The Brief Return of Summer

I may be a little late in the season to bring up all the fruit beers I tried this year.  It's fall, after all.  The time of falling leaves, apples, spice, and all things pumpkin.  And I do mean all things.  I'm determined to make as many pumpkin things as possible this year.  In life, though, it's not exactly acceptable to waste beer, so I translating that into the blog world - it is not acceptable to waste the opportunity to talk about beer, even if it is out of season.

Besides, it's almost 80 degrees Farenheit outside today, complete with sunshine and cloudless blue skies. It just looks like summer, and I am going into fall and winter with a bit of a fuss. I'm not ready to hunker down and bundle up for 6-7 months.

I tried quite a variety of beers made with fruit flavors this past summer. I claimed it was for this blog, but you know it was really because I wanted to taste something new. Or drink some beer.  Both, probably. I won't apologize.

Kennebunk Brewing Company's
Blueberry Wheat Ale

Deep golden color
Moderate blueberry flavor

This brew was refreshing and delicious, one I'd come back to next summer. The blueberry flavor is noticeable but not overpowering.  More importantly, it is a realistic blueberry flavor and not overly sweet or cloying like artificial flavoring.

Dark Horse Brewing Company's
Raspberry Ale

Mild raspberry flavor, though more distinctively raspberry than most others of this flavor

A little too sweet overall to become a personal favorite, this is still a delicious brew and distinctively raspberry in flavor.

Ass Kisser's
Strawberry Wit

Pale blonde color
Very mild (or almost non-existent) strawberry flavor

Seeing this beer mentioned on the amazing blog, The Beeroness, I was excited to try it. I'd seen only one other example of a strawberry beer (Abita's Strawberry Lager), and had high hopes with a nod from a beer lover I respected.  Sadly, my hopes were dashed.  I couldn't detect any noticeable strawberry flavor, and the wit beer itself wasn't as good as I expected.  Oh well, you taste and you learn. I love the bottle, though!

Our New Mermaid Friend

My roommate couldn't resist this charming cast iron bottle opener.  She asserts it must make her some kind of college frat boy, but I doubt they'd got for a charming mermaid bottle opener.

Abita's
Satsuma Harvest Ale

Pale golden color
Mild citrus flavor

I've enjoyed many of Abita's other brews, but had never tasted Satsuma Harvest Ale.  It was lovely, very refreshing with a distinct citrus taste and a very mild sweetness to distinguish it from the citrus-pine flavor of some types of hops.  Though it wasn't memorable enough to become an instant favorite, I wouldn't turn down a glass if offered.

21st Amendment Brewery's
Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer

Pale and cloudy golden color
Strong watermelon flavor

This is one of my favorite summer beers, and one of the best gambles I took on a brewery I'd never heard of before.  Your first few sips will overwhelm you with a distinct and somewhat sweet watermelon flavor.  But stay the course! After those first sips, the watermelon flavor settles into the background, transmuting into a refreshing wheat beer that epitomizes summer.  As a wheat beer, it does have a bit more oomph than a pilsner or lager, but this particular beer remains light overall, so you'll reach for one on even the hottest of summer days. I'll definitely be snatching up the first six pack I see next summer.

Shiner's
Ruby Redbird

Golden and pale amber in color
Moderate citrus taste, with just the occasional hint of spiciness from ginger

Upon seeing this in the store, I couldn't resist.  Ruby red grapefruit and fresh ginger flavor this summer seasonal from Shiner.  Though the citrus flavor isn't distinctively grapefruit, it's pleasant and not bitter. It's as if the sweeter aspect of a grapefruit was used here.  I could taste fresh ginger as a muddled and mild spicy warmth only once in awhile, which is disappointing as I love fresh ginger.  Overall, a nice beer for the summer and one I'll pick up again next summer, though it won't be my primary drink.

Buffalo Bill's
Strawberry Blonde Ale

Rich golden color
Mild strawberry flavor

In the wake of my excessive excitement and subsequent disappointment over Ass Kisser's Strawberry Wit, I stumbled across this beer in the store.  Seeking to give strawberry brews another chance, I have to say I'm more pleased with this example of a blonde ale...though there still isn't much of a strong or distinctive strawberry flavor. This brew also lacks any hint of the fresh ginger it claims to use, but I think I would've been more put off had I tasted it.  The ale itself is quite nice to drink, as long as you aren't expecting a fruit flavor.

Abita's
Strawberry Harvest Lager

Pale golden color
Mild strawberry taste

Let's make it three for strawberry beers!  This was refreshing and delicious, but, alas, I am still unable to taste a distinct strawberry flavor.  Like Abita's Satsuma Harvest Lager, I'd be quite happy to drink this again.  I'd even purchase a six pack next summer.  Since I have a few left from this year, though, I might try a strawberry and beer lemonade out, inspired by a recipe from The Beeroness.

Magic Hat's
Elder Betty

Crisp gold color
Very mild berry flavor

Magic Hat flavored their lager with elderberry juice, with is a very delicate, slightly tart berry flavor.   While I found this brew refreshing and crisp, I couldn't discern much of any berry or tart flavor.  Perhaps elderberries are just too subtle?

Rivertown Brewing Company's
Blueberry Lager

Pale golden color
Bright blueberry flavor without being sweet

This was the biggest surprise of the bunch. As much as I love Rivertown Brewing Co. (it's local and has a few delicious brews), I've grown wary of buying a new brew without tasting it first. So I considered buying the Blueberry Lager multiple times before relenting and going for it. What a shock! Delightfully crisp and refreshing, light, and full of distinctive and strong blueberry flavor. Without being overly sweet! This is one I will return to each year, though I'd guess a single six pack will satiate my cravings for another year.

To be fair to fall, I've undertaken the duty of testing a variety of pumpkin ales.  My report is coming soon...