“Kriek Mariage Parfait is an Old Style Kriek of exceptional excellence. 400 grams of wild cherries per litre are fermented together with a strong Lambic of spontaneous fermentation and aged on 6,200 litre oak foudres (large wooden casks) for 5 to 6 months.”
Uncaged, uncorked and poured in to a snifter. This interesting beer displays a mahogany body with strawberry red highlights. It produced an almost pink coloured head that reduced to a fine and foamy overlay. Lacing is OK but wet and a little streaky.
Let us be upfront, we don’t review many of these super sour styles. We must admit though they are extremely unique and quite complex. The tart cherries lead out with this sharp and ultra sour lacto yeast emphasizing it. In support are notes of Angostura bitters, subtle oak, lime juice, plums, raspberry and a kind of rosè wine-like tannin. All sorts of wacky and weird aromas emanating here.
The texture is sharp, acidic and highly carbonated. That aggressive sourness just force opens the saliva glands and fills up the mouth. One positive in all of this is that it hides the 8% ABV incredibly well.
The palate cops a rude awakening with lip puckering sour cherries, vinegar and lime juice initially. It does taper off in to a mild oak flavour that entertains notes of Angostura bitters mid way. Definitely more lacto yeast upfront but the bretty and sweaty horse blanket flavours reveal themselves on the rear. Holds its length really well too.
Holy bejeezus that’s a strange beer. Almost eye-wincing sourness that has an amazing ability to balance itself out with this woody oak and candy sweetness. Definitely won’t be returning but we can see why some beer lovers dig it. Not our cup of tea to be honest.