Verhaeghe Echte Kriek / Echte Kriekenbier - Brouwerij Verhaeghe

AccidentalKate

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I love the deep dark red of this beer, a near black cherry color with a tinge of mahogany. Served in a tulip glass, it has a constant head and a champagne-like stream of co2 coming from its depth. This is a nice looking glass of Red Flemish Ale.

The aroma is sharp. The cherry is there up front, and underneath the malt. But there is also a small bit of acrid aroma that I can't quite place.

Sour cherry hits the palate first, with enough sweetness to keep it interesting.As that fades away it becomes a little too sour. However, after about a minute or so, the finish is nice and malty. A strong start, a good finish, but an iffy middle.

A good zip of carbonation keeps the mouthfeel lively, and a strong head gives a bit of a creamy texture. Very nice indeed.

If you're a fan of Flemish Ale, this is a very nice beer. There are some things holding it back, but overall, a fine notch to put on one's belt, so to speak.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2009 04:01:10 | More by AccidentalKate

mc4z

California

4/5  rDev +4.4%

06-15-2013 05:44:26 | More by mc4z

Texasfan549

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

06-14-2013 00:21:21 | More by Texasfan549

Phillyz

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

05-30-2013 18:54:47 | More by Phillyz

metter98

New York

3.94/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is clear dark red in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high pink head that gradually died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: Moderate aromas of cherries are present in the nose along with hints of sweetness and oak.
T: Like the smell, the taste is quite fruity and has lots of cherry flavors along with notes of sourness and oak. Hints of vinegar are perceptible in the finish.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink as there's enough fruitiness from the cherries to prevent this from becoming too sour.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 17:18:08 | More by metter98

smithj4

New York

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-30-2013 17:12:37 | More by smithj4

vicsju1991

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

05-22-2013 18:04:39 | More by vicsju1991

MSandahl23

Indiana

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-14-2013 17:11:17 | More by MSandahl23

JayQue

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A nice, approachable sour beer. Poured into my Houblon Chouffe flute. A good reddish amber clor, fairly clear with a fizzy white, delicately bubbly head. Head retention is minimal and no lacing.

Fairly good aroma of sweet tart-cherry and a little vinegary sourness. The taste is much stronger and more impressive than the aroma. The sweet and tart cherry flavor is up front, with a somewhat vinegary sourness creeping in toward the finish. The sourness is not bad, I hate the real strong vinegary taste of some sours. This beer is nicely balanced between fruitiness and sourness. Fairly complex balance of flavors.

Mouthfeel is good. Very nicely carbonated/bubbly. Goes well with the tart flavor. Light feel (in a good way), fairly delicate. and refreshing.

Overall this would be a very refreshing summer drink. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 02:15:51 | More by JayQue

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-12-2013 20:07:17 | More by BeerForMuscle

next_imaginaut

Washington

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-10-2013 10:59:09 | More by next_imaginaut

dalepryor

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-07-2013 22:48:42 | More by dalepryor

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-06-2013 18:30:59 | More by Jason1337

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cork says expiration date of Sept. 2011.

A- Pours medium-reddish brown that is almost more tan than red or brown. Small to medium head that is gone quickly and little lacing.

S- Tart and acidic on the nose. Only slight hints of cherry are still present. Yeast and dry scents are also prominent. Scent is somewhat fruity, but mostly smells more like a normal Flanders Red.

T- Taste is classic Flanders Red with slight hints of cherry. Starts with some tart cherry flavors and moves quickly into more traditional sour flavors. Yeasty flavor provides some bready backbone flavors. Then the sour and tart kicks back in for a little bit, before a dry, champagne-like flavor ends it. Dry flavor gives is a nice, simple finish.

M- Light and spritzy; very champagne-like. Sour notes are not overpowering, so this is very drinkable in both weight and feel across the tongue.

Overall, I'm a little sad I bought this out of date and it didn't quite have the cherry punch I expected. Other than that, it's a very good Flanders Red for a very affordable price.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 00:51:46 | More by boilermakerbrew

beerandthedead

United Kingdom (England)

4.98/5  rDev +30%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

dark reddish colour,aroma sweetish with marzipan tones,dry sour flavour with large cherry hit sweet/sour finish that lasts for ages,altogether a well rounded beer that drinks easily,not at all gassy despite co2 dispense,///===,a good alternative to trad kriek ,only slightly less sour and little sweetness

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2013 19:23:55 | More by beerandthedead

radlleb

Oregon

4/5  rDev +4.4%

04-09-2013 05:02:11 | More by radlleb

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.81/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

an expiration date of september 2011 on the cork. poured a deep but clean red almost burgundy with very slight amount of white head with a pinkish hue. smells of port wine barrels, wet cork, wet hay, very funky. a sour cherry flavor up front with a barrel flavor hitting the palate immediately afterwards. taste is just like the smell to be honest, it just develops differently. high carbonation and medium body, very tart makes it a sipper.

not a bad sour at all, just not exactly excellent either. it was honestly more tart than sour, which is not what i was expecting. a nice wood barrel feel from the flavor lingers with the sour cherry notes.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 00:53:59 | More by facundoCNB

SadMachine

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +4.4%

03-22-2013 04:40:45 | More by SadMachine

Jspriest

Maryland

3/5  rDev -21.7%

02-25-2013 22:11:17 | More by Jspriest

DmanGTR

New York

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

02-04-2013 18:42:14 | More by DmanGTR

indybearsfan

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

02-03-2013 19:17:32 | More by indybearsfan

matjack85

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -28.2%

02-02-2013 07:53:33 | More by matjack85

steve23sf

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

01-22-2013 23:33:24 | More by steve23sf

tripleAlpha

5/5  rDev +30.5%

01-17-2013 07:29:16 | More by tripleAlpha

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from tap into a Trappe Door tulip. Poured a deep ruby red with a one finger slightly pink head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, cherry, candied sugar, strawberry, and sweet tarts. The flavor was of sweet malt, strawberry, cherry, sugar, cherry syrup, and subtle sweet tart. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. I will warn all who approach this brew that it is a lot more sweet than some other Krieks out there. This does cover up quite a bit of the subtle flavors that were present as I could not pick them out unfortunately. For what they were aiming for it really wasn’t too bad if I honest as the sweetness did carry throughout, but it wasn’t overpowering to the point where you think you are going to get diabeetus from drink a glass of it. A fairly well done brew that I wouldn’t mind having again in the future if more funky Krieks are not available at the time.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2013 11:51:53 | More by thagr81us