with its terse display, supports the sourness and fruit acidity quite well.

On the early palate, the zesty beer springs off of the tongue with its prickly champagne bubbly effect. But as the carbonation subsides so does much of the beer's vibrancy. Soon after, the beer's acidity lays on the middle palate and saturates with sourness and warmth. Finishing clean, lightly powdery, and mildly astringent- the beer closes with a refreshing and palate cleansing effects.

Friek is a fruit-forward sour ale that supresses the more earthy or "funky" aromas and taste in order to allow the dry and tart fruit to become the showcase. I rather like the beer as its balance begins to tilt to the world of fruit beers as much as it does wild ale.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 17:55:11 | More by BEERchitect

Hopbully

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +10.8%

02-28-2013 05:38:12 | More by Hopbully