Wachusett Blueberry is like a cold liquid blueberry muffin in a glass.
As I mentioned last week in my column about good summer lagers, the sweltering season is definitely already upon us.
When temperatures hit the low 90s before June 1, you know we're in for one hellacious summer. And although I think my choices for crisp lagers last week should help slake anyone's thirst during these brutal months, I realize that some people have different palates and therefore today I'm going to step outside my usual comfort zone and write about fruit-flavored beers.
What prompted this divergence from my more conventional beer tastes was a press release I got from Traveler Beer Co. announcing its summer fruits beers, Time Traveler and Tenacious Traveler. While I haven't sampled those yet, I will try to do so and get back to you.
But it prompted me to revisit fruit beers, of which I'm not a big fan. But since many people enjoy them, I thought I'd compile a list of five (domestic) fruit-flavored brews for you. Please feel free to send along your suggestions.
Dogfish Head Festina Peche – This is a weisse beer that showcases a foundation of tartness layered with a puréed peach sweetness. The complexity this beer is amazing. It starts out a bit tart, then gets malty and fruity, and then dries out like a puddle in the desert sun. This is probably my favorite fruit beer.
Wachusett Blueberry –;This Massachusetts brew is like a cold liquid blueberry muffin in a glass. I'm actually not a big fan of blueberry beers, although I know they're very popular in some circles. This one backs off on the blueberry punch enough for me to enjoy it.
Dogfish Head Aprihop –;I usually don't like to use the same brewery twice on these lists, but Dogfish Head does them well. This is a perfect pilsner that is gussied up with the addition of apricots. While that might usually put me off, the fact that the brewers then blast the whole deal by dry hopping it with Amarillo hops helps rein in the fruit notes. A solid summer brew, and now that I think of it, this one is really my favorite fruit brew.
Abita Strawberry Harvest – I think strawberries are probably the best fruit match with beer. The flavor tends to be lighter and more summery, and it doesn't interfere with the other flavors in the brew. This beer has a great aroma and is low in alcohol. There is a mild hop presence but the finish, unlike some others on this list, is actually sweet. Great for hot summer afternoons.
Founders Cerise– Like Festina Peche, this is a great combination of tartness and sweetness. It has bread-like malt base, and it's filled with a lot of tart cherry goodness.
You might think of it as a liquid cherry pie.
George Lenker can be reached at raconteurgeo@gmail.com