Kriekbier - Brouwerij Liefmans

botham

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on tap at Uncle Mike's Highway Pub in Kenoahs, Wisconsin. poured into a snifter with a deep rouge color and garnet highlights. one and a half fingers of light pink head top it off with good retention and no lacings.

aroma is of rich vinegar-like sourness with a subtle cherry note and some grape in the background. very sharp and sour in the nose. the sourness gets a bit more pronounced as the beer warms a bit.

taste is more of the same with a more distinct cherry note and a wonderful acidic vinegar-like sourness that cleanses the palate. sharp and not too sweet, which really helps make it drinkable. the sourness is sustained by a light funk that works its way up to the fruit as the beer warms.

mouthfeel is medium bodied with a sharp, acidic and lightly tart texture that finishes on a lightly sharp note with residual tartness. excellent.

drinkability is great. very well put together and sour on the palate, this could easily become too sweet, but the fruit is nicely understated enough to make it very drinkable and supremely sour. cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2009 03:23:54 | More by botham

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear reddish brown with a thin tan head an no lacing.

Smell is dominated by sweet cherries with some wild yeast funk. Very appealing.

Taste is extremely well balanced between sweet and sour with a strong dose of cherries. Excellent.

Mouthfeel is nice and smooth with moderate carbonation.

One of the most drinkable krieks I have come across, almost sessionable.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2008 16:45:34 | More by sholland119

drperm

Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Thirsty Monk, Asheville.

First Off: The best Fruited Lambic I've ever had, bar none. One of the best Lambics I've had, period, fruited or otherwise. Wow.

Appearance: Reddish-purple, with a pink head. Dark, mysterious, and enticing.

Aroma: Cherry pits, slightly sour with a sweet-tart edge. It's inviting me to pour it down my gullet, but my nose is so entranced that I just want to sniff it all night.

Taste: A fruity smorgasbord, but not fruity in the way that sorority spring breaks are fruity -- this is a mature, decadent (yes), refined, high-class fruity. strawberry, raspberry, and (yes) fine cherry notes, along with (if there is such a thing!) gourmet bubble gum and sweet tarts, although the name of this game is "not too sweet!" A sour brett. yeast taste rounds it off.

Palate: Perfect. A study in nuance and style.

Overall: Amazing, really. Again, the best fruited lambic I've ever had. More, please!!

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2008 04:50:34 | More by drperm

sinistrsam

Maryland

4.72/5  rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured an opaque red brown or maroon, with a very small head adn little lacing on the glass.
Candi sugar and sour cherries were ther dominant aroma.
The taste was dominated exclusively by sweet and sour cherries, btu had a hitn of bready dough adn malt to it, which was a good balance to the tartness of the fruit.
The feel was rather biting in the back of the mouth and the carbonation adding to the sensation. The sweetness seems to be trying to balance the tartness but cmoes up short. However, it ends rather crisp and sweet on the tongue.
Overall, an excellent beer and one of the best Lambics I've ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2008 19:49:47 | More by sinistrsam

JDV

Texas

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

On tap. Nice reddish hue with a good pinkish hued beige head. Smell of tart cherries, a touch of belgiany yeastiness, and a slight hint of sour vinegar, but all very nicely. Taste is sweet, cherry, and moderately and nicely tart with a touch of a slight funky belgian character. Somewhat bubbly and crisp, but not overly fizzy and foamy. I really enjoyed this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2008 20:33:17 | More by JDV

PEBKAC

New York

4.55/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Liefmans Kriek

Is it beer? Is it really? Is it luck?

There's a foot at the end of each of my legs.

It is luck?

Laa...luu...luck!

-cough-

Sorry :o

Had this on tap at the Publick House after everything else on the draft list started tasting the same.

It looked like I had received someone else's double pour of red wine. Just a little wispy head sitting over a recent acquisition of the Red Cross. Drip, glug, glurp. They serve nearly everything they have in the same branded glasses, so that helps take my mind off memories of that rookie nurse bruising me up, trying to find the vein. Enough not to shudder in public anyways.

Nose was something like fruit punch, but with a Granny Smith tartness to it. A somewhat peppery vinegar aspect floats around, but it's very faint.

Taste was all about maraschino cherries. I can't count how many Thanksgivings I've sucked down a jar of those just because I could. This cherry flavor is super concentrated, but the corn syrup sweetness yields to a deeper earthiness throughout. Very light amount of noticeable malt mixed in here & there. You almost pucker at the end, but a woodsy dryness kills that idea. Alcohol is just barely there.

Decent heft to the body, with a strong carbonation keeping it in check. The dryness at the end makes it go down almost like a slightly more syrupy version of cranberry juice. Now I'm not saying it's necessarily sticky, but if that carbonation wasn't the way it is, it would be.

Just because it's a little expensive($8 for 12oz), I can't give it a five for drinkability. If I could though, if only I could... :)

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2008 05:15:33 | More by PEBKAC

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a reddish foggy blob. No head off a good pour by the 'tender. Nose is soft and full of cherries. Flavor is extremely smooth and sweet cherries with a great level of sugar on there. Excellent touch of wood. Feels beautiful on the mouth. Smooth and silky with a great carbonation. An excellent fruit beer absolutely worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2008 03:26:26 | More by RblWthACoz

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Rich reddish brown with a thin quickly fading cream head

S: Like other cherry beers a sweet-sour cherry aroma is robust

T: Starts off sweet and finishes sour, not as complex as some other cherry beers/krieks, but thoroughly appetizing

M: Lots of carbonation with a persistent cherry feel

D: Drinkable but not too often.. one and done in an evening for me when compared to true lambic krieks.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2007 19:07:21 | More by callmemickey

jwff

Texas

4.6/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served in a Leifmans glass. Poured a reddish brown in a Liefmans glass with a creamy white head. Crystal clear when held up the light. Beautiful for lack of a better word. Smell is initially the intense tart cherries and sugar, but the brown ale base came through and balanced nicely. Mild must, but really the cherries were just so intense.

Initial rush of cherries and sugar, followed by a generous amount of bacteria funk must that played back and forth with the sourness of the cherries. I've had this in the bottle before and the funk aspect really didn't stand out as much as it did on tap. Rich, chocolate like malts provide the background and offer some overall balance.

Great carbonation and medium body. Sourness adds a tingle in the mouth which borders on oh god I hate to say it "orgasmic." This is one of the few beers I prefer ice cold so it works on tap for me. Flavors seem to really come out in layers on tap. Mm yes a very tasty bier.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2007 17:44:20 | More by jwff

EPICAC

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Kulminator in Antwerp.

Appearance: Pours a lightly hazy orange-red with a foamy pink head that fades to a thin ring.

Smell: Sour and acidic with notes of cherries, as well as a moderate funkiness that emerges upon swirling.

Taste: Very sour throughout, there's some sweetness that emerges with the cherries, but it's always dominated by the sourness and persistent cherry tartness.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, low carbonation, very dry.

Drinkability: Sour, definitely a sipper.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2006 02:50:42 | More by EPICAC

Dithyramb

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Sampled in a modified flute last evening at the 9:30 Club. Pours like a red-tinged farmer's market grade apple cider. Very little tan head and minimal lacing. Aroma of apples and cherries w/ light malts.

Flavor was fruity and tart, lingering slightly on the palate, just like a nice cider. Ripened cherries and a light sourness.

Light bodied and lightly carbonated. Would be very nice overly chilled at a summer dinner party

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2006 12:52:23 | More by Dithyramb

texashammer

Texas

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

tasted on draft at Kulminator in Antwerp -- they claim that Liefmans Kriekbier draft is exclusive to their bar. beautiful pink/orange with pink head that lasts. smells great; tart lambic with cherries, sour, black cherries. more austere than the bottled version; drier. the finish is really dry; it makes me drool.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2006 15:03:35 | More by texashammer

danadeny

Colorado

4.6/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had this beer on tap at Anam Cara, and it was great. The body of Kriek was thick, cloudy, and heavy. The color was a dark brown with highlights of amber. The head of the beer was of nice size. The smell of the Kriek was of faint cherries ripened to perfection. The aroma was of real cherries not of a concentrated candy smell. When the Kriek touched my palate, the initial taste was of balanced brown ale. The taste progressed and blended with very tart cherries, but a good amount of tart. The aftertaste was tart, it was not over-powering---perfection! The finish was smooth; there was not a hop finish. The after taste of Kriek faded quickly. The mouth feel was slightly dry...awesome. I felt that the drink ability was more drinkable than water.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2004 02:19:55 | More by danadeny

marburg

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Musty rotting cherry sour sweat goodness.

Oxidized iron (or reddish lacquered wood?) color with just a small head. A puffy ring lingers around the edge of the glass where the liquid meets the edge -- kind of an unrolled condom look to it.

Slightly sour cherry aroma that translates into a louder telling of the same story. Big cherry flavor that gets enveloped in a minor (well, compared to some others in the style) tartness that finishes this beer off. Not overly complex but definitely flavorful, aromatic, and well crafted.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2003 13:38:44 | More by marburg

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

When I see this on the beer menu, I always go for it. Why? Because it tastes great! I find this beer to be a real treat: raspberry colored, slightly carbonated, with a wonderful cherry taste. I could drink this one all night. It's tart, but not sour. The sweetness is implied: the beer isn't sugary or syrupy, it doesn't make you pucker, it's very refreshing. No other beer tastes like this, I honestly rejoice when I see this one available. If you've never tried this, do so. If you are a fan of fruit beers, or Belgians in general, I think you will be surprised by the big taste of this one. Definitely not malty, or hoppy: just cherries all the way.

I've had a few more of these lately, and you can tell I really think of this beer as a treat, but yeah, if you've never had it, think kool-aid or sweet-tarts. And I mean that in a good way, it might not sound that way, but I do.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2002 17:10:49 | More by PatandDavid

Jason

Massachusetts

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

Reddish rusty colour with a thick haze, good lacing as it leaves a few rings on the glass.

Fluffy spritzy body. Tartness and sweetness battle it out, tartness wins but not by much. Musty barnyard character is soft in the aroma and flavour. Cherry flavour is prolific as it gives tart and sweet juicy flavours.

Very quenching, lovely balance of tart and sweet. I was very pleased to find this on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2002 07:37:46 | More by Jason

Avagadro

New Jersey

4.24/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

2012 Vintage

A: This brew boasts a mahogany body with a beige head that is ever so slightly tinted pink. The beer is free from haze, and has a touch of lacing.

S: Port wine, dried cherries, and vanilla in the front, with creme brulee and coconut in the back. The bouquet is elegant, with many notes coming together without any one overpowering the rest.

T: What a display of complexity and balance. Port wine, balsamic, and dried cherries in the front, with vanilla, pomegranate, and musty cork in the finish.

M: Light and effervescent on the tongue, but with a touch of stickiness in the finish that is a touch off putting.

O: I was initially scared to buy this beer, fearing that Liefmans had succumbed to the same marketing pressures as Lindemans in their kriek. I am happy to see that this beer is traditional; no overly sweet red mess in this kriek. Definitely give this one a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 00:34:36 | More by Avagadro

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 8/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a nice dark reddish amber with a hint of a head, but some lacing forming a fringe around the glass. Cherry aroma. Sweet and sour cherry with a hint of malt. Nicely balanced sweet to sour. I like this a lot. Could use a bit more carbonation, but still enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 18:28:08 | More by LiquidAmber

metter98

New York

4.1/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is slightly hazy dark mahogany red in color. A few specks of dark yeast particles are visible near the bottom of the glass. The beer does not have any head or visible carbonation.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of cherries in the nose along with some notes of sourness.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of tart cherries with notes of sourness and initial hints of sweetness.
M: It feels a bit shy of medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very enjoyable and has a nice amount of fruit flavors. It’s not very sour or tart so it’s easy to drink.

Note: 2007 vintage

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 13:25:40 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a slightly hazy garnet red with a very thin off-white ring at the edges of the glass. The little head this beer pours with dissipates almost instantly. There are a few floating yeast particles in the beer. No lacing is observed.

S: Aromas of sour cherries with light hints of mustiness and sourness. There is a slight sweetness under the surface of the aroma.

T: Taste follow the smell... Starts out just a little bit sweet but quickly you get sour cherries, mustiness, and a slight amount of sourness. There is a lingering tartness in the finish.

M: Medium bodied with very light amounts of carbonation. Slight dryness in the finish.

O: Really nice flavors of natural sour cherries, nothing artificial here and no obviously added sugars to sweeten it. Very easy to drink and very enjoyable. I have had this beer many times and will likely continue to enjoy it in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 11:43:27 | More by dbrauneis

riored4v

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured in to a tulip. Dark red, ruby colored body. Clear. Thin, white head that faded fast to a thin ring.

Smell was moderately sweet with a light syrupy-ness. Light tarness with lots of cherry aroma. Slightly musty.

Taste was good with a moderate amount of sweetness upfront. Lots of cherry flavor that turns to a light tartness accompanied by a mild syrupy finish. Light musty flavor.

Mouthfeel was medium body with a medium carb. Almost a crisp finish although it was a bit syrupy. Could improve in my opinion with a slightly more dry finish.

Overall it was really tasty. Lots of cherry flavor with a nice sweetness and light tart. Still very drinkable despite a light syrupy finish.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 02:11:56 | More by riored4v

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375 ml wrapped bottle into tulip, best by 08/2017(2007 vintage). Sediment is caked to the side of the bottle. Pours slightly hazy dark red color with a small off white head with poor retention that reduces to a ring of lace. No real amount of lacing clinging to the glass. Aromas of big tart cherries, vinegar, light spices, and some woodiness. Some fairly nice aromas with good strength. Taste of big cherry juice, cherry skin, light spices, light vinegar, and light tartness. Lingering notes of cherry juice and cherry skin on the finish. Light carbonation and medium bodied; with a slightly syrupy mouthfeel as expected. No alcohol noticed in the taste or finish. Quite sweet but is not cloying at all. Fairly dry finish. Overall this is a very nice Kriek; too bad it is not produced anymore.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2011 05:39:29 | More by superspak

DaveHS

California

4.25/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2007.

A-Pours clear ruby read with no head, just a thin ring of brilliant white head. No lacing.

S-Phenomenal. Reminds me of drinking vintage Rodenbach Grand Cru in Antwerp. Earthy, with muted cherry tartness and an undercurrent of syrupy sweetness.

T/M-This is exceptional stuff. Cherry sweetness right up front, complemented by well integragted tart fruit acidity. A baseline of brett funk ties it all together.

O-So friggin' good.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 04:23:51 | More by DaveHS

mgbickel

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

375ml caged and corked bottle purchased at Tiffany's in Kalamazoo. Poured into a clear plastic cup.

Zero head formed on top of the rusty pink body. Not sure on the age of this, but there was very little "pop" as I removed the cork. Man...I hope this one is OK...

Good...the nose is where I was hoping it would be. Tart cherries from front to back...a little sweetness with some oak undertones.

The taste has cherries throughout. Starts off on the sweet side that turns woody toward the center. The finish finds a tartness that creeps under your tongue.

The body is on the lighter side of medium, with very little carbonation.

Overall, this is a tasty beer. Sweet through tart, but not very complex. Not sure if age effected this or not, but something I would love to try again.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 02:26:08 | More by mgbickel

distantmantra

Washington

4.22/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

375ml caged and corked bottle poured into a wine flute.

A: The beer poured a purple red color with a thin head of pink foam that disappeared almost instantly. Smalls strands of bubbles rushed to the surface.

S: Aromas of cherry, oak, nectarine and peach. Slight hint of alcohol is present, but nothing out of place and it blends well the fruitiness.

T: Strong flavor of cherry with a bit of oak. Very tart and somehow refreshing.

M: Medium carbonation with a nice dry mouth feel that carries over from the sour bite.

O: This is a great kriek, too bad that it's no longer being made. The combination of the strong cherry and oak flavors mesh well with each other. Very sour with no real hint of added sugar is a big plus.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 20:55:21 | More by distantmantra