Lindemans Kriek
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with sweet cherry candy and a faint barnyard tartness underneath — the hallmark tension of fruit lambic. On the palate, cherry dominates in a jammy, almost syrup-like register, softened considerably compared to a straight gueuze, with mild acidity that lingers rather than bites. The body is light and slightly effervescent. The finish is short and sweet, with just enough sourness to remind you there's a real lambic base underneath the fruit character.
About the Brewery
Lindemans is a family-run lambic brewery based in Vlezenbeek, in the Pajottenland region southwest of Brussels — the traditional heartland of spontaneous fermentation brewing. Founded in the early 19th century, they are one of the most recognized lambic producers globally, largely because their fruit lambics like this one made Belgian sour beer accessible to mainstream audiences. Purists sometimes debate the sweetened style, but the brewery also produces more traditional, drier lambic expressions.
Food Pairings
Dark chocolate desserts work well here because the cherry and cocoa notes reinforce each other without either overwhelming the other. Soft, mild cheeses like Brie or Camembert let the beer's acidity do the cutting work. Duck confit or other rich, fatty preparations benefit from the sweetness as a counterpoint to the savory depth. A simple cherry clafoutis echoes the fruit character and keeps things in balance.
Style Guide
Fruit lambic is a Belgian style built on a spontaneously fermented wheat-and-barley base beer — lambic — that has been refermented with whole fruit or fruit juice, most commonly cherries (kriek), raspberries, or peach. The style originated in the Senne Valley around Brussels, where wild yeast and bacteria in the local air drive fermentation without any added pitching yeast. Commercial fruit lambics like this one tend toward sweetness, distinguishing them from drier, more complex versions; ABV typically runs low, often between 3.5% and 5%, and acidity levels vary widely by producer and approach.