Cuvee-Brut - Brouwerij Liefmans

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a hazy amber to brown-ish color with a small white head. In the aroma, mellow sour cherries. In the taste, sour dark cherries and quite fantastic. A sour bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel with a light dry cherry in the aftertaste. Sour cherries and loved it!

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 14:28:09 | More by OWSLEY069

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

Keffa

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Best by date of 08/2020.

Poured into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a dark, dark red, almost brownish, with a thin pink tinged head, settles into a solid yet thin cap, leaves lacing everywhere. Nice.

S: Wow. Vinegar, cherry, oak, a little bit of Brett like funk, and a nice sweet, chocolate like malt in the background. A little bit of a sour note as well. Again, nice.

T: Again, wow. Starts out a little bit sour/tart, but turns away from it for a slightly sweet, funky cherry. Notes of oak and chocolate here and there. Finishes dry and slighly sour/tart. One of the best flavors I have had in a beer. Maybe the best.

M: Medium body, perfect carbonation and slightly creamy. Good here.

D: Very easy drinking. Alcohol is hidden, the finish leaves you wanting more, and the complexity of the cherry between sweet, sour, tart, and funky is just fantastic.

This one was an impulse buy after hearing of the brewery from a thread on here. The people in that thread suggested the Goudenband, which was on the shelf too. I figure, I will play it safe and get the Cuvee since it is cherry. And I am glad I did. This one is amazing. I will be buying a couple of these to keep in the fridge at all times. Fantastic beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 01:00:32 | More by Keffa

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The cork in my bottle says 2010 on it, although I have only purchased recently from the store's cooler.

A. A dark murky purplish red. Bruise-colored. Very foamy and flamingo pink head threatened to spill everywhere, easily four fingers in height with only a gentle pour into stemware. Holy head out of control, batman!

S. Now this is odd. I find that the nose of this brew transforms quite radically depending upon if the glass has been swirled or is steady. When sitting still, the scent of sour tart cherries and faint vinous notes dominate. When swirled, the scent instantly mutates into sweet maraschino cherries mixed with a fresh lemonade. And ten seconds later, it has returned to the original lactic kriek sour scent. Bizarre, yet enjoyable. I can't resist playing around with this magical transformation the entire time I sip my way through the bottle.

T. Sweet and sour cherry cobbler. Absolutely delicious. I will say, however, that a 750ml bottle needs to be shared with friends or you will eventually start to find the cumulative sweetness build up in your mouth cloying. Without question this was meant to be a dessert. In the background there is an occasional glimpse of a Saison-like grassy funk which is the factor tying the sweet and sour together so that it is not quite so polarizing. This is partially made from Old Ale after all, it seems. My nitpick is that I would have preferred a wee bit more sourness, but that's just my personal bias talking. For somebody normal who doesn't like sucking on lemons like I do, its probably really well balanced.

M. Very tingly on the tongue and the finish just keeps going and going with no sign of stopping. However, that is a double-edged sword, if you want to taste something else without interference for a while, you are up a creek without a paddle. If you are content to taste sour cherries and nothing but, you're golden.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 00:17:40 | More by WastingFreetime

RoyalT

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - This is a gorgeous beer. The red color has the slightest tint of bright brown and the head is reddish and fluffy.

Smell - The cherries are so soft it's amazing. The tart aroma is like green apple but it's not strong or overpowering and somehow harmonizes perfectly with the cherries. The malt base has a nice sugary sweetness to it without coming off as artificial.

Taste - The afore-mentioned aromas come out nicely at the taste and again work incredibly well together. You get the wonderful cherry flavor, very natural, a balancing light tartness, and a wonderful malt structure.

Mouthfeel - This is a solid medium-bodied with excellent carbonation.

Drinkability - Lambics can get long after 25 ounces but this one just kept calling out my name. It goes down so well and is so efficiently balanced that you could really session this ale. It showed the smoothness of their Goudenband with the distinctive flavors of the kriek. Incredibly well executed.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 02:51:16 | More by RoyalT

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

So, I typically will enjoy this type of beer in a flute, tulip or some other glass like that. This is technically called a Fruit beer and they suggest a pint glass. I figured, what the heck, let's try it.

I am shocked at the strawberry shake type creamy head that I get when pouring this into this type of glass. The head is a pink, almost purple color with awesome structure and retention. The beer itself is a dark purple color that's fairly bold in color. Clinging lacing hangs everywhere.

Aroma is nice. Certainly cherry with a slight earthy depth. I wouldn't call it barnyard or funk, but something is up. Perhaps a touch musty, but not in a negative way. I picture dark ripe cherries, vs, their lighter less sweet brothers.

I had the Liefman's Goudenband and loved it. This is no different, what a wonderful beer. Light perfectly sweet cherry flavor with a hint of depth and roasted nuts. A touch bready as well. What I love here is the cherry flavor is that of the real fruit and not the artificial (although great) artificial cherry we've all become accustomed to tasting. I guess I have to type the word tart at some point, but it's so balanced with the sweetness it doesn't jump out at you.

Light spritzy body and carbonation. Springs to life on your tongue and quenches the thirst. Really refreshing. Gotta serve this at a brunch.

What a wonderful beer to drink. I popped this to enjoy the extra light as we celebrate daylight savings and the end of this terrible winter. Perfect call.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 21:09:42 | More by Reagan1984

Offa

California

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Deep red, med-big pale pink-tan head steadily shrinks to foamy ring, a little weak lace.

Aroma is metal, sweet-sour fruit, cherry, wood, yeast.

Taste is sweet-tart cherry, fruit, wood, hints of yeast and mineral, very juicy light sourness. Overall, it has a wonderful, engaging character, some nice complexity of elements underneath the dominant cherry character, and it’s lively and extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2011 20:54:20 | More by Offa

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-dark red with a brown tint. basically no head except a cream colored border around the glass.

S-really dark cherries and alcohol. a hint of cinnamon and tangyness. medium strength

T-comes in with a fresh and slightly tart taste of candied cherries.its a quality taste and the tang stays for awhile in to the after-taste of surprisingly unique and awesome taste of cherry Phillies...you know...the cigarillos..its spot on and great.

M-low creamy carbonation with a good crisp finish

O-i've noticed that many readliy available fruit bees/lambics are very similar and predictable. this has a great twist on it.i love the tobacco aspect to it, even though i hate tobacco. it also has a good aged aspect to it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-25-2011 05:45:45 | More by AdamBear

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

Brad007

Vermont

4.47/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark burgundy color with hints of garnet. Thin-head forms, leaving a dash of lacing on the inside of the glass.

Tart, sweet cherry greets the nose first, followed by the slightest hint of sour funk.

Sweet, slightly tart cherries dance around on my taste buds followed by just the right amount of funk. Has a sherry-like quality to it.

Carbonation is dialed up a bit but it doesn't do much harm. Just a hint of lingering cherry and funk.

Very good for what it is. Think of Lindemann's Kriek, but not as cloying.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 03:55:18 | More by Brad007

srandycarter

California

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Blood orange red tinged brown. Medium, thick, small bubbledl white head with pinkish hue. Some sparce cling.

S - Barn funk and tart cherries.

T - Fantastic blend of tart cherries and cooked cherry pie.

M - Good carb, tasty blend, nice clean finish.

D - Very easy to drink and a fun beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 04:40:15 | More by srandycarter

plfahey

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into a wine glass.

Appearance-Deep ruby red with good clarity. Solid pale pink cap of foam floats on top and shows good retention and nice lacing.

Aroma-Sweet, tart black cherries with an underlying earthy aroma to it. Cherry pie. Extremely “real” cherry aroma, doesn’t smell artificial like some krieks that I’ve had. Blackberries and raspberries are also notable.

Flavor- Sweet Cherries up front with blackberries not far behind. Ripe stone fruits, almost a bit like pluots. Tart cherry in the midpalate and a bit earthy in the finish. The aftertaste still has boasts sour cherry flavors but is quite dry, and even a little bit funky. Cherry flavors are complex and quite tasty.

Mouthfeel-Medium body with soft, moderate carbonation. Smooth and refreshing

Delicious cherry flavor is multi-layered and quite complex. Tart, refreshing, and all around awesome. This is what krieks should aspire to.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 06:08:54 | More by plfahey

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Champgane style bottle poured into red wine plastic glasses. Pours a dark crimson with white foam. Cloudy. Cherry smell, some malt. Cherry taste too, with a light sour. Very pleasant carbonation. Very flavorful, but balanced. Good mix of fruit and sours.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 20:25:10 | More by KTCamm

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my old Liefman's Goudenband chalice with a deep cherry tinted mahogany brown body. The head is a pink tinted light beige color with fine even speckled lacing. Tart cherries within a blend of oud bruin and Goudenband. Excellent blending here tart cherries with hints of wood aging, mild soft oak. Flavor is so balanced with tart cherries/with a brown aged ale going strong underneath. Big bold tart cherries, aged sour brown ale blends, bring out layers of complexity. Not a candy sweet cherry, real tart cherries oak aged notes with a mellow breadiness. Tart lactic acid hints of yogurt but not so sour that it turns your stomach. Effervescent carbonation the body is smooth, rolling layers of complexity. Awesome beer I will be getting more.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 19:49:04 | More by WVbeergeek

DavidST

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a goblet, can't find a bottle date (12/2020 is on the top), bought it this year. This pours a slightly hazy reddish brown color with a small extremely short lived tan head. The smells are nice, you get the apple cider vinegar, sour cherries, tartness, a hint of funk. The feel is medium, with med carbonination. The taste is as expected, a load of tart cherries, vinegar. A beautiful sweet and sour, I really wish I could find this stuff closer to me.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 06:01:07 | More by DavidST

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

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle poured into a sampling glass.

Pours a clear light brown with a reddish hint and a small white head. Nose is very fruity but still sour.

Taste is really balanced, it's sour but not killer, the fruit is light and balances it out well. Mouthfeel is light and crisp with a nice big mouthfeel. Overall quite good!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2010 23:10:49 | More by kingcrowing

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml corked and caged bottle, 2010 stamped on the cork. Served in a snifter, the beer pours a very dark ruby red/purple color with about a half inch light pink head. The brew is dark enough that I can't see through it at all. Head retention is decent, and there's a good amount of lacing left on the glass. Aroma is mostly tart and sweet cherries along with some wood, funk and vinegar. Taste is similar to the aroma, the cherry flavor is a good mix of both sweet and tart, and there's also some wood and funk noticable. However, this brew is all about the cherries. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's a bit coating with good, soft carbonation. Drinkability is pretty good, this brew is very smooth and goes down easy. I like this beer a lot, I might have to buy another bottle and see how this ages.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 00:26:08 | More by bluejacket74

SuperInga

New York

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Slightly cloudy, tawny port hue; light, crisp carbonation.

Smell - Strong cherry scent with a hint of wood.

Taste - Semi-sweet cherry with a nice tart aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Cidery with a little syrup, but still very refreshing.

Overall - Delicious kriek. An excellent compromise between supersweet Lindemans and champagne-dry Drie Fonteinen Oude Kriek, bearing in mind that this is not a lambic proper.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 06:47:23 | More by SuperInga

starkmarvelo

Texas

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Liefman's Cuvée Brut

A- deep clear red with a good amount of carbonation. Lose 1 &1/2 finger head like champagne.

Smell- smells of ripe sweet cherries. Almost kool aid like with a sweet floral smell.

T- just before the first sip, there's a rose pedal/sweet floral taste followed by cherries and a tartness not from the fruit. The only thing keeping me from believing that this isnt a beer is the slight bitterness with the cherry and very light malt flavor towards the end. I'm also getting a bit of mint at the end too.

M-bubbly, dry and crisp.

O- excellent fruit beer. Lots of cherries, not cloying at all. Well balanced and complex. I was really digging that sweet flower smell/taste.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 02:01:47 | More by starkmarvelo

scott451

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation was a plain bottle wrapped in paper which was the label. Date on the cage was 10-2010.

Poured into a Duvel tulip. A very dark ruby - almost brown, with a thin tan head which soon dimminished to a strong ring. Surprisingly strong lacing.

Smells of ripe plums and cherries. Some phenolic dark woody notes. A touch of sourness. The taste is of sweet black cherries with a smooth tart very astringent finish.

Medium body. Sweet up front with a dry finish. Good carbonation. Drinkability is good. Well balanced between sweet and sour. A good example of the style and a great introduction to sour beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2010 06:02:42 | More by scott451

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Glad to see Liefmans bottles back in the area, you guys better not run away again. Never had the Cuvee Brut before though.

Paper off, cage detached, cork removed, POP, Brut goes into the Weyerbacher tulip glass looking brown in color with a nice amount of off white semi tan suds rising up around two inches, going down to a ring, leaving tonz o lace.

Smell is all that sour cherries and some more cherries. They really packed a wallop in this one. Slight hit of vinegar and maybe some acidity. Warming brings out some malt flavor and thats about it. Simple yet banging.

Taste is what I expected, a big blast of sour cherries to the face. I also expected a ton of medicinal and cloyingly sweet flavors as well but Im not bombarded by them. It's sweet but not off the edge. Tangy cherries and some malt flavor, this is heaven.

Very lively on the mouth. It sparkles in the beginning yet fizzes out mid palate going into a smooth finish. Not surupy. A perfect balance. Tangy but not lemonhead sour. A light build with life.

I think I may like this better than my beloved goudenbom(SP). This exceeded expectations and I drank the whole bottle by myself very easily without a hitch.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 09:08:14 | More by onix1agr

fragilehearted

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml, wrapped, corked, & caged into a snifter. I miss the retired Liefmans kriek, so I had to try this out. I'm such a sucker for kriek.

A - deep brownish red, not much head. Pretty! Not much lacing hangs around.

S - lots of tart cherries. Woodsy funk & vinegar. Not too complex, but not simple and not artificial, thankfully.

T - So good! Sour cherries, but not puckeringly sour. Like the smell, not very many elements, but it's very well balanced. Can't taste event a hint of booze.

M - Really light, great for summer drinking in this "How many days of 100 degree highs have we had" Texas heat. Medium carbonation makes for smooth drinking.

D/O - outstanding. It's a great example of the style and is very drinkable. If you liked the old Liefmans kriek, you should like this.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 05:03:42 | More by fragilehearted

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a fairly deep cherry red, amber color, with good head retention and lacing. The nose on this beer quickly lets me know that I'm in for some serious stuff. The aroma profile consists of some pretty intense sour, plum, lavendar soap and cherry. Not too many beers out there that smell anything like this. On the palate, this is mighty, might tasty. The sweet cherry is much more pronounced than I expected, and in combination with the sour component, there's an intense sweet tart flavor to this beer. There's also a hint of barnyard funk in the finish, which much to my surprise, adds an unexpected, unanticipated bonus to the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is medium bodied at most, and the finish is long, sweet and tart. Alcohol is completely undetectable in this outstanding beer.

Yumm... I'll be ordering this one again for sure (at least whenever I'm fortunate to see it on tap).

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2011 18:26:03 | More by johnmichaelsen

UCLABrewN84

California

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage.

Pours a clear dark cranberry juice color with a 1 inch foamy reddish-white head that fades to a small cap. Foamy streaks of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of sour unripe cherries and some funky and earthy aromas. Taste is actually pretty sweet with overripe cherries, slight funk and sour flavors, and some earthy wood-like flavors. This beer has a very good level of carbonation with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. A bit puckering with each sip and very refreshing. Overall, this is a very good cherry beer that is extremely easy to drink. I killed the whole bottle by myself in less than 5 minutes. A good alternative to the Lindemans fruit lambics.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 03:22:44 | More by UCLABrewN84