Krieks

Krieks is a style of Belgian lambic beer that is brewed with the addition of cherries. It is a sour and fruity beer, often with a complex flavor profile that can include notes of almond, oak, and funk. Krieks is traditionally made by macerating sour cherries, often including the pits, in young lambic for several months. The cherries impart their color and flavor to the beer, creating a distinct pink or red hue and a tart cherry taste.

The history of krieks is closely tied to the tradition of lambic production in the Pajottenland region of Belgium. While plain lambic has been brewed for centuries, the addition of fruit to lambic is a more recent, though still established, practice. Cherries, due to their availability and flavor profile, became a popular choice. Authentic krieks is a spontaneously fermented beer, meaning it relies on wild yeasts and bacteria present in the air for fermentation, which contributes to its characteristic sourness and complexity.

Modern interpretations of krieks vary. Some producers use sweet cherries or cherry juice in addition to or instead of sour cherries, resulting in a sweeter and less complex beer. Others may blend different ages of lambic with cherries to achieve a desired balance of tartness and fruitiness. Regardless of the specific method, krieks is recognized for its unique taste and is often enjoyed as an aperitif or paired with desserts and certain cheeses. It is a distinctive example of fruit-infused spontaneously fermented beer.