de Garde Brewing The Kriek

Cherry aroma is light; wood, hay, leather, smoked black tea. Cherry, wood, and leather, all prominent in flavor. Sourness is bracing but not overly harsh; lingering spice, drying tannins. Rich, complex, unique.

Aroma: “Sweet and tart cherries mix with a slight funk and light biscuit malt, giving it an almost cherry-pie sensation. But, there’s complexity, too, with pepper, lemon, hay, and an underlying nutty note.” Flavor: “Funky and slightly cinnamon spicy flavors that meld with tart and sour fresh cherries. A slight malty sweetness cuts through the tart fruit and comes across bread-like. High carbonation gives it a nice pop to cleanse the palate. Plus, a finish with coconut, oak, and a lingering astringency gives it a slight pucker.” Overall: “Awesome! Funky and slightly sour liquid cherry pie! The carbonic bite on the finish is the perfect palate cleanser to bring you back for more!

**Aroma:** “The first impression is of grassy and herbal hops, but clove, plastic, smoke, and slightly medicinal phenols followed. A grainy wheat-bread aroma, with a very German hefeweizen yeast, and lemon and citrus in the background.” **Flavor:** “Lightly tart bready flavor, with a malty sweetness that gives a full-bodied texture. Cleaner phenols here, primarily clove and some smoke, with some bright banana. An earthy and herbal hops bitterness with a touch of citrus. Perhaps a little aggressive for a German-style wheat, but light for an American-style wheat.” **Overall:** “A satisfying wheat that’s fairly balanced and very drinkable. The finish is somewhat harsh, but this can be a good thing since this style can be on the bland side. Dry and refreshing with hoppy citrus notes, and with the banana and bready malt, it was like liquid bread.”