Kreklingøl
HaandBryggeriet

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.0%. Reddish brown beer, big to moderate off-white head with a reddish hue. The aroma is yeasty and somehat alcoholic, with distinct and unusual notes of crowberries. The beer is fairly light bodied and refreshing for its strength. The crowberries come through nicely in the flavour, but the beer is neither very sweet nor very sour. Very moderately hopped, obviously with the intention of letting the crowberries stand out more, but I’d still like some more hoppy bitterness in the finish.

 

A 500ml bottle with a bottled-on date of April 2012. ABV stated as 7.1%. Purchased ages ago from Trembling Madness in York. I've obviously had this one sitting around for a while - I hope it's still alright. The label states that this brew contains crowberries, which grow within the arctic circle. A collaborative beer made with a recipe from Erlann Eldorsen.

Poured into a straight pint glass. Bottle conditioned - it gushes everywhere upon opening. A hazy reddish-brown hue with plenty of fine sediment and light carbonation. Yields a decent head of creamy beige foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding to a patchy surface layer. Aroma of sweet red fruit - not unlike cranberries or tart raspberries. This is underpinned by stewed grain, subtle caramel malt, earthy yeast and faint herbs/leaves. Quite nice.

Tastes of delicate red berries and earthy yeast, with a mild finish. Notes of cranberries, caramel malt, earthy yeast, sugar, a hint of rye, stewed herbs/leaves and faint grain. Slightly sweet, followed by a lingering yeasty character upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and lightly tingly, with decent body and an acidic quality on the palate. However, rather flat and undercarbonated. An aftertaste of earthy yeast, faint red fruit and cardboard.

An interesting effort with an unusual ingredient, but not the best fruit beer I've ever had. It looks a bit soupy, while the aroma and flavour have touches of berries and a dominant yeasty character. Body is a tad lacklustre. The overall impression is that this is a bit old and the yeast has developed too much in the bottle. A factor which may also have caused the initial geyser and subsequent lack of carbonation. Oh well. An unusual beer that is worth a punt if you come across it.

 

 

What time is it? Crowberry-time! For my next beer I wanted something different and how can you get than a beer flavoured with berries that only grow in the arctic circle? If Tactical Nuclear Penguin is your answer then "yes" you are correct, however I don't have $169.99 to spend on an impulse beer review purchase.

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a St Feuillien chalice.

A: After exploding out of the bottle and all over my keyboard and floor (not a good start HaandBryggeriet) proving you never can trust crowberries, the brew presented itself a blood orange hue with a head that was tan coloured but faded to nothing.

S: The aroma is unique - the berries themselves add a sharp tart note similar to cranberries, with some Christmas spice in there (cardamom, nutmeg and cinnamon) and some faint mulberries in the background.

T: Tart berry flavours; cranberry, blackberry and mulberry, mixed with Christmas spice and a sharp (but thankfully weak) medicinal herb bitterness at the end. Pretty much as expected the crowberries aren't sweet and the drink takes on a more vinous character than other beers.

M: Mid to light bodied with a sharp crisp carbonation.

D: Not a fan of this brew, and it's not because it almost destroyed my keyboard and my desk is a bit sticky now (that's my fault for not opening this beer near a kitchen sink). I can however appreciate its uniqueness even thought it is quite sharp, acidic and a little astringent. Worth a try as something different but not a brew I would get again.

Food match: Turkey is the first thing that comes to mind, or a Christmas dinner in general. Also might contrast well with smoked fish or a bold cheese.

 

I never had crowberries as far as I know, and was pleasantly surprised by its unique and spicy! taste. Slightly dark with a lasting head. Good drinkability, with only a hint of tartness like a goosberry. Creamy mouthfeel. Balanced.Reminds me of a good rye ale.

 

1693rd Review on BA
Bottle to Woodshop snifter

Thanks to Eric for sharing at Steve's

App- A bit lighter than I thought with more a brown appearance versus a kriek look. Hidden browns and golds versus a bit or red or purple. Not sure what color the berries are either. Maybe the rye malts had an effect.

Smell- Its a nice smelling beer, just wanted more. A bit damp and wheat/malt heavy versus a kriek or wild ale aroma. A bit bitter as well.

Taste- A bit let down by this one. Was a different animal than I thought it would be. More akin to a fruit beer but not in the park with New Glarus beers. A bit small on berry flavor. Still a touch dry and malty.

Mouth- A lighter medium body with a medium dry carbonation. Deep fruits with a bit of bitter remain on this one.

Drink- I think when I saw berries and kriek I expected to much and at a bottle share wasn't the best setting for this one.

 

 

 

Crowberrries, eh? Not sure what those are, but let's give this a try.

Pours a murky ruby reddish color. About 2 finger head, some lacing. Quick swirl will bring the head back.

Aroma seems a touch tart. Full of fruit and caramel. Blackberry, cherry, grapes, red plum and hints of strawberry. The caramel is sweet and strong.

Flavors highlight the fruit. Red plum, blackcherry and white grape seem to stand out the most. Caramel is faded a bit, but doesn't go away. Somewhat tart, maybe slight hint of tannin.

Overall, this is a good fruit beer. Not too fruity, not too sweet, not too sour. I like it

Poured from a half-litre bottle into a Koningshoeven chalice. Brewed 14 March 2012; bottled 29 April 2012.

A: The bottle erupted with head that foamed everywhere. The beer is a ruddy light brown, translucent, topped with a pinkish head.

S: Meh. Faint yeast, wine, fruit, bread.

T: Whugh. Weird. I guess I assumed from the name that Kreklingøl would be a kriek, but it's not. It's earthy, vegetal, and lightly sour. It tastes faintly of wort, which puts me off, or maybe a gruit with herbs used in lieu of hops.

M: Not entirely bad. Some lingering bitterness. Rather full-bodied.

O: Not my favourite. Wouldn't have again and wouldn't drink an entire bottle.

Discovered this during North Bar's recent Ockoberfest event.

Surprised by the intensity of the bouquet and loving the apricot pleasures. Have to say that this beer is very interesting. it's so so fruity and estery, but drier than a proverbial. there is a nice length on the the sides of the tongue and a metalic finish. worth a go if you've the coinage (twelve english pounds).

Brewed 03/14/12; bottled 04/29/12.

Pours a dark cranberry copper tinted read with a light and thin khaki head. Nose is sweet plums and carmel. I love the nose. There are assertive esters and tons of pleasant notes.

Mouthfeel is rich, lightly carbonated with small bubbles and rich. It is full and medium bodied and quite nice.

Interestingly, the flavor profile and character don't match the nose or the mouthfeel. The flavors are a bit boring and uninspired. The nose makes a huge promise that the flavors don't deliver in any respect. The flavors are not bad, just muted. Light plum and "red ale" notes, light malt, light fruit and medium bitter green pepper and vegetal tones. Not bad, just a bit of a disappointment after the nose.

Finish is pleasant medium bitter "green stone fruit."

Bottle: Poured a clear reddish color ale with a rather large foamy head with good retention and some light lacing. Aroma of light sweet berries with light tart notes is quite interesting. Taste is also a good balanced mix between some tart notes mix in with lightly sweet berries notes. Acidity level is quite low and taste is only lightly tart and not sour. Body is about average with good carbonation. Not necessarily something I would drink on a regular basis but very interesting nonetheless.

 

Strikingly tart and full of earthen flavor, the beer finds comfort with a persuasive undertow of crow berries. Without understanding the obscure berry, it's easy to discern its make upon this ale.

The ale pours with a tawny rust color that shares hues of brown and red that's cast upon a shade of haze. Zesty in its carbonaiton, the beer fuels a sprite off white head but retention and lace fall quickly and leave the beer largely still halfway through the session.

Very berry-like in its aroma, the tartness of blackberry, blueberry, plumb, and red grape all seem to make marks as their scent provokes mouth watering upon first draw. Background aromas of sorghum, chocolate, and oak all take turns in complex variation.

Malty flavors of scorched molasses, light chocolate, and grain provide firm support for the tartness of fruit to come. Seemingly of dark berries, along with cider, white grape, and prunes; the beer provides both richness and sharpness. Low on peppery character, hops, or starch, its the tannin-like bite that balances the beer in similar fashion as oaked chardonnay, grape seed, and balsamic notes.

The fast fleeting carbonaiton evades the palate and coats the mouth with a tact similar to fruit colas. With little buffer to protect the tissues from the sharp tartness, acidity, and astringency, it leaves much to be desired from its body's perspective.

I'm getting the impression that crow berries take on red grape, plumb, and blackberry taste. But in its beery form, it makes my taste buds register Flemish red ale comparisons that doesn't end favorably. It's a fine beer except for its lackluster body.