Cuvee-Brut - Brouwerij Liefmans

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 4.75

Today is Valentine's Day! Sheryl said, "Let's do a Valentine beer." I was wanting something hoppy, but she wanted to do a "red" beer! So we grabbed a bottle of Liefmans Cuvée Brut. I stare at this beer all the time at Total Wine & More, but am exited to upward it. After reading about this beer, I can't wait! I don't normally like the flavor of cherries, but they mention tart and sweet. Sounds like me! The cherries sit for 12 months? That is awesome!

She's right, this beer looks like a holiday beer! Low ABV, but I am sure the sweetness will be enough to share a bottle. Ready to start drinking and get this holiday started. Bottoms up, people!

In the Glass: Well I could smell the cherries as I was pouring this out. Sheryl made a good point… I don't usually like cherries. The older I get, the more I appreciate the flavor… but this is different. These cherries have been sitting for 12 months. That is absurd. I am sure they have mellowed out, and the beer (an oud bruin) produces a more enjoyable sour experience. The beer appears thick and creamy in the glass, and has a nice thin white head. No lace. Of course, my glass is so full I could barely carry it into the office. But the beer looks enjoyable in the glass.

Nose: I expected the aroma to be a little more sour, but it has a nice malty backbone to it. There are times I will grab a bottle of scotch and think, "This beverage has been in a barrel for 3, 8, 12, 28 years." 12 months isn't that long, but to think the amount of attention and dedication that went into this beer helps me appreciate it even more. A second whiff leaves more sour aromas. I do like a good sour, so let's taste this beer.

Flavor: WHOA! That is incredible. It is VERY complex, too. Sour, no doubt… but very tart. Imagine taking a sour piece of candy, biting down, and the flavor that explodes across your palate. That is what you get here. I mean, the flavor is incredible, but if you don't like sour beers, stay away. The sour doesn't last long, but it is there from the time the beer hits your tongue until you swallow.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is fun. It starts sour, then bubbles kick in, and then you swallow with more sour flavors and a nice polished finish. (The burb is quite nice. It brings some of the sour flavor back, but not overwhelmingly so.) Now that I have room to swirl the beer, I am seeing little lace, and a lot of tiny bubbles rushing to the surface.

Also, I will mention that as I drink this, the sour (tartness) becomes less and less intense. That's not a bad thing as you drink through the bottle, you get several conflicting and complex flavors. Makes a bottle this big (750ml) more enjoyable if you are not sharing. But sharing is what craft beer is all about!

Aftertaste: Those same sour flavors are hanging on, but not as much as you would expect from what your palate just went through. With every the sour becomes less and less evident, but the flavor from the cherries really comes through. It's a dark cherry flavor, not like biting a fresh one off the stem. That is the flavor I don't like. Cherry typically tastes like medicine to me. Not in this beer.

I have been looking at this beer every time I walk down the beer aisle at Total Wine. Glad that I picked one up. There is a blue one (I assume blueberry) next to it. That is also on our "list". We will get to that soon, I am sure. VERY happy with this bottle, and glad that we could drink this to celebrate Valentine's Day. Hope everyone had a good beer to share, regardless if you are drinking alone!

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 21:47:12 | More by rickyleepotts

Ciocanelu

Romania

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-21-2013 12:39:06 | More by Ciocanelu

Rxyl81

California

4.75/5  rDev +15.6%

05-19-2013 18:32:28 | More by Rxyl81

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-07-2013 20:50:11 | More by dalepryor

laxer8811

New York

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-06-2013 01:38:38 | More by laxer8811

SadMachine

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-05-2013 20:57:37 | More by SadMachine

Efay

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A- Beer has a dark, reddish mahogany color, and the beer is translucent. There is minimal foam and lacing.

S- Sweet, fresh, earthly cherries, that gives it some characteristics of wine. I can also get some wood, maybe oak.

T- Taste like a cherry tart, so its sweet and sour at the same time. It almost tastes like there are mixed berries in here, like raspberries and black cherries.

M- Moderate body and high in carbonation. Didn't even have to touch the cork, just loosened the cage and it exploded.

O- Wow, I really enjoy sour beers, it's just another side to beer that needs to be exposed. I feel like it could of used some more booze, and it would be perfect. Still world class in my book. Extremely balanced.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 00:55:00 | More by Efay

MSandahl23

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

04-26-2013 19:07:51 | More by MSandahl23

eric5bellies

Australia

3.88/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Drank from my Duvel Tulip

A - Pours a deep mahogany cloudy colour with an off white head that reduces to a film

S - Plenty of sweet sugars and cherries, and hints of oak

T - Up front tastes like lolly water then followed by sour, oak aged qualities that almost balances out the sweetness.

M - Medium body and carbonation

O - These beers aren't really my thing however I appreciate the balance in this one. If they used real fruit it would be outstanding

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 11:05:52 | More by eric5bellies

BigJim5021

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

04-20-2013 06:29:49 | More by BigJim5021

lpayette

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

04-20-2013 02:45:48 | More by lpayette

jandadeboer

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Liefmans Cuvee-Brut is a solid Kriek. It is not as sweet as other Krieks, so those that don't enjoy Krieks too sweet, try this one. It doesn't pour much head, but the taste is not flat. If you are thinking about trying a Kriek and hesitant on the fruit beers, this is a good one to try first.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 17:44:50 | More by jandadeboer

mitlinks

Switzerland

4/5  rDev -2.7%

04-10-2013 17:19:27 | More by mitlinks

avschmitt

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

04-09-2013 15:17:26 | More by avschmitt

Mkyolver

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -20.9%

04-08-2013 17:23:44 | More by Mkyolver

Samuel906

California

3.79/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Looked for this beer for a long time and finally found it in a little shop in San Diego. This poured a lot darker than i was expecting. Amber with a strong red hue. Light head that has good retention, slightly pink. Smell is yeast, cider, lime and cherries. Wonderfully refreshing taste, just a touch too sweet. Tons of cherry, slightly tart from citrus. Feel is light and crisp. Super refreshing. No booze. This is terrific, and was a big hit with the ladies. Only qualm is its slightly too sweet, and could use a touch more carbonation. Cherries galore!

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:11:46 | More by Samuel906

abex44

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

04-04-2013 05:34:56 | More by abex44

claytong

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

03-31-2013 19:53:43 | More by claytong

nitter

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

03-30-2013 04:36:38 | More by nitter

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.7%

03-25-2013 01:52:25 | More by Sparky44

BGsWo22

New York

4/5  rDev -2.7%

03-20-2013 22:29:14 | More by BGsWo22

woemad

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

03-16-2013 23:27:15 | More by woemad

soccerfancooch

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

03-12-2013 18:49:50 | More by soccerfancooch

rheimbro

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -14.8%

03-09-2013 04:20:17 | More by rheimbro

jrohrbacher

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

03-06-2013 02:21:59 | More by jrohrbacher