Bokrijks Kruikenbier

I picked up a Belgian beer at the liquor store in hopes of finding a hidden treasure that would help me slowly enjoy an afternoon through listless sipping and daydreaming.  I am a sucker for a stoneware bottle, and so purchased Bokrijks Kruikenbier by Sterkens Meer Brouwery in Belgium for a whopping $10.95 for 750ml, hoping it would do the trick.

Bokrijks is a Belgian Golden Ale, claiming to be “An excellent top fermented ale, brewed according to the traditions you can find in the domain of Bokrijk (Belgium).”  I also stated that there was a secondary fermentation in the jar.  I poured the cidery brown ale into a pre-frosted mug, ready for some tasty ale, but when I finished the pour, I was surprised by the absence of a head.  Not even a little, quick-fading head appeared.  There were little particles floating in the beer, and I could only assume that they belonged to the secondary fermentation.  The nose was of ripe apples, followed by off-smelling fruit that could only be described as rotting.  Something was wrong here.  I tipped the glass toward my lips and tasted a sickeningly sweet concoction reminiscent of cooked apples and plums, followed by a blatant alcoholic flavor.  If the label told the truth, then the “traditions…in the domain of Bokrijk” leave something to be desired.

I am not sure that this ale was true to its form.  Perhaps the yeast was dead, causing lack of fermentation, but whatever happened, it was gross.  I am not a proud man, but I could say before now that I have never dumped a beer that didn’t deserve it.  At least $10 of this $10.95 beer went down the sink.  I hope that this beer proves me wrong in the future, but for now, just know that it is a sad day when I cannot finish a beer due to its lack of quality and drinkability.  If somebody would like to buy me another, I’ll gladly try again, but I don’t want to waste 11 bucks on another bad beer.