Brouwerij Corsendonk Dubbel Kriek Fruit / Vegetable Beer at 8.5% ABV | 23 EBU (C$4.59 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 330 ml, best before 26-Feb-2021, acquired 7-Sep-2018, reviewed 23-Sep-2019)
Appearance: clear ruby-tinted amber-brown with one fat finger of loose beige head diminishing gradually to a thick persistent cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dark cherries, field berries, chocolate, liquorice. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, lively carbonation, mildly tart and warming finish. (4/5)
OK, let’s get one thing clear with off the hop: yes, it’s totally got a cough drop thing going on, especially in the finish – but not in a bad way. It’s an interesting blend of the two styles it claims, with both fruit and malt having a role to play. The sweetness is definitely on the high side, but not to the point of being a negative – and I usually find high sweetness a negative, so that’s saying something. I know it’s not technically possible to directly convert EBU to IBU, but this feels right about mid-20’s for IBU as well, so it’s not just a matter of balancing sweetness and bitter: somewhat paradoxically, given the high sweetness and low bitter, it does seem to do just that. It ends up being much like a Cherry Blossom, or cherry liquor-filled chocolates. I’m not sure I’d want more than one at a go, but I enjoyed the one. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
