In honor of the arrival of Spring (just kidding?), I picked out 6 beers with fruit-leaning flavors and one that shares the name of my future wife.
I’m over the Wisconsin winter. And definitely itching with spring fever. And as I can see from the beers I picked out, so are these breweries. The best part about the change of seasons is the new beer it brings. Cheers to Spring. And may summer come soon.
Lakefront Brewing – My Turn Series: Kristin – 8.0% – Weizenbock
“As Lakefront’s Executive Chef, Kristin knows a thing or two about flavor combinations. So, when her My Turn arrived, she made it her mission to bottle up something that tastes like her favorite meal: breakfast. Pale wheat and caramelly Munich malts call to mind golden-brown waffles, a dash of smoked malt to suggest a side of bacon, and a generous drizzle of real maple syrup to drive the analogy home. Mission accomplished, Kristin!”
That hits the nail on the head with this one. It has smokey aroma, like that lingereing campfire smell. It has a charred, woody flavor, but also a lot of brown sugar/maple syrup sweetness. And then a salty, savory note. This beer is breakfast 100%. It’s like taking a bite of bacon lathered in maple syrup. I love it.
‘From morning dew covered campgrounds
campfires eggs and bacon
dancing around that gaslight sound
and raising hell in swampy sin
this all with my love
her name sweetly spoken
Kristin.’
Abita – Harvest Series: Grapefruit Honey – 4.2% – Fruit Beer
“Ripe, juicy Louisiana ruby red grapefruits are paired with the sweetness of locally-sourced honey to create a refreshing brew with a citrus aroma and clean malt taste. Brewed with pilsner and wheat malts, the bite of grapefruit is balanced by the sweet honey.”
I’ll make this easy. It tastes like a radler. A grapefruit radler. If you’ve had Sprecher’s radler, then you know exactly what this tastes like. It’s a great refreshing summer sipper. And would be a great choice for someone who likes sweet fruit-forward drinks.
‘sitting by the park off decatur
down by the misses river
abita beers brown baggin it
munching muffulettas
size of a baseball mit
don’t give me no lord’s paradise
just gimme good times and bad vices.’
Untitled Art – Key Lime – 4.5% – Pilsner
Untitled Art makes some solid beers. Their Hop Rocket is one of my favorites (link). So I was excited to try the Key Lime. When I picked it up, I thought it was a gose, but it was a pilsner. Which, for a nice springtime beer, is still a great style, especially with the addition of lime.
It doesn’t get too gimmicky with any lime flavors here. Instead, you get a strong corny, grain malt backbone, with just hints of lemon/lime zest. If you’re the type of person that likes a nice lime wedge in a good pilsner, then this is for you.
‘key lime pie
beers and blue sky
ocean rhythms
cadences like heartbeat hymns
no plans
that don’t involve sunkissed sands.’
Hinterland Brewing – DC Cherry Wheat – 5.4%
“Crisp, clean mouthfeel and light in body. Notes of tart, Montmorency cherry. A great summertime brew!”
Have to agree with them. It’s refreshing. The cherry is overwhelming, and it’s balanced by the bready, earthy malts. It tastes like a loaf of cherry bread, but it’s also a semi-light beer too.
‘Camping Door
county cooking
chocolate smores
drinking cherry wheat
warm round fire
falling in love, ain’t life sweet?
twilight hikes,
against cherry pit sun
starry nights
enjoying summer fun.’
Pearl Street Brewery – Rumpshaker – 5.7% – NEIPA
“One of our favorite recent regional discoveries is the New England IPA (NEIPA). Looking more like a milkshake than a beer, brazen turbidity and bright, juicy hops mark this style. You’ll often find a NEIPA to be fruited, although our version is not.”
Indeed, it is not. It’s a dank smelling, and although it does have some juicy/tropical fruit notes, it’s more grassy, floral hopped flavor. It does have nice malt backbone that adds to the sweetness.
“It’s a well-known thing
the world would be
a better less bitter place
if there was more dancing
singing
imbibing
holy prairie prophets
preaching poems and proselytizing
mad nothings
against denim-hued
inkspot blued skies
to an audience with doe eyes
lit up like fireworks
on the 4th of july.’
Coronado Brewing – North Island – 7.5% – NEIPA
“This New England-style IPA is bursting with ripe, tropical juiciness. British ale yeast accentuates the hop fruitiness and gives this unfiltered beer a dense, foggy haze like the coastal marine layer swallowing the north side of our island.”
Hm. You are better off with their description. Cause all mine reads is: Fruity Piney Tropical Fruit Pine.”
So yea. I won’t even bother with a poem here, as it’s pretty illegible. Instead, happy spring! And may summer come soon!
—
(Want me to write about your beer? Click here.
Curious about what the hell a pick 6 poem is? Click here.)