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Kriek Max

Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste
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🌍 Belgium · Kriek · One of 7 Krieks in hopIQ

Launched in 2002, when fruit beers were on the rise, Kriek Max blends beer of spontaneous fermentation with young top-fermented beer and no less than 25 % natural cherry juice. It pours a deep ruby red with a light pink head. The nose is fruity and full of ripe cherry, while the palate is sweet with notes of vanilla and almond and stays light at 3.5 %. The brewery serves it in a stemmed chalice, or over ice in its own Max On Ice glass for warm days.

ABV
3.5%
Bitterness
Mild
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
deep amber15

AWARDS

Gold · 2004
European Beer Star
World's Best Kriek · 2011
World Beer Awards
★Gold — European Beer Star
★World's Best Kriek — World Beer Awards
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Gently sweet notes.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Kriek.
Malt character
nutty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
Distinctive notes
berry
vanilla
smooth drinking

FEATURED IN

#3 of 50The Best Belgian Beers→

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kriek Max

◎ Appearance

Kriek Max presents a deep ruby red body with excellent clarity and a delicate light pink head. The color reflects the substantial cherry content while maintaining the translucence typical of fruit lambics. Carbonation is moderate, creating fine bubbles that support a thin but persistent collar of foam.

deep ruby redlight pink headclearmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by ripe cherry fruit with supporting notes of stone fruit and subtle vanilla. Underlying the fruit sits a soft fermented character from the spontaneous fermentation component, suggesting aged character without harshness. The overall impression is fresh and inviting rather than overly sweet or perfumed.

ripe cherrystone fruitvanillafermented character

◐ Taste

The palate enters with direct cherry sweetness balanced by a drying, slightly tart acidity that prevents cloying. Mid-palate reveals notes of almond and vanilla alongside the dominant fruit, while the low 3.5% ABV keeps the body light and refreshing. Bitterness is minimal at 12 IBU, allowing the natural cherry juice and fermentation character to drive the flavor.

cherry sweetnessbright acidityalmondvanillalight-bodied

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and relatively short, with cherry fruit fading to a subtle dry minerality. The aftertaste remains pleasant without lingering sweetness, making this approachable for extended consumption.

dry finishcherry fadeclean
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Kriek Max

Serve at 6–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 6–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Kriek Max

About Kriek

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Kriek?

Kriek is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Kriek

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, sweet, vanilla character as Kriek Max will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Krieks in hopIQ

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