Most Americans have seen this on shelves. I always buy 1 bottle when I see it on shelves because despite its high cost ($25-$30 USD, 37.5 CL), it’s still a very nice Kriek and one of the best shelf-krieks you can buy outside of Belgium. I’ve had a few of them over the years and while I love it, it’s not my favorite. However, the 2015 Hanssens Kriek released at Toer de Gueuze was mind-blowing. I knew that a few bottles would be mind after I saw it being sold for 16 Euros for 75CL bottles (double volume that we get in USA at $10 less than we’d pay for a 37CL) so I bought a few to bring home. Eugene and I split a bottle with a few others and had it at Hanssens to finalize the closure of our Toer de Gueuze day. Here is the review:
Overall 4.5 AROMA 10/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 18/20
2015 Batch from Toer de Gueuze, bottle enjoyed with 77Ships and others @ Hanssens. Great weather, nice day. it was 16 Euro for 75CLs no limit for take-away. Label says “hand picked” and is brighter than previous batches Color is the deepest, darkest red I’ve ever seen…bits of purple. Aroma is delicate, balanced, light tartness and an explosion of a ’cherry smoothie’ for me. not that overly sweet either. The taste is explosive. No acetic sour tastes, no phenols, no plastic. Cherry juice, 18-24 month lambic, juicy, and a lot of wood. The amount of cherries must be approaching 30% volumes (300g p/L). Good mouthfeel but might need more time in the bottle. Honestly, I should have grabbed a few more of these. An exceptional batch. juicy, not acidic, not too sour a friend with us who had not bought bottles, tasted this and then bought 6! :)
OLD RATING, Late-2013 There are so few reviews of this beer because it runs $25 on shelves for a 375ML. I buy it when I can. Finall took notes at Fuj’s epic Gueuzapalooza fest last weekend aside other Schaerbeek cherry lambics. Dark blood red appearance. Nose is gigantic. So much fruitiness, jammy with a touch of funk. This beer stands out among the rest, even beside LP Kriek. The 3F Schaerbeek Krek wins hands down but this is a close second. Lots of cherry, oak and woody funk. wet hay with tight cherry jelly.
