594. Oude Kriek Boon
I haven't been terribly impressed with the Boon lambics that I've had in the US, I don't have notes on the Gueuze, so perhaps I'll revisit that soon. I find the Kriek and Framboise to be overly sweet.
I remember reading about Brouwerij Boon in The Brewmaster's Table. Garrett Oliver spoke highly of the Boon Mariage Parfait lambics. So when I saw Boon Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait at Moeder Lambic in Brussels I jumped at the chance to try it, and was very impressed. I saw the Oude Kriek at several bars in Belgium, but I never tried it, and assumed that I wouldn't get another chance to unless I worked out a trade or returned to Europe. I was surprised to see it on the shelves when I stopped by Downtown Wine & Spirits Thursday night, so I grabbed a bottle, undeterred by the $10.45 price tag.
This comes in a corked and caged green 375 mL bottle. With a burgundy label that says "Oude Kriek Boon." The back of the bottle has an awesome Best before date of 12/22/2025. The back also has this blurb:
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Boon
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Bottle, 375 mL
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pours a very cloudy, deep burgundy. It's topped by a thick, fizzy, pink head that fades quickly to a very persistent quarter-inch layer.
Smell (4.5): When sitting the dominant aromas are a sharp tart aroma along with cherries, and a mild, earthy funkiness that increases when the dregs are poured in. Swirling really brings out the funkiness, making woody and wet wool aromas evident.
Taste (4.0): The first flavor to hit the palate is a sweet cherry fruitiness. An acidic sourness quickly becomes dominant and remains so to the finish, though it never completely overshadows the sweet fruitiness. The finish is sour with woody and earthy flavors. Very nice, though the sourness could have been a little stronger.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Medium-bodied, thicker feeling than most other lambics. Though it does have the characteristic low carbonation and strong dryness in the finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Sour, but balanced well by the sweetness. Nice crisp dryness.
Overall (4.35): A very nice fruit lambic. I wish it weren't so expensive. At this price it's cheaper per ounce to buy a Cantillon.
I haven't been terribly impressed with the Boon lambics that I've had in the US, I don't have notes on the Gueuze, so perhaps I'll revisit that soon. I find the Kriek and Framboise to be overly sweet.
I remember reading about Brouwerij Boon in The Brewmaster's Table. Garrett Oliver spoke highly of the Boon Mariage Parfait lambics. So when I saw Boon Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait at Moeder Lambic in Brussels I jumped at the chance to try it, and was very impressed. I saw the Oude Kriek at several bars in Belgium, but I never tried it, and assumed that I wouldn't get another chance to unless I worked out a trade or returned to Europe. I was surprised to see it on the shelves when I stopped by Downtown Wine & Spirits Thursday night, so I grabbed a bottle, undeterred by the $10.45 price tag.
This comes in a corked and caged green 375 mL bottle. With a burgundy label that says "Oude Kriek Boon." The back of the bottle has an awesome Best before date of 12/22/2025. The back also has this blurb:
Boon Oude Kriek is 100% spontaneously fermented, aged in oak barrels and made with a minimum of 300 grams of real cherries per liter. A delicious, full flavored, and traditional lambic experience!I had this beer last night and served it in my New Belgium glass at around 50ยบ F.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Boon
Alcohol: 6.50%
Serving: Bottle, 375 mL
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (5.0): Pours a very cloudy, deep burgundy. It's topped by a thick, fizzy, pink head that fades quickly to a very persistent quarter-inch layer.
Smell (4.5): When sitting the dominant aromas are a sharp tart aroma along with cherries, and a mild, earthy funkiness that increases when the dregs are poured in. Swirling really brings out the funkiness, making woody and wet wool aromas evident.
Taste (4.0): The first flavor to hit the palate is a sweet cherry fruitiness. An acidic sourness quickly becomes dominant and remains so to the finish, though it never completely overshadows the sweet fruitiness. The finish is sour with woody and earthy flavors. Very nice, though the sourness could have been a little stronger.
Mouthfeel (4.5): Medium-bodied, thicker feeling than most other lambics. Though it does have the characteristic low carbonation and strong dryness in the finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Sour, but balanced well by the sweetness. Nice crisp dryness.
Overall (4.35): A very nice fruit lambic. I wish it weren't so expensive. At this price it's cheaper per ounce to buy a Cantillon.
Labels: Brouwerij Boon, Fruit Lambic, Lambic, Sour Beer
396. Kriek Boon
I picked this up at Downtown Wine & Spirits today along with various other beers. I let this chill and served it in one of my New Belgium Glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Boon
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: 12 oz. bottle
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a deep hazy burgundy. A thick foamy pink head tops the beer, but thins to a persistent layer, leaving some lace. The head reemerges upon swirling.
Smell (3.0): The predominant aroma is sweet cherries, with a very light sour component. Earthy or barnyard aromas are almost imperceptible.
Taste (3.0): Sweet cherries, mild sourness, very light earthy flavors.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Smooth, light carbonation, medium-bodied, with a light dryness in the finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Easy to drink. Since the sourness is mild the beer doesn't just have to be sipped.
Overall (3.45): I was hoping for more sour and earthy aromas and flavors. As is, this is a pretty good sweet lambic.
I picked this up at Downtown Wine & Spirits today along with various other beers. I let this chill and served it in one of my New Belgium Glasses.
Beer Stats:
Brewery: Brouwerij Boon
Alcohol: 5.00%
Serving: 12 oz. bottle
Style: Fruit Lambic, BJCP Style Guide
Appearance (4.5): Pours a deep hazy burgundy. A thick foamy pink head tops the beer, but thins to a persistent layer, leaving some lace. The head reemerges upon swirling.
Smell (3.0): The predominant aroma is sweet cherries, with a very light sour component. Earthy or barnyard aromas are almost imperceptible.
Taste (3.0): Sweet cherries, mild sourness, very light earthy flavors.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Smooth, light carbonation, medium-bodied, with a light dryness in the finish.
Drinkability (4.0): Easy to drink. Since the sourness is mild the beer doesn't just have to be sipped.
Overall (3.45): I was hoping for more sour and earthy aromas and flavors. As is, this is a pretty good sweet lambic.
Labels: Brouwerij Boon, Fruit Lambic, Lambic, Reviews, Sour Beer
308. Boon Framboise
This is a Fruit Lambic, specifically a raspberry lambic. I purchased a green 12 oz. corked bottle at Downtown Wine and Spirits in Davis Square. After letting it warm up for about half an hour I served it in one of my New Belgium snifter-style glasses. I decided to pick this up while browsing to broaden my experience in Lambics. Next I have my eye on a $30 bottle of Cantillon.
Appearance (4): Pours a hazy reddish-orange color, with soda-like carbonation that clings to the side of the glass. A short white head rises, then quickly diminishes to a ring.
Smell (4.5): The aroma is sweet and fruity, mostly raspberries, with a subtle earthiness.
Taste (4): Raspberry sweetness hits the palate up front, followed by acidic tartness, and then a slightly dry finish. There's a slight hop bitterness here, but it's not a strong presence.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Smooth and medium bodied, light prickly carbonation
Drinkability (3.5): Drinkable, but a little too dry to be something you could drink bottle after bottle of.
Overall (4): I don't have a lot of experience with the lambic styles. This is only the second Framboise lambic I've had. I prefer it to Lindeman's on it's own. I find that it's not as sweet and just seems more well balanced, though I think Lindeman's wins as far as potential for pairing with desserts.
This is a Fruit Lambic, specifically a raspberry lambic. I purchased a green 12 oz. corked bottle at Downtown Wine and Spirits in Davis Square. After letting it warm up for about half an hour I served it in one of my New Belgium snifter-style glasses. I decided to pick this up while browsing to broaden my experience in Lambics. Next I have my eye on a $30 bottle of Cantillon.
Appearance (4): Pours a hazy reddish-orange color, with soda-like carbonation that clings to the side of the glass. A short white head rises, then quickly diminishes to a ring.
Smell (4.5): The aroma is sweet and fruity, mostly raspberries, with a subtle earthiness.
Taste (4): Raspberry sweetness hits the palate up front, followed by acidic tartness, and then a slightly dry finish. There's a slight hop bitterness here, but it's not a strong presence.
Mouthfeel (3.5): Smooth and medium bodied, light prickly carbonation
Drinkability (3.5): Drinkable, but a little too dry to be something you could drink bottle after bottle of.
Overall (4): I don't have a lot of experience with the lambic styles. This is only the second Framboise lambic I've had. I prefer it to Lindeman's on it's own. I find that it's not as sweet and just seems more well balanced, though I think Lindeman's wins as far as potential for pairing with desserts.
Labels: Brouwerij Boon, Fruit Lambic, Lambic, Reviews, Sour Beer
