Debatable cherry-soured American Wild Ale with Flemish Red Ale leanings (and labeled a Belgian kriek) lacks efficient carbolic nature but scores points as a brettanomyces-laden Sour Ale. Aged in oak barrels, its tart cherry pucker gets underscored by cork-y cider dryness, vinous green grape tannins, raspberry vinaigrette musk and frisky white-peppered snip. Leathery farmhouse funk saddles oaken cherry theme.

One of brewers’ most popular and well-integrated sour ales, remarkable Belgian-styled Flanders red ale retains soft-flowing tannic grape bitterness as well as sweet fruited tartness and fermented lactic acidity. Oak barrel-aged cherry sourness retrieves musty Sauvignon-Cabernet warmth and vanilla-spiced cranberry-raspberry wisp crowding loud carbolic fizz. Sweet cider and rhubarb cherry pie illusions fill the middle as grassy horse-blanket earthiness parches vinegary white grape pucker at the backend. Wispy nutmeg-clove spicing adds depth and overall acidity never overwhelms.

Luscious sour red cherry theme rises above heavy candi-sugared malting. Mouth-puckering maraschino cherry tartness blends bruised cherry, tannic cherry, and black cherry illusions. Overripe orange tang and cranberry juice souring secure fruited edifice.

Tart cherry souring concealed by leathery oak-dried white grape tannin and slightly acidic citrus finish. Fine seafood accompaniment.

Strong medicinal cherry tartness will get eyes squinting in no time flat. Carbolic soda flow and baked apple souring stimulate the senses as well. Musty stone-fruited backdrop receives tinny oxidation. Novices may be wiser to try cheaper Sam Adams Cherry Wheat instead. But true Belgian ale lovers will enjoy its dessert beer styling.

Deep ruby-hued pinkish-headed Belgian Kriek knockoff offers expected tart cherry pucker and oak-aged citron dryness. Herbal hops add immediate depth to grape tannin acridity and vegetal nuance, but vinous sourness crimps acidic finish.

Raspy copper penny-hued, pinkish-headed ‘kriek’ opens dry, tart, and bitter, compromising mellow stone-fruited splendor with phenol coarseness until tannic cherry souring and vinous white grape esters show appreciation. Fizzy champagne tingle seeps into woody oaken astringency of slow sipping cherry-pied aperitif.

More palatable than Belle-Vue Gueuze Lambic as its obligatory tart cherry essence gets softly spice-hopped for suitable citric-soured tang. Berry overtones enhance summer ale flow.

Swell pinkish-ruby West Flemish ‘red-brown ale’ matured in oak cask acquires delectable sour cherry tartness that sweetens by dry wood finish. Tannic grape mellowing allows vinous nature to surface as fizzy champagne flow re-enforces juicy black cherry sentiment.

Impossibly dry pinkish-headed golden-red lambic with persistent eye-squinting sourness, uncommon dry-smoked lemon tartness, and stinging limestone acidity hiding unripe white grape influence as tempestuous vinegar vulgarity and bitterest lemon lull overtake distant cherry tang. So imposingly tart only highly individualized tastes need apply. Try it with sharp cheese if you dare, though may cause heartburn if quaffed with spicy foods.

Eye-squinting white grape tartness, sour cherry pucker, and cork-like toil will clear out closed-minded simpler tastes that’d invert its high rating. Like a dry white wine aperitif, its leathery tannin acidity, cask-like oak nose, and grassy mouthfeel provide affirmative astringency amateurs will dismiss as vinegar.