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Kriek Nouveau
Free Will Brewing Co.
- 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:
- 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.
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:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
4.21/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
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, 2019clear, 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.
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
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, 2016Nose 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.
Reviewed by Urk1127 from New Jersey
3.69/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
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, 2016Slight 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.
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
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, 2016Poured 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.
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
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, 2016Reviewed 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
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
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