BEER REVIEW: 467

BREWER: Brouwerij van Honsebrouck, West Flanders, Belgium 

STYLE: Kriek

ABV: 5.8%

VESSEL: 37.5CL wrapped green bottle

DATE OF POST: 18th September 2026

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Bacchus comes at you with that cherryaid swagger straight away, more soft drink than serious kriek, and you can almost hear a little Cherry_O_Baby humming in the background as it pours. The nose gives you cherry, of course, but only in passing. Before long the lager notes shoulder their way in and the fruit slips into the background. For a kriek‑styled beer it never really commits, and that lack of punch is the story throughout.

It looks the part, a deep cherry red that absolutely fits the name, and the mouthfeel is surprisingly creamy for something that leans more cherryaid than cherry lambic. Upfront you get soft cherry, then a sharper flicker behind it, but it never builds into anything bold. As you move down the glass the slightly artificial cherry starts to dominate, nudging the malt aside and flattening the experience. It’s drinkable, it’s pleasant enough, and the packaging is spot on, but it’s not a world‑beater. If someone handed you one, you’d happily sip it. Reaching for it yourself is another matter.

Sammy’s Rating: 44%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Intrigue was high during the week leading up to testing Bacchus’ Kriek…

What would lay behind the crumpled paper lead?

What standard,  of beer would lay within the glass wall of the bottle?

Would this Belgian Cherry deliver??

They almost always do, but it is no guarantee. But I must be honest, at 5.8%, though strong, I was not sure that it would be strong enough.

Test day came along at last; it was time to rip n pop this pup.

Once the oversized lid was off the totally unlabelled bottle (bit disappointing but I’m ok with it) an almighty cherry nose was released. Good? Defo. But all cherry, no sub notes or hints.

This without doubt transferred to the drinking too. Tasty enough yeah, but just all cherry and nothing else to pique your interest, turn your head or raise your eyebrow.

And my only 5.8% fears were confirmed too. This brew is just lacking the punch you would expect from a Belge cherry. Yes it is tasty enough. Yes I would happily drink again. But there is no pizazz, no nuance, nothing interesting. The flavour is ALL CHERRY. That’s fine. But normally with a brew like this you get a hint of vanilla or a fleck of almond or a suggestion of pastry. But no, it is all cherry. Couple this with the back end being a bit of a non event and it turning quite medicinal near the end of the glass, I’m afraid not too many marks were handed out here.

BUT, as said, it is tasty enough so don’t let me put you off.

There are way better Belgian Cherry Sours out there however.

Jymi’s Rating: 57%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 50.5%

MOB review next weekend: HONEY DEW by FULLER’S

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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M O B 2026