Friek takes its name from a blend of framboise, the raspberry lambic tradition, and kriek, the cherry lambic tradition, aged in oak barrels in Odell’s cellar with fresh raspberries added just before the final blend. It is one of the more distinctive American takes on fruited wild ale, combining two classic Belgian fruit lambic styles rather than picking just one.
Odell Friek at a glance
| Style | American wild ale with raspberries and cherries |
| ABV | Around 5.7% to 6.9%, varies by vintage |
| Calories | Around 190 per 12 fl oz |
| Origin | Odell Brewing Co., Fort Collins, Colorado, USA |
| Ingredients | Wild ale base, cherries, fresh raspberries, oak barrel ageing |
| Vegan | Yes |
| Gluten free | No, contains barley |
| Typical price | Around $12 to $18 for a 750ml bottle |
How it tastes, by the numbers
Friek balances two distinct fruit lambic traditions, raspberry and cherry, into a single complex, tart blend.
The full review
It pours a deep coral colour reminiscent of a rosé wine, very spritzy with a low, fast-fading head. The aroma bursts with dried cherries and raspberries over a deep, funky, barrel-driven base, with vanilla, oak, wine grapes and dark fruit like raisins, plums and prunes.
On the palate, sour cherry leads with light red wine vinegar and tannic barrel notes, followed by bright raspberry that keeps the finish from feeling too heavy or one-dimensional. Musty, earthy notes and brown sugar sweetness round out a genuinely complex profile.
The combination of two fruit lambic traditions in one beer is ambitious, and Odell pulls it off well, delivering a wild ale with more going on than most single-fruit sours manage.
Two classic fruit lambic traditions, raspberry and cherry, combined into one genuinely complex American wild ale.
- Combines two distinct fruit lambic traditions in one beer
- Genuine oak-barrel complexity beyond simple fruit sweetness
- Well-regarded, long-running release from an established craft brewery
- Vintage variation in both ABV and fruit intensity
- Limited seasonal or annual release rather than year-round availability
- Regional distribution centred on Colorado and nearby states
Who it is for
Fruited sour fans who want to try a beer that blends raspberry and cherry lambic traditions rather than committing to just one, and Odell’s regular barrel-programme followers.
Odell Friek FAQs
What does Odell Friek taste like?
Dried cherries and raspberries over a funky, barrel-driven base with vanilla, oak and dark fruit notes, followed by sour cherry, light red wine vinegar and bright raspberry.
How strong is Odell Friek?
Between around 5.7% and 6.9% ABV, depending on the vintage.
What does the name Friek mean?
It combines framboise, the raspberry lambic tradition, and kriek, the cherry lambic tradition, reflecting the beer’s dual fruit character.
Is Odell Friek gluten free?
No, it is brewed with a barley-based wild ale base.
Is Odell Friek released every year?
It has historically been part of Odell’s barrel-aged beer programme, released periodically rather than as a permanent year-round offering.
Where is Odell Friek brewed?
In Fort Collins, Colorado, at Odell Brewing Co.
Where to find it
Available at Odell’s Fort Collins taproom and craft beer retailers in Colorado and nearby states when released; more limited distribution elsewhere.
The verdict
Odell Friek is an ambitious blend of two classic fruit lambic traditions that delivers genuine complexity beyond a simple fruited sour. A rewarding four out of five.
