I coincidently picked this up yesterday. I'm in town for work. Is this generally a good Kriek? The guy at the liquor store strongly recommended it, so I pulled the trigger. I have moderate expectations.
Why not open one? They landed in Boulder today. Hazel had two cases around lunch time. ! I wouldn't go that far. Noir is their best beer thus far.
I think I remember having Kriek at What the Funk and didn't like it at all. But granted, that was one of my last beers of the night. So…disregard?
I agree! And I think overall I like the noir better. I think I enjoy the darker base and blackberries vs. the lighter with cherries more, but I'm sure someone feels the exact opposite. To clarify, I'm just saying I feel like they're both world class beers.
The original Mile High/Rackhouse batch from a few years ago was phenomenal. I still need to grab a couple of these. It's not quite the same genre, but I still think their best beer to date is Ctayt...unless Barmen Pils counts as an ACG beer...
Yea, I'd agree with that, I think Ctayt and Framboise Noir are best two, maybe even the Peche just below those two. I didn't think much of batch 1 of Kriek then again... it was literally their very first bottle release. Peche, Apricot, Kriek and Checkpoint Charlie (Berliner) are all pretty equivalent in terms of quality. I really haven't had a bad sour from them, but out of the entire bunch it might have been batch 1 of Kriek. I do expect the latest batch to be better though. (I did notice a little low-fill in both my bottles this time around -- edit: i guess all my ACG are a little low)
I just grabbed a couple on my lunch break, so I'll probably crack one now (or at least in the next week) and save one for down the road.
I remember talking to someone from AC Golden awhile ago and if I remember right, their comment was that it's 750 mL to the bottom of the neck.
I like Pivo as much as the next guy, but it might as well be a different style from Barmen. Barmen is pretty close to a real Czech pils...and luckily the kinds that are sans diacetyl character like Zatec and Staropramen. Pivo is more of a noble experiment, although it IS good stuff. Prima was supposedly inspired by old school Jever crossed with Keesmann Herren (per a Victory brewer in the German forum), although it's much hoppier than either are these days. Anywho - Barmen tastes close to the old world lagers that I can't get enough of and sadly, very few people are putting out. It always pains me when New Glarus can produce them side-by-side with their fruit beers. That's just not fair...
I haven't yet, but now I clearly need to I agree that German Pils > Czech Pils, although I like both. The Franconian ones have a little of both styles rolled into one.
Cracked an ACG Kriek last night. It's tart, but not quite as puckering as some. Because the cherries are sour to begin with they really only kick in on the back of the palate. I enjoyed it. It reminds me of Belgian examples where the fruit isn't added after the fact. I prefer some of the others, but it's still solid.
I'm a big fan of Pivo, Barmen and Prima. Just a big fan of pilsners of all kiinds and I second that Lowdown's is great. Went there opening night and was really impressed by that one.
