Kers & Kola (Cherry & Cola)

Panda at home, thanks to Kenneth, 19/12/24. Extremely dark mahogany brown topped with a lasting beige cap. Nose is soy sauce, cola cubes, dark malts, toasted brown sugars, herb, molasses. Taste comprises sweet malts, cherry skins, cola cubes, herb, sugars. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close. So so affair ... does what it says on the tin but 1D and overly sweet.

14th December 2024
Just a mild haze on this deep amber brown beer, small bubbly pale tan head. Light smooth palate, mildly dry, good fine minerally carbonation. Very mellow dark malts, touches of chocolate and cream, somewhat thin. The cherry cola vibe comes through loud and clear and pretty much nails the concept and, even better - it's not too sweet. Light and semi dry finish. Works pretty well, certainly the cola vibe is as good as I can recall in any style of beer that has aped cola. The dark malts, perhaps, good be richer but, overall this is a fun and drinkable Impy that drinks well below it's abv.

Stout with cherries and – wait for it – cola (coke) added, or at least cola flavouring… An alcoholic Cherry Coke in that sense, I guess it took Swinkels to overtake this brewery to come up with such an idea. Thanks Meeki for sharing. Moussy, pale greyish beige, opening head on a hazy very dark chestnut brown robe, blackish in fact, with copper red glow. Aroma of indeed black cherry jam (but also a touch of sour cherry with balancing effect) and a vague whiff of Cherry Coke perhaps, but far less industrial and ‘fake’ than I was fearing, fudge, chestnut purée, amaretto, Belgian chocolates (especially Mon Chéri in this case, unsurprisingly), ruby port, some or other artisanal cola, cinnamon, red Haribo candy in the background. Sweet onset, creamy, dense ‘candied cherry’ effect, hint of fig compote, softly carbonated with full, oily mouthfeel; toffeeish and milk-chocolatey core, light touch of cola somewhere but not in a very industrial Coca Cola company way, sweet candied cherry continuing with liquid ‘praline’ effect, warmed by liqueurish alcohol in the end. Lingering alcohol heat, hardly any hops (none expected either) and continuing, yet somehow not annoyingly cloying toffee, candied cherry and chocolate bar sweetness – this is a liquid Belgian ‘praline’ indeed, with just enough of a tart(ish) edge to tone down the overall sweetness a bit, though everything does become a bit sticky in the very end. Fun gimmick beer, actually, and not even without some layers of complexity – this is way better than I was expecting, though very slick, smooth and polished in comparison with those beautiful stouts this brewery made before Swinkels stepped into the picture.

330 ml bottle, as De Molen Special Kers & Kola (Cherry & Cola) Imperial Stout, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 10%. Black colour, moderate to small tan head. Aroma of cherry candy, cherry kernels, marzipan, roast malts and Cherry Coke. Sweet flavour with the same elements. Hardly a beer I'll buy again.

Bottle 33 cl. Pours an opaque black with a small, beige head. Cherry coke aroma indeed. Fairly rich body, first you get the cherry coke flavors that are quickly interrupted by a brutal and harsh roastiness from the base beer. Some underlying sweetness. A mix that simply doesn't work. 240124

Donkerbruin tot zwart bier met weinig schuim. Smaak is bitterzoet met duidelijk iets van kers en cola aanwezig. Helaas zit daar ook een wat chemische bubblegum smaak bij die alles wat te niet doet. Desondanks moeten we dit soort initiatieven waarderen, en ja dan kan het soms ook wat minder geslaagd uitvallen voor sommigen.

Very dark brown beer with a beige head. Aroma of cherries, dark malt, almonds. Taste cherries, Cola, dark strong malt.