Kriek 2010 - Tasting

Back in May 2010, I brewed up a batch of Norther Brewer AG Dawson Kriek.  This is a Lambic style ale aged on sour cherries.  These beers can take years, but I was impatient and had this kegged within a few months.  While it was a decent beer, the shortened timeline limited its potential.  I did bottle a few for extended aging.

I also bottled a few blended 50/50 with some NB Belgian Tripel that I brewed in August.  These precious few were dated for sampling at 6 month increments.

This tasting marks 18 months in the bottle.

I could smell the classic lambic funk as soon as I cracked the first one open.  On closer inspection, the kriek did have a bit more cherry aroma.

Both have great clarity and a good sized head, but that faded to a small layer of bubbles in short time.
The kriek has a great pinkish hue, while the blend was more orange.

Kriek still had some cherry flavor to go with the brett funk and noticeable, but not overpowering acidity, which was almost enough to pucker you up.  The blend had a more mineraly flavor and a bit less acid, but still some hint of cherry.  Maybe even a little metallic in the finish.  I did sensed a touch of this in the Kriek also, but not as much.

They both had great carbonation - The blend had champagne like carbonation that made it feel much fuller that it really was, while the kriek had a nice light and spritzy body.

Overall I like the kriek best, which is interesting because when Mike and I sampled these 6 months ago, we both liked the blend better.  It's like candy that doesn't leave a sticky sugar coating in your mouth.
They are both enjoyable beers, but still not as complex as some of the better true Lambics.  Hopefully my current projects will get me closer.
I only have one of each left, which I will be tasting in September.
Notes:
  4/26/10 Ordered
    5/?/10  Brew
    6/?/10  Secondary w/ 2x Oregon can Cherries
    ~7/3/10 Keg-condition
     7/29 - Tasting {Aroma - sour cherries??  Taste - sour, but not too sour  - reminds me of...something 
          one dimentional. all cherry?  feel - smooth, not TOO thin}
    8/19 - Bottled 1 + a 50/50 with triple
    8/25 - Tasting (Still un carbed) {Still not too sour, but flavor mellowing.  Starting to really like it..}
    9/6/10 - 4 bottles to cellar 6/12/18/24 mo Also Carb'd Keg
    9/15~  -  really cloudy from keg, carbonated, but some foam wouldnt clear?  maybe from the shaking try again.
     9/26 - Carbonated (could be a little more), clearing, tasting not bad.  maybe brett flavor?
    10/1 - Tasting - turning nice.  young flavors mellowing, sour starting to show - got a little lemon finish
    ~10/30/10 - Served at Halloween party
    3/1/11 - Bottle tasting - not bad - clear red/brown.  good carbonation.  not much funk, sour -cherry/lemon.  light body
     4/23/11 - Finished Keg.
          Final Taste - Sournes approaching puckering.  Little hint of metallic.  Some cherry, but not much else.
           OK beer, but really could have been done better.  I really did rush it too much.  I needed the carboys for other beers..
   9/10/11 - Tasting - Kriek .vs. Blend
     Tasted both with Mike.  Best after 9/1/11 bottles.
     Kriek - Red, medium clear, little head, tart, some cherry sediment.
     Blend - light red/pink, mediam clear little head, mild tartness, some funk
     Both liked the blend better, but kriek was good too.
      Got some brett funk from the blend.  Kriek was more just sour cherry.
      Both light and drinkable. 
   3/6/12 - Tasting - Kriek .vs. Blend  (This blog entry)