Aug 31, 2016

Cascade Brewing Kriek

When Cascade Brewing finally announced word that they would be shipping to Virginia, I was excited — and ready to spend some hard earned cash on everything I could get my hands on. With this review, I am now eight beers into their offerings and that enthusiasm has yet to wane. In fact, I do believe I’m nearing fan boy status at an alarming rate. When a brewery is crafting incredible beers like Kriek, it’s easy to get sucked into the company’s legions.

Kriek weighs in at 7.1% ABV and is packed with fruity cherries and a solid amount of sour tartness. The fruit character brings a light touch of sweetness that lingers late, as well as a welcome earthy fruit trait that I particularly enjoyed. Some examples of this style can often come across as too sweet — Cascade Kriek leans heavily on the tartness while providing a light, playful sweetness. A distant woody note is also at play, providing more depth in this garnet colored brew.

To put it bluntly, Cascade Kriek is a damn good beer. It is full flavored and wonderfully tart, a combination that was perfect for celebrating the birthday on a hot July afternoon. It’s also a beer that solidifies the brewery’s reputation as one of the best purveyor of sour and tart beers. Now, I just need to convince the wife that spending more money on a few more bottles of this tasty brew.