Dulle Teve Kriek

One of the very limited Dulle Teve variants that made it out of the brewery, as it has occasionally appeared at beer festivals and a few different vintages are still lingering about - at the brewery, for example, where I sampled a 2020 vintage bottle. Gusher, but manageable. Medium, off-white, shred-lacing, bit irregular, dissolving head on a misty amber robe with orangey glow - rather than the deep red I was expecting, so it seems the cherry dosage was rather limited (understandably as all the fruit came from one single tree of about a century old - and allegedly nearing the end of its life now). Aroma therefore not dominated by sour cherry (though it is certainly there), more red apple, apricot, heather honey, rosehip, some orange, soggy bread, cognac, cherry skins, lingonberries, tree leaves, damp earth, musty cellar faraway in the background. Brightly fruity onset, again red apple and lingonberry almost stronger than the actually added sour cherries, which do appear a bit further on, draping a layer of tart fruitiness over the Dulle Teve's own natural fruitiness; lively carb, vinous body, lovely minerality ad a soft bready core bathing in fruitiness. The 'real' cherry fruitiness lingers a bit before being overshadowed by the esters and maltiness of the beer, along with a hop bitter element (quite pronounced here - unusual in a fruit beer, but of course Dulle Teve is confidently hopped so there you are) and warming, cognac-like alcohol. Some light cherry skin tannins are noticeable but subtly so; further complexity is added by a touch of maderisation and earthy-yeasty elements. The cherries do add a distinctive extra flavour here, without overpowering the Dulle Teve - rather than a full-fledged 'kriek', this is a tripel tinted with cherry, resulting in a wonderful 'apéritif beer' of sorts - one which, to some of my fellow tasters, even surpassed the wine barrel aged Dulle Teve variants we had in the same session. Another beautiful DDB gem, that much is certain, so hopefully that cherry tree keeps clinging to life for a few more years to come...