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K Is For Kriek
Brooklyn Brewery
- From:
- Brooklyn Brewery
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Wild Ale
- ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 89
- Avg:
- 3.96 | pDev: 9.09%
- Reviews:
- 39
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 29, 2020
- Added:
- Jan 11, 2015
- Wants:
- 12
- Gots:
- 51
“B” is for “Brooklyn.” We all learned that in school, yes? But “B” is also for “Belgium”. And when our brewmaster first visited Belgium in 1984, he learned that “K” is for “Kriek”. “Kriek” means “cherry” in Belgian Flanders, where for centuries Kriek beers have been made by adding cherries to lambics and other sour beers. Here in Brooklyn, we based our distinctly American take on Kriek on our dark abbey ale, the estimable Local 2. To this beer’s subtle marriage of malts, dark candi sugar, local wildflower honey and zing of orange peel, we added tart dried whole Montmorency cherries from Michigan. Around this, we wrapped a barrel of charred American bourbon oak. The sugar of the cherries began to ferment away. The barrels hissed. And we waited.
Six months later, the beer emerged with a glowing red color, vibrant acidity, complex fruit aromatics, and a foundation of oak flavors, its strength moving past 10%. Its transformation almost complete, the beer joined priming sugar, Champagne yeast and wild Brettanomyces yeasts in the bottle and underwent a third fermentation. And we waited yet again.
Now, a full year after we brewed it, this beer is ready for your table. K is for Kriek is dry, fruity, tart, full-bodied, and expansive, able to be enjoyed now or after years of cellaring. This beer is wondrous with poultry, duck and pork dishes, tremendous with goat cheeses, and a fine pairing for desserts. We originally made this beer just for ourselves, as part of our unreleased Ghost Bottle series, but it was too tasty to hoard. Beer is for drinking. And K is for Kriek.
Six months later, the beer emerged with a glowing red color, vibrant acidity, complex fruit aromatics, and a foundation of oak flavors, its strength moving past 10%. Its transformation almost complete, the beer joined priming sugar, Champagne yeast and wild Brettanomyces yeasts in the bottle and underwent a third fermentation. And we waited yet again.
Now, a full year after we brewed it, this beer is ready for your table. K is for Kriek is dry, fruity, tart, full-bodied, and expansive, able to be enjoyed now or after years of cellaring. This beer is wondrous with poultry, duck and pork dishes, tremendous with goat cheeses, and a fine pairing for desserts. We originally made this beer just for ourselves, as part of our unreleased Ghost Bottle series, but it was too tasty to hoard. Beer is for drinking. And K is for Kriek.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by whatname:
Rated by whatname from Pennsylvania
4.05/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jun 30, 2015
4.05/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jun 30, 2015
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey
4.14/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.14/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
-Ale brewed with honey, dark candi syrup and orange peel aged in Bourbon Barrels on whole cherries.
A: Loud audible sense of carbonation crackles with delight and power from a dark tan head that quickly collapses under its own weight. The pour was a rich cola coloring that produced a small covering on the glass walls. The head was porous and spongy textured. Overall a very strong Belgian type of appearance.
S: Smooth sense of slightly sour and damp cherries appear on the open. Some apricot fruitiness against a soft wheat backing has some orange peel, honey and wildflower notes for spicing. Add some fresh apple slices from the yeast, warm cola and yeasty muskiness and you got an all around solid musky and funky nose. The strength was a bit reserved and wished only for more.
T: Big funk of musky cherries and oranges. Creamy wheat backing and sweet caramel-cola with some wild flowers. Honey add sweetness along with some dark fruity figs and sugar plums and yeasty funk. Some tart fruit cake, lemony muskiness and big orange peel hints are added along with some candi sugars sweetness. Some vanilla tones round out.
M: Tons of massaging micro bubbles add texture and activity on the mouthful.A great fullness and feel per style.
O: Overall the flavor and smooth sourness define this drink with some sweet honey and candi-sugar to counter balance. Brooklyn doesn't seem to get the wide acceptance or recognition they so deserve for making such Belgian style drinks. They just go about quietly doing their business which is fine for me a right coast dweller with direct access to this fine brewery. Wine like drinkability adds to the length and enjoyment as well the developing flavors and senses this drink brings with each gentle sip. At 10% abv the alcohol is very well balanced and hidden. A worthy purchase.
Apr 29, 2020A: Loud audible sense of carbonation crackles with delight and power from a dark tan head that quickly collapses under its own weight. The pour was a rich cola coloring that produced a small covering on the glass walls. The head was porous and spongy textured. Overall a very strong Belgian type of appearance.
S: Smooth sense of slightly sour and damp cherries appear on the open. Some apricot fruitiness against a soft wheat backing has some orange peel, honey and wildflower notes for spicing. Add some fresh apple slices from the yeast, warm cola and yeasty muskiness and you got an all around solid musky and funky nose. The strength was a bit reserved and wished only for more.
T: Big funk of musky cherries and oranges. Creamy wheat backing and sweet caramel-cola with some wild flowers. Honey add sweetness along with some dark fruity figs and sugar plums and yeasty funk. Some tart fruit cake, lemony muskiness and big orange peel hints are added along with some candi sugars sweetness. Some vanilla tones round out.
M: Tons of massaging micro bubbles add texture and activity on the mouthful.A great fullness and feel per style.
O: Overall the flavor and smooth sourness define this drink with some sweet honey and candi-sugar to counter balance. Brooklyn doesn't seem to get the wide acceptance or recognition they so deserve for making such Belgian style drinks. They just go about quietly doing their business which is fine for me a right coast dweller with direct access to this fine brewery. Wine like drinkability adds to the length and enjoyment as well the developing flavors and senses this drink brings with each gentle sip. At 10% abv the alcohol is very well balanced and hidden. A worthy purchase.
Reviewed by janubio from Spain
4.25/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Tasted at The Situation. Served in a snifter glass.. Pours a hazy brown colour, samll head with short retention, no lace.
Aroma of cherries, citrics, brown sugar, red wine.
Medium to full body, creamy tarty texture, no carbonation. Sweet finish
Taste of cherries, brown sugar, citrics, red wine.
Excelent beer.
Dec 24, 2018Aroma of cherries, citrics, brown sugar, red wine.
Medium to full body, creamy tarty texture, no carbonation. Sweet finish
Taste of cherries, brown sugar, citrics, red wine.
Excelent beer.
Reviewed by ONUMello from Ohio
4.05/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750mL bottle, batch 2, poured into a snifter
A: Hazy dark brown with a 1/2-finger head that quickly settles
S: Brown sugar, cherry, brett, red wine
T: Matchs the nose
M: Full-bodied, just a hint sweet, the alcohol is hidden
O: A nice blend. The cherry is there but not strong. High abv but the sweetness is balanced and the alcohol hidden. There's also a unique wine note that I feel the aging has brought out - definitely a nicely aged beer
Dec 09, 2017A: Hazy dark brown with a 1/2-finger head that quickly settles
S: Brown sugar, cherry, brett, red wine
T: Matchs the nose
M: Full-bodied, just a hint sweet, the alcohol is hidden
O: A nice blend. The cherry is there but not strong. High abv but the sweetness is balanced and the alcohol hidden. There's also a unique wine note that I feel the aging has brought out - definitely a nicely aged beer
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
3.87/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
$ 25.90 (Including tax)/750 mL bottle ($ 1.00/oz) at Oppermann’s Cork ‘N’ Ale, Saginaw, MI
While there is no actual date on the bottle, it does say “BQE Q1 2015, Blend #3, so it’s approaching two years old. Cage and cork bottle at 42 degrees served in a hand washed and dried JK snifter. The bottle opens with a resounding “Pop” and does not overflow.
Aroma – cherries and candi sugar. No hint of the bourbon barrels.
Head transitory. It fizzes away almost as fast as I pour, which, because of the fizzing, is more slowly and less aggressively than normal. What was there was tan, less than two centimeters thick, and left an irregular one to three millimeter ring which is maintained by the effervescence. There is no surface layer, just small bubble slicks formed by the effervescence which slide away to meld with the ring.
Lacing - none
Body – brown, murky, some effervescence
Flavor – slightly sweet and some cherry. Since this uses Brooklyn’s Local # 2 as a base, one would expect some of the Belgian dark strong ale characteristics to come through. And they do – hops are barely noted, the malt sweetness (and/or candi sugar) is evident (The Montmorency cherries used are considered tart or sour), alcohol is so well hidden that even a gastric burn is absent. There is no diacetyl. And definitely not even a hint of bourbon barrels.
Palate – medium, watery, fizzy
Overall, this is one that I’m glad I tried once (I think) but is also one that I won’t be seeking. It is also a good example of the problems of categorizing beers – Belgian dark strong ale vs. fruit/vegetable beer vs. wild ale. This has been discussed in other threads ad infinitum.
Appearance 3.5, Aroma 4, Flavor 4, Palate 3.5, Overall 3.75
Jan 08, 2017While there is no actual date on the bottle, it does say “BQE Q1 2015, Blend #3, so it’s approaching two years old. Cage and cork bottle at 42 degrees served in a hand washed and dried JK snifter. The bottle opens with a resounding “Pop” and does not overflow.
Aroma – cherries and candi sugar. No hint of the bourbon barrels.
Head transitory. It fizzes away almost as fast as I pour, which, because of the fizzing, is more slowly and less aggressively than normal. What was there was tan, less than two centimeters thick, and left an irregular one to three millimeter ring which is maintained by the effervescence. There is no surface layer, just small bubble slicks formed by the effervescence which slide away to meld with the ring.
Lacing - none
Body – brown, murky, some effervescence
Flavor – slightly sweet and some cherry. Since this uses Brooklyn’s Local # 2 as a base, one would expect some of the Belgian dark strong ale characteristics to come through. And they do – hops are barely noted, the malt sweetness (and/or candi sugar) is evident (The Montmorency cherries used are considered tart or sour), alcohol is so well hidden that even a gastric burn is absent. There is no diacetyl. And definitely not even a hint of bourbon barrels.
Palate – medium, watery, fizzy
Overall, this is one that I’m glad I tried once (I think) but is also one that I won’t be seeking. It is also a good example of the problems of categorizing beers – Belgian dark strong ale vs. fruit/vegetable beer vs. wild ale. This has been discussed in other threads ad infinitum.
Appearance 3.5, Aroma 4, Flavor 4, Palate 3.5, Overall 3.75
Reviewed by gcamparone from Rhode Island
4.19/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 750mL bottle into a snifter. Thanks Jeff for this bottle!
Pours a muddy brown, every so slightly maroon hazy body with a one finger off white head that reduces quickly to leave no lacing or retention.
Aromas are complex to say the least.. a lot going on here. Dark fruits, molasses, red wine, light vinegar tartness, acetic, some cherry and a bit of booze.
Lightly tart on the tongue, tart cherries and drying tannins, fruit skins, tobacco, earthy, black cherry, caramel and candied sugar. Like a slightly tart tripel or quad. Body is pretty heavy with low carbonation. For 10% it's pretty easy to drink.
Overall well done. Not exactly a "Kriek" in my book more of a quad with kriek characteristics. Complex and tasty nonetheless.
Sep 11, 2016Pours a muddy brown, every so slightly maroon hazy body with a one finger off white head that reduces quickly to leave no lacing or retention.
Aromas are complex to say the least.. a lot going on here. Dark fruits, molasses, red wine, light vinegar tartness, acetic, some cherry and a bit of booze.
Lightly tart on the tongue, tart cherries and drying tannins, fruit skins, tobacco, earthy, black cherry, caramel and candied sugar. Like a slightly tart tripel or quad. Body is pretty heavy with low carbonation. For 10% it's pretty easy to drink.
Overall well done. Not exactly a "Kriek" in my book more of a quad with kriek characteristics. Complex and tasty nonetheless.
Reviewed by TheElectricOne from Rhode Island
3.83/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 750ml bottle into a tumbler glass:
Appearance: pours a murky, reddish-brown color, with a sudsy two finger head atop the brew. Dissipates after a couple minutes. Some carb visible, with a little fizziness as well.
Aroma: mild bourbon notes, with perhaps a little oak and a touch of vanilla. The dominant scent, though, is the cherry. Pretty nice, deep aromas in that regard. This is a pretty complex smelling beer overall.
Taste: mild sourness, with a solid amount of tart attached. I don't get much from the brett in this brew, and the bourbon is quite subtle. It's smooth, with not much heat for an 11% brew. The cherries definitely come through, and that's probably the best aspect of the flavor here. Overall, it's a solid, but not excellent kriek.
Feel: medium to full thickness, and it's not overly syrupy. Complements the flavor profile nicely.
Overall: it's not my favorite kriek, or my favorite beer from Brooklyn, but it packed a unique flavor profile, and was pretty solid overall. I'd be interested to try just the base beer without the bourbon barrel.
May 26, 2016Appearance: pours a murky, reddish-brown color, with a sudsy two finger head atop the brew. Dissipates after a couple minutes. Some carb visible, with a little fizziness as well.
Aroma: mild bourbon notes, with perhaps a little oak and a touch of vanilla. The dominant scent, though, is the cherry. Pretty nice, deep aromas in that regard. This is a pretty complex smelling beer overall.
Taste: mild sourness, with a solid amount of tart attached. I don't get much from the brett in this brew, and the bourbon is quite subtle. It's smooth, with not much heat for an 11% brew. The cherries definitely come through, and that's probably the best aspect of the flavor here. Overall, it's a solid, but not excellent kriek.
Feel: medium to full thickness, and it's not overly syrupy. Complements the flavor profile nicely.
Overall: it's not my favorite kriek, or my favorite beer from Brooklyn, but it packed a unique flavor profile, and was pretty solid overall. I'd be interested to try just the base beer without the bourbon barrel.
K Is For Kriek from Brooklyn Brewery
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
168 ratings
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