8.1

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Special version of 3 Fonteinen's Schaarbeekse Kriek, one of the great classics in that particular 'Schaarbeekse' subdivision of cherry lambics, matured in casks that were toasted like wine barrels - though sadly the label forgets to mention the degree of toasting (light, medium, medium-plus or heavy)... Vintage bottle (five years old) shared with the other participants at Proevertjesdag. Medium thick, 'dusty off-pink', moussey, opening and eventually dissolving head on a hazy to cloudy deep burgundy red robe with purplish wine red glow. Aroma of stewed sour cherries, cherry wine, stale sweat, kimchi, vanillin-exuding oak wood, cherry stones, red wine vinegar, damp earth, almond, fermenting beetroot, crabapple, unripe red plum, vague caramelly toasty accent - really subtle but absent in the regular version. Tart, full-on fruity onset, a thick pulp of sour cherries with 'side effects' of green apple, rhubarb and unripe plum, juicy and full, a tad vinous in mouthfeel, medium carbonated; fruity lactic acidity joining the huge sour fruitiness of the cherries, over a bready core. Astringent effects in the finish (tannic wood plus cherry stones and skins) mitigated by the sheer fleshiness of the cherries, deep and 'moist', with their tartness lingering on in a colourful way. Rich, full and fleshy as expected, but apart from that subtle toasty effect in the nose which I think most will find hard to pick out, there is not that much difference with a regular 3 Fonteinen Schaarbeekse of the same age, I think - only a side by side tasting would be able to clarify that, I guess.

8.4

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

Bottle, 750 ml, (season 19 - 20) Blend No. 74. Dark red to purple with small white head. Juicy, intensive cherries, cherry pits, juicy, medium sourness.

8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

750mL bottle, pours a deep dark cherry red with a small beige head. Aroma brings out deep dark cherry pits, subdued funk, and some jammy tartness. Flavour is loaded with intense sour cherries, cherry pits, moderate tartness, low-medium acidity, and a hint of buried funk. Very fruity, moderately jammy, and lightly-to-moderately acidic on the finish. I'm honestly not sure the toasted oak changes much — maybe it's drier. Either way, it's an excellent cherry lambic.

8.8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 9

Bottle. Deep ruby. Massive sour cherries, marzipan, cinnamon, wheat, funk, vanilla. Over medium sour, light sweet. Full bodied. Really good.

9

Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Bottle, 750 ml at Ambasada. Deep red with white head. Super intensive cherries, some more dark fruit, juicy. Medium sourness.

8

Deep red, sour and tart. Lots of cherry, a bit acidic, but remains smooth. Clearly lighter than 89 and 90. Very nice.

9

"Toast". More intense cherry notes than in the Oak Foeder and less sour than the regular blend. Quite nicely balanced

8.5

Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

750ml bottle @ 3F tasting, Pien Brewpub, Helsinki. Tart, sourish and heavy with chewy dark cherries, some toasty woody notes, oak and hints of sweetness and farmyardy funkiness. Quite nicely balanced, slightly sweeter than Oak Foeder and regular versions

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 8

Bottle. Purple red color. Cherries, New oak And a hint of marzipan in the aroma. Sour with cherries, clearly noticeable toasted oak, Cigars And Almonds. Old fashioned sourness And complexity. A bit too dominant wood. But still a special one.