Brouwerij Lindemans Oude Kriek Cuvée Renée
What the brewers say
“In order to produce Oude Kriek Cuvée René, the cherries ferment in a lambic that is at least six months old in huge 2,640 gallon oak barrels called foeders. After six months, this traditional kriek is bottled in corked 75 cl bottles. The beer will then undergo a spontaneous second fermentation process.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Clean cherry, with hints of raspberry and lemon tartness. Wet hay and earthy Brett funk, cork, wood, and floral notes. Light medicinal aroma, like fluoride. A flowery perfume emerges as it warms, similar to carnations.”
Flavor: “Dark, full, rich cherries, with a mix of sweet and tart that’s wine-like. Complex woody background, with deep, dark forest earth and cork, with some Belgian-like wet hay. Lemony acidity, intense lactic, and a big carbonic bite. Very assertive mix of flavors. Good carbonation, and a tart finish that lingers.”
Overall: “The cherries were showcased with such a pure cherry flavor. The cherry aroma and flavor with the hay, cork, and earthy funk really work. But the acidity is so intense and almost makes it difficult to drink this otherwise fantastic beer. The balance is excellent, and the medium-dry finish, with the lingering fruit and funk, is out of this world.”
