Lou Pepe - Kriek
Brasserie Cantillon

750 mL bottle poured into a snifter. 2009 bottle. Bottled September 1, 2011.

Appearance - Bright pink with a faint pink head. Thick collar. Hazy.

Smell - Really nice cherry flavor. Deep cherry flavor. Oaky and vanilla is very strong. A ton oof acidity but not a ton of funk.

Taste - Sour cherries. Lots of oak. Vanilla. Funk is much stronger. Barnyard is more prominent here too. The cherries are the star of the show though.

Mouthfeel - Dry, very sour. Medium body.

Overall - Fantastic cherry flavor. Best characteristic of this beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had this June 2020;

2017 vintage, had a decent pour at Dark Lord Day 2025, and mercifully, this bottle came out early enough that I was able to enjoy the pour before my palate was wrecked. Poured a rich dark red a beautiful foam cap. On the nose, she was very cherry forward, giving way to some subtle cinnamon. The flavor profile follows suit fairly nicely, delivers those same cherry and cinnamon notes. Cherry is present, with a light tartness. The beer was very complex and depth is just amazing. She keeps on going far beyond the first the first sip.

I think at this stage of my beer life, very few things "live up to the hype." Maybe I build them up in my head too much. This was one of those rare instances where a beer is everything you really hope that it would end up being. It was so good, that I'll likely prioritize trying to get another vintage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 vintage tasted in 2024 at Cantillon: made friends during a tour of Cantillon and had an impromptu bottle share. Someone bought a bottle of 10 year old Lou Pepe - Kriek to share. Unreal to have had this experience.