Kriek Nouveau
Free Will Brewing Co.

Kriek NouveauKriek Nouveau
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Free Will Brewing Co.
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
6.9%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 9.52%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
96
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 15, 2020
Added:
May 07, 2014
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  9
Formerly "Kriek Lambic".

American take on a Belgian-inspired Kriek sour ale. This sour has a unique history, starting with beer brewed in January of 2015, then blended with fresh local sour cherries later that year, before spending just over a year in French oak wine barrels. In June of 2016, we transferred the liquid into a foudre and blended it with another fresh harvest of local sour cherries where it sat until being packaged late last year.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeezNeezy22D:
Photo of BeezNeezy22D
Rated by BeezNeezy22D from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%

Jul 16, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.61 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Jul 15, 2020
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
poured from 750 ml bottle

clear, dark pink in color, white head that fades. nice tart aroma of sour cherries. taste is fairly sour, mouth puckering. but in a sorta refreshing way. fizzy carbonation, thinner bodied.
Aug 09, 2019
 
Rated: 3.85 by bluehende from Delaware

Jul 21, 2019
 
Rated: 2.37 by z_21 from Pennsylvania

Jan 20, 2019
 
Rated: 4.29 by NYR-Zuuuuc from Connecticut

Jul 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4.19 by Erikshegda1994 from Pennsylvania

Mar 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.11 by nickfl from Florida

Sep 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

Sep 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.96 by rjd722 from Maryland

Jul 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.77 by AMCimpi from New York

May 07, 2016
Photo of SpeedwayJim
Reviewed by SpeedwayJim from New York

3.53/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz. capped bottle into a Surly teku. Shared by schen9303.

Nose is coarse cherry pit and juice. Thankfully mellow. Opens sweet and medicinal cherry juice. A light, spritzy tartness in the middle with a juicy finish. Solid. Super carbonated on the palate and lively and aggressive going down.

If you're expecting a real lambic, you're gonna be sorely disappointed with this one. However, as a fruit beer, this is solid and enjoyable. Decent complexity and pretty drinkable too.
Apr 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.92 by paresis from Massachusetts

Apr 11, 2016
Photo of Urk1127
Reviewed by Urk1127 from New Jersey

3.69/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
Pinkish side of red, no head at all
Slight funk, wine like smell
Like white wine then red wine, some booze, sour cherry
Moderate sour. A bit subdued

My first lambic. It was very good.
Apr 06, 2016
Photo of JMS1512
Reviewed by JMS1512 from New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
On the docket: 475mL bottle of Free Will’s Kriek Lambic

Poured into: Innis & Gunn stemmed craft glass

S: The body appears translucent and reminiscent of a cloudy glass of pink-grapefruit Fresca. If poured with vigor, a frothy, light carnation colored head form quickly, then dies. A find bead of bubbles form a ring around the edge of the glass. Bubble activity is detectable, but only if one looks at the edge of the meniscus. Some sediment at the bottom of the glass, but to be expected.

A: Subtle and tart cherry is the star of the aroma. This is not sickly sweet, maraschino or the dark note of black cherries. Typical of fruit lambics, the hops and malt are on vacation, living the good life in other beers. The cherries are house-sitting. A mild funk comes through as well, and is to be expected of the style.

T: Counter to the Key Lime cousin also made by Free Will, this sour cherry version, though tart and sour, is a bit more subdued. Also present more so in this beer, is the the evidence of malt, which tastes clean and doughy. My guess is pale or Pilsner malt. As explained in the above paragraph, the hops are vacant. The showcase of lambics is the tart, sour, funky bacteria element and the wild yeast, which Free Will cultures in-house.

F: Light to medium-light. Fine carbonation, still able to keep this beer light and refreshing. Medium finish of a gentle tartness and sweetness from the cherries. Again, this beer is naturally flavored and not back-sweetened.

O: Not as tart and sour as the Key Lime, but still in close adherence to the style. Easier to drink than most sour beers, and quite refreshing. Good substitute for a mimosa (sub for the prosecco and we’ll call it a Lambosa), pink grapefruit soda or a malternative.

Suggested food pairing: Mildly creamy goat cheese, fruit cup, Hawaiian pizza, and dare we go there… Easter-style glazed ham complete with pineapple rings, cloves and cherries.
Apr 04, 2016
Photo of frasergrove
Reviewed by frasergrove from California

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very surprised how low a score this one has...severely underrated as an American sour (not a lambic perse). Pours a medium hazy light pink, nice white head. Aroma is a burst of acidic brightness and smooth fermented cherry. Smooth tasting with some stone fruit flavors and a bit of cherry, clean lactic acid and good body. This is a tasty brew.
Apr 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by suckaj from Florida

Mar 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by TrilliumFan from Massachusetts

Mar 19, 2016
 
Rated: 3.94 by greyghost86 from Delaware

Mar 13, 2016
Photo of von_kaiser
Reviewed by von_kaiser from Connecticut

4.39/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Have been in a sour kick lately and this didn't disappoint. Cloudy pink, moderate head with a funky sour scent. Sour cherry flavor and not overly tart...tart enough. Mouthfeel is full for the style. I enjoyed and recommend. Stop being sour prejudice already! Cheers!!
Mar 05, 2016
Kriek Nouveau from Free Will Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 96 ratings