"Easy" kriek advice

Gambrinus, even fresh, is far, far more sour than any bottle of Fou'Foune I've ever had.

Oh, and I'd put Fou'Foune about on par with Lou Pepe Kriek for sourness. LP Framboise is really acidic though I've found.

PS: YMMV depending on the age of the bottle. Fresh (< 6 months) LPK and LPF are pretty fruity. The funk/sour starts to kick in pretty good within two years. Replace "sour" with "acid" for LPF though.

 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47/2426/?ba=VncentLIFE. I didnt review the tap version, but I clearly remember it being much sweeter. Like back sweetened sweet.

 

i find this to be true with most cantillons i've had. ie - a 4 year old lamvinus could take the enamel off your teeth, whereas a fresher bottle of any of the fruit lambics is typically much more fruity.

 

Love 3 F schaerbeekse kriek!!!!

 

Oude is definitely better (and more "authentic"), but the regular would be better for a beginner. Sweet, but not Lindemans-level sweet

 

Schaerbeekse strikes a nice balance between sweet and sour especially when relatively fresh.

 

Might try Echt Kriekenbier. It's a sour, but really quite good.

 

Framboise is good, but I tend to enjoy cherry over raspberry.

 

The best one to start sour krieks is Girardin, simply because it is sour, but not too much (like cantillon or 3 fonteinen) since some sweeteners are added.

 

you think so? Lindemans cuvee rene kriek is highly acidic..... (depending a bit on the year).

 

Yeah... I ruled out things like Girardin, regular Lindemans, etc since they are all sweetened. Leaving these decently available traditional krieks for consideration: Cantillon (Kriek and Lou Pepe Kriek), Drie Fonteinen (Oude Kriek and Schaerbeekse), Oude Beersel, De Cam (Oude Kriek and Krieklambiek), Boon (Oude Kriek and Mariage Parfait) and Lindemans Cuvee Rene Kriek. From this list, I think the Lindemans Cuvee Rene Kriek is pretty damn approachable (allthough it is not the best).

 

Ok, I see Although for someone who thinks cantillon is too sour, and others too sweet, the Girardin may be still a good try for the OP. The Cuvee rene Kriek I had some weeks ago, was really pukering sour, much more than most Cantillons and 3 Fonteinen Krieks I ever had, but maybe it was the vintage. But if the OP think Cantillon Kriek is too sour, maybe the OP should consider trying a different Belgium beerstyle, or try the Faro of Cantillon.

 

Whatever you do stay away from Mort Subite, that stuff is foul

 

One more vote for LP Kreik. If you are looking to try lambics in general, Cantillon Rose de Gambrinus is fantastic.